This article by Farm Babe talks about the numerous opportunities in agriculture. At AGPROfessionals we offer a full host of services that support agriculture. AGPROfessionals is a multifaceted agribusiness that provides a broad spectrum of services to farmers, ranchers, investors, and other stakeholders in the agricultural industry across the United States, including agronomy, engineering, environmental consulting services, planning, real estate and surveying.

A professional problem-solving firm, we focus on achieving our clients' goals and advocating their success from start to finish providing our On-Point Advantage SolutionsTM, a regulatory compliance service you can count on that assists our producer clients with recordkeeping and inspection requirements.

AGPROfessionals, headquartered in Greeley, Colorado, has team members strategically located in Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Arkansas, and Idaho.

Article excerpts:

“When you think of ag careers, what jobs do you think of? Chances are your first answers might be farmer, rancher, veterinarian, or agronomist — the kind of jobs that work directly with animals or the land. These are definitely jobs that are a key part of ag, but there are a lot more jobs in ag than you might think.

Article excerpts:

“Agribusiness is a cornerstone of economic wealth in rural America. It’s the corn production in the Midwest, citrus in Florida, California’s diversified horticulture, and dairy in the Northeast that sustain local economies and put producers on the map for their products.

One county stands out in livestock production, particularly in cattle and lamb feedlots: Weld County, Colorado.

Located just an hour outside Denver, Weld County spans a large swath of northern Colorado along the Wyoming border. This region is home to farming towns that host some of the largest livestock operations in the country, producing 26 percent of the state’s agricultural output.

In the towns of Greeley, Fort Lupton, and Eaton, family farmers work alongside the largest players in the industry — including Cargill, JBS, and Superior Feed — to supply the market with high-quality animal protein.

Of the agricultural output from the county, four-fifths comes from livestock, according to the 2022 U.S. Department of Agriculture Census. The county holds the title as the nation’s highest producer of lamb by market value and ranks 11th in market value of agricultural products sold across 4,000 farms. In addition to livestock, Weld County produces row crops, pinto beans, and sugar beets.

DxE’s Escalating Assault on Agriculture

Radical Activism Turns into Targeted Harassment

The American agricultural landscape—built on hard work, innovation, and the constitutionally enshrined right to private property—has been under attack for years by animal rights groups, and those attacks seem to be escalating. Leading this escalation is Direct Action Everywhere (DxE), a fringe animal rights activist group whose tactics have evolved from trespassing and farm invasions to orchestrated personal harassment campaigns and coordinated economic disruption efforts. DxE has also backed ballot initiatives and policy changes aimed at banning large modern farms and supporting extreme proposals that would criminalize standard livestock practices. These policy efforts are often deceptively labeled as “transparency” or “humane reform,” when, in reality, they seek to dismantle the very systems that ensure food security and public health.

Their latest actions against Perdue Farms underscore how far this group is willing to go in the name of "animal liberation"—their ramping up of activities is a serious threat to civil liberties and is causing harm to food producers across America.

Article excerpts:

“Today, Congressman Tom Tiffany, R-Wis., and Congresswoman Lauren Boebert’s, R-Colo., legislation to delist the gray wolf from the Endangered Species List and ensure that action is not subject to judicial review passed out of the House Natural Resources Committee. The Pet and Livestock Protection Act will restore authority back to state lawmakers and state wildlife officials to control the gray wolf population. H.R. 845 will now head to the full House of Representatives for a vote.

“The damage to pets, livestock and wildlife from an unmanaged wolf population can no longer be ignored. The gray wolf has exceeded federal and state recovery goals, with over 1,000 wolves now thriving in Wisconsin. It’s time to take the next step, delist them, and let the people closest to the gray wolf manage their population levels,” said Congressman Tiffany.

“I’m very excited to see PALPA take another step towards being signed into law, which will be a huge victory for our ranchers, farmers and landowners in Colorado and across America,” said Congresswoman Boebert. “The science has been very clear on this topic for years: gray wolves are fully recovered and their comeback should be touted as a success story. Now it’s time we encourage states to set their own guidelines and allow ranchers, farmers, and landowners to protect their livelihoods. I look forward to voting for this bill on the House floor and ultimately getting it to President Trump for his signature.”

LAST UPDATE: April 17, 2025 -10:30 AM CST

HPAI (Avian Influenza) in Dairy Cows – RESOURCES and NEWS UPDATING AS INFORMATION IS RELEASED

Since March of 2024, we have been carefully monitoring news stories and information regarding the initial outbreak and spread of HPAI in dairies for our clients. Since this is a developing situation, we felt it would be helpful for producers to have easy access to information in one place.

Therefore, we have put together a list of articles and resources and will update this list as needed.

Information:

• APHIS Report: HPAI Confirmed Cases in Livestock HERE

• APHIS announces new indemnity policy to combat HPAI HERE

• Oregon Department of Agriculture:Oregon is one of six states to begin testing milk for H5N1 Avian Influenza HERE

  more

At AGPROfessionals, we believe in empowering the next generation of agricultural leaders through education and real-world insight. We’re proud to share that Tom Haren, founder and CEO of AGPROfessionals, was recently invited to speak at Colorado State University (CSU) to students of Kathie Troudt Riley’s Water Law Course. Kathie Troudt Riley is an instructor for several key CSU courses including AREC 375: Agricultural Law, AREC 342: Water Law, Policies, and Institutions, and BUS 660-720: Ethical, Legal and Regulatory Issues.

Real-World Expertise in Agricultural Development and Legal Policy

With over four decades of experience in agriculture, environmental compliance, planning and permitting, real estate, water rights, rural development, and more, Tom brought valuable perspective to CSU students.

His presentation provided real-world challenges involving the future demands placed on agriculture, land and water use, environmental regulations, permitting, and decision-making in the agricultural sector.

“Agriculture is more than producing food—it’s navigating the legal, ethical, and environmental frameworks that allow us to keep rural communities strong,” Tom shared during his talk.

Growing up in Southwest Iowa, it doesn’t take long to realize that the phrase “corn is in everything” isn’t just a saying — it’s the reality when living in the endless cornfield of Iowa. Surrounded by farmland and a strong sense of agricultural tradition, farming isn’t just a profession in the Midwest — it’s part of the culture. Almost everyone I knew growing up was either a farmer, related to one, or had close ties to agriculture. In high school, it was common for my friends to rush home after class to help with chores — feeding cows, driving grain carts during harvest, tending to goats and chickens, and pitching in on the family farm.

My own summers were spent immersed in agriculture, working early mornings at a calf ranch where my dad served as manager. It was during these formative years that I found a deep interest in both the dairy industry and the broader world of agriculture. That passion led me to join my high school’s FFA chapter, an experience that expanded my understanding of agriculture beyond the typical image of livestock and crops.

FFA Opens Doors to Opportunities

FFA introduced me to the diversity within the field — from horticulture and forestry to food science and conservation. One of the most unexpected yet rewarding experiences was soil judging. Competing against students from other schools, we evaluated soil profiles, learning to identify the physical features that make soil unique and, ultimately, essential. While plants and animals often steal the spotlight, soil judging gave me a profound appreciation for the earth beneath our feet — the foundation of all agriculture.

AGPROfessionals’ Karen Gerfen Glueck Speaks at American Agri-Women Mid-Year Meeting in Fort Worth, Texas

Karen Gerfen Glueck, Vice President of Communications and Strategic Planning at AGPROfessionals, was a featured speaker at the American Agri-Women (AAW) Mid-Year Meeting held in Fort Worth, Texas, this past weekend. Hosted by the Texas Panhandle Chapter of American Agri-Women, the event brought together some of the most influential voices in agriculture to collaborate on the future of the industry.

Leading the Conversation in Agricultural Advocacy

Karen Gerfen Glueck shared her expertise in strategic communications, agricultural policy, and storytelling, emphasizing the critical role of effective messaging in today’s agricultural landscape and how AI can play a vital role. With decades of experience bridging the gap between agriculture and public perception, Karen highlighted actionable strategies for women in ag to elevate their voices and shape the narrative around modern farming and ranching. Her presentation focused on how to leverage AI to develop clear, consistent messaging that can help agricultural advocates counter misinformation and build trust with consumers, policymakers, and media outlets.

Article excerpts:

“USDA has provided some clarification on it decision to release rural energy funding for rural electric cooperatives, small businesses and farmers that the department is releasing potentially billions for rural energy projects.

Initially, the department's news release implied grant and loan recipients have the option of repurposing the language for their funding to fit the Trump administration's energy goals.

USDA on Wednesday responded to questions from DTN stating that the department will honor its funding commitments to rural communities "including the farmers, ranchers, and small businesses at their core -- and their essential role in building a stronger, more energy secure America."

The announcement also included a voluntary 30-day window for awardees to review and revise their project plans. "USDA Rural Development is contacting individual recipients with directions on how to participate. Rural Development will review and must approve any proposed changes. Awardees that do not respond via the website will be considered as not wishing to make changes to their proposals, and disbursements and other actions will resume after 30 days. For awardees who respond via the website to confirm no changes, processing on their on their projects will resume immediately."

Weld County Planning/Building Division Introduces New Inspection Scheduling System

Weld County residents can now enjoy a more efficient and user-friendly way to schedule building inspections. On March 17, 2025, the Weld County Planning and Building Division rolled out a new inspection scheduling system designed to enhance customer service and streamline the process.

Previously, scheduling an inspection required calling a hotline and waiting for a callback. With this upgrade, residents can now schedule, manage, and track inspection appointments directly over the phone. This system also offers convenient features such as rescheduling or canceling appointments, checking inspection results, and speaking with a staff member when necessary.

“We are excited to offer this new system to our residents,” said Weld County Planning Director David Eisenbraun. “It provides a more seamless experience, allowing customers to have more control over their appointments and reducing wait times. This change is part of our ongoing effort to modernize our services and make it easier for our community to access the resources they need.”

To take advantage of this new scheduling system, call the dedicated inspection scheduling number at (970) 400-3015. For more information and detailed instructions, visit the Weld County Building Division’s inspection process information webpage.

Protecting Farmers: Laws Against Deceptive Employment by Activists

Farmers and ranchers work tirelessly to provide safe, sustainable food for Americans. Unfortunately, radical animal rights activists have increasingly targeted livestock operations by gaining employment under false pretenses. These activists infiltrate farms, stage or manipulate footage, and then release misleading videos to falsely discredit hardworking agricultural producers. In response, several states have enacted laws that make it illegal to gain employment in livestock production with the intent to harm or defame farmers. These laws are essential in protecting property rights, biosecurity, and the integrity of American agriculture.

States That Have Taken Action to Protect Farmers

Several states have passed legislation preventing deceptive employment practices by anti-animal agriculture activists to ensure that livestock producers are shielded from harmful misinformation campaigns. Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Utah, Wyoming, and more have passed laws to protect farmers and ranchers.

Anti-Animal Agriculture Groups and Their Many Lawsuits

“Many dairy producers across the U.S. are starting 2025 in a more optimistic state than a year ago. While attitudes ranged from upbeat and positive to cautious and uncertain, the majority were fairly hopeful for what is to come this year.

Much of this optimism stems from higher milk prices and stronger on-farm financial margins, which is providing many with some much-needed breathing room. It also has some dairy producers thinking about expansion and/or improving efficiencies on their operation in a variety of areas.

Dairy processing continues to be a bright spot for many regions as more new processing facilities come online across the nation

Several major cheese projects, mainly in the Great Plains states, will come online in 2025 or have started in the past two years.

“These locations offer lower costs due to local feed production and fewer environmental and water regulations than states like California,” says Betty Berning, contributing dairy economist for HighGround Dairy. “The new plants will require 20 to 25 million pounds of milk daily, equating to an additional 750 to 900 million pounds of cheese annually. It is expected that some older assets will shutter, which will offset some of the new capacity.”

Study Shows Feed Product Reduces Methane

From an article in Progressive Farmer by Russ Quinn

The first published scientific paper on a Rumin8 animal trial conducted by a major university found that Rumin8's investigational veterinary product reduced total methane emissions in cattle by 95.2%, with no significant impact on animal production parameters or the rumen environment.

According to a Rumin8 press release, the trial was conducted by the Department of Animal Science at the University of California-Davis (UC Davis) and evaluated the effects of the Rumin8 Investigational Veterinary Products (IVP) on various cattle production factors.

"Compared to other studies on synthetic halogenated methane analogues, the CH4 (methane) reduction observed with Rumin8 oil IVP in this study are among the most substantial reported," the study's authors concluded. "Neither treatment significantly affected animal production parameters or rumen environment parameters."

Link: HERE

Article excerpts:

“The veterinary industry is facing a crisis, particularly in rural America, where farmers and ranchers struggle to find large-animal veterinarians. Since the end of World War II, the United States has lost 90 percent of its large-animal and livestock veterinarians, according to a 2023 Johns Hopkins study. As the shortage worsens, some areas are left with little to no veterinary coverage for miles, putting the health and welfare of livestock at risk.

According to 2023 data from the American Veterinary Medical Association, the number of mixed and food animal veterinarians fell by 15 percent. While 68,000 veterinarians were working in small animal practices, just over 8,000 were working in large animal or mixed practices.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture keeps track of shortages on their Veterinarian Shortage Situation map, which contains all shortages in a fiscal year. All of the states in blue have at least one designated shortage area. In 2024, the biggest number of shortages were in the Midwest, West, and Georgia. Of the states with shortages, the AVMA says that beef cattle are consistently the species with the greatest need.”

Article excerpts:

“Non-navigable water on private land? No problem for public access. At least in the eyes of government of New Mexico

Lucia Sanchez’s 80-acre ranch is crossed by a knee-high, non-navigable stream, and for decades, her family could preclude trespass up and down the flow. No more. The public has a right to Lucia Sanchez’s private property—so decrees the state.

“Property rights were once sacred here,” she says. “You always had to ask permission before you went on someone’s land. Now, the government has given people open-ended access to non-navigable streams. I have cattle all around the water and now I deal with the public coming at will and not knowing who they are. If I stop them, I could be the one prosecuted.”

Sanchez, along with other landowners, is fighting back with a lawsuit: “When property rights go,” she warns, “all your other rights eventually go with them.”

Link: HERE s