On July 4th, the U.S. celebrates the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the building of the base for the country as we know it today. Of course, things are a lot different now than they were way back in 1776, and a lot has since been built on our forefathers’ foundation. While much has changed over the last 240+ years, some things have remained remarkably the same, like the contributions of construction workers, loggers, and farmers to the building of America.

May 28th is National Hamburger Day in the U.S. While many of us will be celebrating this fun national holiday over the long Memorial Day weekend with burgers on the grill, it’s also the perfect time to recognize one of the nation’s leading farm commodities: cattle and calves. A recent trade deal between the U.S. and China will allow China to import U.S. beef for the first time in almost fifteen years, giving U.S. beef producers access to the world’s second largest beef consuming market.

So far this spring, wet fields have delayed planting in many parts of the U.S. and Canada. As farmers fall behind historical planting norms, the anxiety to get into the fields regardless of conditions continues to grow. While we at ATG understand the eagerness to get the seed into the ground, we also know this is the time of year to practice patience, as one of the most common mistakes made by farmers is entering their fields too early.

Drive through almost any city or town on “trash day” and you will see a growing number of blue recycling bins waiting to be picked up. Recycling has become integral in the daily lives of Americans, but what hasn’t kept pace with the increased adoption of recycling is profit. Over the past few years, the recycling industry has been challenged by falling oil prices and a strong U.S. dollar, making it vital for recyclers to manage the profit factors over which they have influence.