insurance

USDA RMA Announces Updates to Improve Insurance Coverage

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Risk Management Agency has announced updates to improve insurance coverage through livestock programs beginning in 2027. “These updates expand coverage options, update eligibility definitions and strengthen program consistency across RMA’s livestock portfolio. These enhancements are another way we are putting Farmers First. We want to ensure that livestock and dairy operations across the country have …

equipment

Ag Equipment Dealers Getting Bigger

It’s been a trend in agriculture and agribusiness that seems to have accelerated each of the passing decades, get bigger or get out, and certainly evident in the farm equipment industry. Farm Equipment Magazine recently published the top 10 largest ag equipment dealers in North America. Number one on the list, a prime example of getting bigger, it’s United Ag and Turf out of …

precious metals

Precious Metals Taking A Hit

Precious metals not all that precious as they were even two weeks ago. Inflation back on the front burner heading into the memorial holiday and precious metals certainly feeling the effects. Still six more days of trade in the month of May after today, but so far for the month gold down over two percent to near 4500 dollars an ounce. That’s the lowest …

CME

CME Changing Daily Limits For Cattle Trade

Expanded daily trading limits for live cattle and feeder cattle futures could make the convergence on the June futures very interesting about a month from now. CME announced late week that daily limits for live cattle will increase to $8.50 starting June 1st, $10.75 for feeder cattle on the same day. June live cattle started the week yesterday about $10 below the current cash …

Tax Cut

Georgia Senator Introduces Tax Cut Legislation For Farmers

Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff has introduced legislation to cut taxes for Georgia farmers. The Farm Disaster Tax Cut Act would provide eligible farmers tax cuts after natural disasters, revenue losses or pest outbreaks. The bill excludes crop insurance indemnity payments from taxable income. Senator Ossoff said, “Georgia’s farmers are the cornerstone of our state’s economy and many of our communities. …

government regulations

Government Regulations Eroding US Ag Competitiveness

Southern Ag today reports that the United States is a major competitor in producing agricultural products, but one area that erodes U.S. competitiveness is the increase in government regulations. Southern Ag reports that it shows that the total number of pages of the Code of Federal Regulations increased from around 15,000 in 1950 to around 190,000 today. If the cost of U.S. regulations were …

feeder cattle

Live Cattle and Feeder Cattle Market Watch

More headlines showing up, wondering if these Iranian rumors and elsewhere headlines across the world setting a commodity trap, especially in the live cattle and feeder cattle trade. We take a look at where the live cattle and feeder cattle futures might find some solid support. Big declines here late week and early week, trying to stabilize August live cattle rolling from June to …

iowa

Historic Iowa Farmland Auction Draws Crowds and Millions

A Rare Moment in American Agricultural History In a remarkable snapshot of rural America, Mark Oppold highlights an extraordinary farmland auction that captured the attention of the local farming community and beyond. Events like these are not just about land changing hands—they represent legacy, opportunity, and the enduring value of American agriculture. Bitter Cold, Red-Hot Demand On a frigid February …

Farmland values

Location, Land, and Legacy: Farmland Values Still Tell the Story

A Constant in Agricultural History Farmland values have always played a central role in the story of American agriculture. From the earliest days of settlement to today’s highly productive farming regions, the worth of land has reflected not only its productivity, but also its location, accessibility, and long-term potential. As highlighted by agricultural broadcaster Mark Oppold in his American Agriculture …