USDA Clears Santa's Flight, But Ag Drones Are Under Pressure

Merry Christmas Eve from Mid-West Farm Report!

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued a formal transit permit to Mr. S. Nicholas Claus. The permit grants a fleet of reindeer entry through any U.S. border port starting at 6 p.m. tonight. USDA Chief Veterinary Officer Rosemary Sifford says to keep American livestock safe, port personnel will be on hand to disinfect the sleigh’s runners and ensure Mr. Claus’s boots are scrubbed clean after his global travels.

To accommodate a significant expansion and the installation of a new harvest area, Pingel Processing LLC is undergoing a three-phase renovation designed to keep its retail space open for customers. Dallas Pingel also tells Ben Jarboe about their popular holiday meat boxes and summer sausage.

The Compeer Financial Ag Weather Update calls for a good holiday travel day today. Be wary of icy roads tonight after a slight drizzle touches most of southern Wisconsin. Snow is possible this weekend with a cold front coming in.

Is there still time for used farm equipment to go under the Christmas tree? Pam Jahnke checks in with The Steffes Group on the holiday auction scene, including what's on the auction block in early 2026.

The Wisconsin Soybean Association is closely monitoring recent federal actions related to potential restrictions on certain foreign-manufactured drones used in U.S. agriculture and the possible impacts on soybean farmers. President Doug Rebout urges a balanced approach. 

Soon, Santa Claus will be taking to the skies with his magical reindeer to deliver presents around the globe, but what does the rest of the year look like for these animals? Jeff Phillips of Reindeer Games in Erin, Wisconsin, shares with us a year in the life of a reindeer.

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