Late last month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) started gathering information about farm economics and production practices. NASS is reaching out to nearly 4,000 farmers and ranchers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina through March, as the agency conducts the final phase of the 2020 Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS). “ARMS is the …
Sunbelt Ag Expo Monthly Blog Series Continues
The Sunbelt Ag Expo started its monthly blog series last September, where each month it provides information on a new topic. Every Tuesday, new information on that topic is released on its Facebook page, Instagram or at http://sunbeltexpo.com/blog-series/. For January, the Sunbelt Ag Expo staff looks at its Farmer of the Year competition. Each week it breaks it down into …
KC Fed: Fewer New Loans to Farmers
Fewer new loans to farmers continued to drive a pullback in agricultural lending activity. The Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank reported this week that stronger prices for agricultural commodities, alongside continued support from government payments, may have reduced financing needs for some farmers and contributed to the slower pace of lending. In the face of slowing agricultural lending activity, farmers …
Agriculture Better Prepared for Next Pandemic?
The agricultural production system was not prepared for the initial outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Crops were left in the field or plowed under because of decreased demand. Loads of milk were even dumped. Scott Angle, Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Florida/IFAS hopes farmers and agricultural leaders can learn from last season’s initial outbreak. …
Stabenow Urges USDA to Prioritize Protections for Food Workers
Senator Debbie Stabenow, the incoming Senate Agriculture Committee chair, urged the Department of Agriculture this week to implement the bipartisan worker protection provisions in the COVID-19 assistance package. The Michigan Democrat says, “In order to repair our food supply and feed families in need, USDA must prioritize safety in addition to food purchases.” In the recently passed COVID-19 assistance package, …
Meat Worker COVID-19 Cases Five Times Lower
A new analysis of independent data for 2020 shows that new COVID-19 infection rates amongst meat and poultry workers were five times lower in December than in May. Meanwhile, rates in the general population rocketed up nine times in the same period. According to data from the Food and Environment Reporting Network, the meat and poultry sector were reported to …
Farm Tractor Sales Finish 2020 Higher
Farm tractor and combine sales finished the year with solid growth across the U.S. The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) reports U.S. total farm tractor sales rose 26.8% in December compared to 2019, while U.S. combine sales fell 1.9%. U.S. four-wheel-drive units fell slightly in December, down 3.7%, with year-to-date sales finishing up 3.7%. 100+hp posted healthy growth in December, …
USDA WASDE Report Sends Grain Markets Higher
The latest World Agriculture Supply and Demand (WADSE) report sent grain markets higher Tuesday. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) monthly corn outlook called for lower production, reduced corn used for ethanol, smaller feed and residual use and exports and decreased ending stocks. Corn production is estimated at 14.1 billion bushels, down 324 million on a lower yield and slight …
Changes Made to U.S. Peanut Production Forecast
When USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released its January crop production estimates, it noted some changes from last month’s report for the U.S. peanut crop. Tyron Spearman has the new numbers. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Producers Proactive In Research Efforts Funded by the Florida Cattle Enhancement BoardJanuary 16, 2026Florida Cattle Industry Supports Administration of Florida Cattle Enhancement BoardJanuary 9, 2026Florida …
U.S. Cotton Production Down 25% in 2020
USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released its January crop reports today, updating numbers from last year’s crop. Becky Sommer with NASS in Washington D.C. says the 2020 U.S. cotton production forecast is down 25% from 2019’s crop. All cotton production is forecast at 15.0 million 480-pound bales, down 6% from the previous forecast, and down 25% from 2019. All …