Cathy Isom brightens us up with the flowers that are really easy to care for and can lend a hand in the garden. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Sunflowers have been a part of agriculture, dating back to at least 3000 BC, and they have been used for all sorts of handy stuff: seeds, oil, medicine, …
Tax and Regulatory Reform Top AFBF Fall Agenda
Tax and regulatory reform and a new farm bill will top the American Farm Bureau’s fall agenda, according to Farm Bureau’s executive director. Dale Moore says tax reform looks the most promising right now as lawmakers face a very busy fall schedule. But there’s much more Farm Bureau’s pursuing. Moore hopes the Farm Bill will be wrapped up by early …
SNAP Battle Top Obstacle for Farm Bill
House Ag Committee Ranking Member Collin Peterson says the biggest problem facing legislators as they write the new Farm Bill isn’t just funding. Peterson told sugar producers and processors this week that the biggest battle is over what to do with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Peterson spoke to the International Sweetener Symposium in San Diego, pointing out that …
Farmers Still Support Trump but Worry Over Farm Bill
While some polls say President Trump’s support base has begun to slip, a new Farm Futures survey shows a majority of farmers (55 percent) would give Trump an A or B if they were to assign a grade to him on domestic issues. 26 percent would give him a C. The survey found that farmers seem to be mostly okay …
Farm Labor Shortage May Drive Produce Prices Higher
Adding guacamole to your favorite foods may soon become more expensive. Food and Wine Dot Com says a package of almonds may become pricier as well. As California farmers welcomed the end of a serious drought this spring, a serious labor shortage is becoming another issue to deal with. California is where the bulk of the nation’s produce is grown …
Farm Economy May Be Starting to Stabilize
The prolonged downturn in the farm economy continued in the second quarter of 2017. However, data from the Kansas City Fed’s Survey on Agricultural Credit Conditions shows the farm economy may finally be starting to stabilize. While economic conditions did continue to weaken in the second quarter, the pace of that deterioration has slowed. While the farm loan repayment rate …
USDA WASDE Report Released
Wheat: Projected 2017/18 U.S. wheat supplies are decreased this month on lower production, down 21 million bushels to just over 1.7 billion bushels. The August NASS production forecasts for durum and other spring wheat indicated a significant decline compared to last year, primarily due to continued severe drought conditions affecting the Northern Plains. Partially offsetting this decrease is higher winter …
Agri View: Export Trade
Everett Griner talks about the export trade in America in today’s Agri View. Every grade school child is taught that farming feeds us. I don’t suppose they are taught that agriculture is the biggest industry in the world. And, here is something very few adults are aware of. Most of what our farmers grow are sold to …
USDA Calls for Nominations for the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is seeking nominations to fill vacancies expiring in 2017 on the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee (FVIAC). FVIAC, administered by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, was established by USDA in 2001. Members of the committee meet up to two times a year to develop recommendations on issues affecting the U.S. produce industry. Committee members represent …
USDA Forecasts Record-High Soybean Production in 2017
U.S. farmers are expected to produce a record-high soybean crop this year, according to the Crop Production report issued by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Up 2 percent from 2016, soybean production is forecast at 4.38 billion bushels, while corn growers are expected to decrease their production by 7 percent from last year, forecast at 14.2 billion bushels. Up 7 percent …