usda

USDA Call Center Available to Assist Agricultural Producers with Hurricane Ian Recovery

Dan Economy, USDA-FSA, Weather

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has established a call center that is available to assist agricultural producers with Hurricane Ian recovery. Florida agricultural operations have been significantly impacted by the hurricane, so for producers located in counties where the USDA Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) local infrastructure has been impacted, the agency has established state-specific toll-free information lines where producers …

Livestock Disaster Assistance

Thune Introduces Bill to Improve Livestock Disaster Assistance

Dan Cattle, Economy, Legislative, Livestock

Senators John Thune and Ben Ray Luján recently introduced the Livestock Disaster Assistance Improvement Act. The bipartisan legislation by the South Dakota Republican and New Mexico Democrat would improve the effectiveness and timeliness of multiple Department of Agriculture programs that assist farmers and ranchers in the aftermath of adverse weather events. The legislation would also provide USDA with direction to …

insurance options

RMA Insurance Options for Specialty Crops, Organics

Dan Crop Insurance, Economy, Organic, Specialty Crops

The USDA is targeting specialty crop, organic, and urban ag producers for listening sessions on two insurance options, Whole-Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP) and the Micro Farm insurance options. WFRP and Micro Farm are two of the most comprehensive risk management options available.  “We want to make sure farmers and ranchers know about these very important insurance options. We invite specialty crop, organic, urban and …

usda

Florida Lawmakers to Free Up More Relief Money

Dan Economy, Florida, Legislative

(NSF/TALLAHASSEE, FL/Oct. 05, 2022) — Florida lawmakers plan to pump more money into a new state disaster-relief fund, which Gov. Ron DeSantis has been running through to speed recovery from Hurricane Ian. House and Senate leaders announced Wednesday the Joint Legislative Budget Commission will hold an emergency meeting next week to release an additional $360 million into the Emergency Preparedness …

commodity

Keep an Eye on Gold

Dan Economy

When it comes to investments, Mark Oppold reports folks might want to keep an eye on gold.

farmer sentiment

Interest Rates Help Drive Farmer Sentiment Lower

Dan Economy

The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer’s farmer sentiment index dropped five points to 112 in September. The drop in farmer sentiment was primarily the result of producers’ weakened perception of current conditions. The Current Conditions Index dropped nine points to 109, and the Index of Future Expectations dropped three points to 113. Concerns about input costs and, in some …

Thanksgiving

Turkeys May Cost More This Thanksgiving

Dan American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), Economy, Poultry, This Land of Ours

Your Thanksgiving turkey may cost you more this year. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The American Farm Bureau Federation says turkey prices may hit record levels this Thanksgiving. American Farm Bureau Federation economists analyzed turkey and egg costs in their latest Market Intel. The retail price for fresh boneless, skinless turkey breast reached a record high of …