The Consumer Confidence Index, the highest in four months, hopefully trickling down to Main Street. The February reading from the Conference Board was the highest since October, reaching just over 91. Looking at January’s number, also adjusted higher, from near a 12-year low of 84.5 up to 89. Economists say the improvement comes from consumers’ view of the future. Bottom Line analysts say these readings and …
The Midwest’s Industrial Shift After the Civil War Between the end of the Civil War and the conclusion of World War II, the American Midwest experienced one of the most significant economic transitions in its history. What had long been a primarily rural, farm-based economy evolved into a powerful industrial agricultural system. Rapid industrialization reshaped the region. Infrastructure expanded, cities …
The U.S. Department of Agriculture presented the crop forecasts for the upcoming season during the USDA Agricultural Outlook Forum. USDA economist Bryn Swearingen provided the forecast for corn, soybeans and wheat. Swearingen said, “While corn acres are forecasted down to 94 million, this is still the third highest on record, and soybeans are forecasted to have a recovery to 85 million …
With the Supreme Court’s decision striking down the tariffs implemented by the Trump Administration in 2025, The American Farm Bureau Federation is reacting to this news. American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall said, “America’s farmers understand the president’s efforts to use tariffs to create a more level playing field for U.S. goods, U.S. workers and the U.S. economy. Unfortunately, …
Markets don’t perform well, dealing with uncertainty, and there’s plenty of it at midweek. Wall Street CME Group in Chicago facing uncertainty from multiple fronts. Usually it’s maybe one major world event or perhaps a domestic issue here, but as we head to March, markets dealing with tariff uncertainty, ongoing and escalating tensions with Iran, weather in the Northeast, and a never-ending AI fears. That VIX or fear index, …
American agriculture is filled with innovators whose influence extended far beyond the fields. One such figure is Robert Thomas, a man whose love of writing and fascination with the stars combined to create one of the most enduring publications in rural America: the Farmer’s Almanac. Early Life Near Boston Robert Thomas was born in 1766 near Boston. From an early …
The Florida Beef Council has been busy promoting beef at the Food Network South Beach Wine and Food Festival in Miami this past week. We caught up with Deanne Maples with the Florida Beef Council to learn more. Maples said, “This year marked our third year participating in the Food Network South Beach Wine and Food Festival and it’s really been …
The Alabama Cattlemen’s Association is headlong into this year’s legislative session and we sat down with Erin Beasley with the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association to learn what they are looking forward to this week in Montgomery. Beasley said, “Got another busy week coming up where we’ll be advocating on behalf of our members but always enjoy a big day around Montgomery and …
The Georgia Beef Board has been working to promote beef this past week at the Georgia National Fairgrounds in Perry. We caught up with Wyatt Doolittle with the Georgia Beef Board to learn more. Doolittle said, “So this week was state show week and it’s always one of the most meaningful weeks of the year for the Beef Board. So throughout …
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson has announced that agricultural industry in Florida has sustained more than $3 Billion in total estimated damages due to recent freezes. Commissioner Simpson said, “Our preliminary estimate of over $3 billion in agricultural losses makes clear what we already knew: This was one of the most damaging freeze events for Florida agriculture in history. …
