The Senate Ag Committee took up the topic of the research title in the Farm Bill during a hearing this week. Witnesses testified on the need to fund cutting-edge ag research, the power behind modern, high-tech agriculture. But USDA research chief Chavonda Jacobs-Young said funding for research is on the decline. “Federal investments in agricultural research have declined by a …
Thompson Elected Chairman of House Agriculture Committee
(WASHINGTON, DC/December 8, 2022) — Yesterday, the House Republican Steering Committee elected Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15) as Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture for the118th Congress. Mr. Thompson will be the first Chairman from Pennsylvania in nearly 170 years. After the vote, Mr. Thompson issued the following statement: “I am honored to lead the Committee on Agriculture and build on the accomplishments of the past two …
Farmer Sentiment Unchanged Despite High Costs, Rising Interest Rates
There wasn’t much movement in the November Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer. The index read 102 for the month, unchanged from October. However, the Current Conditions Index dropped three points to 98, while the Future Expectations Index rose two points to a reading of 104. Even though producer sentiment was the same in November, producers are continuing to look …
Farm Income Rising
USDA projects 2022 calendar year net farm income up nearly $20 billion, or 13.8 percent from 2021. American Farm Bureau Federation Senior Economist Veronica Nigh explains what is driving the increase. “Predominantly, this is a price play with 97 percent of that increase in cash receipts attributable to increases in price. Now, it’s not just all inflation either, because when …
Agriculture Groups Applaud Passage of Bill that Blocks Rail Strike
(NCGA/December 1, 2022) — The Senate voted 80-15 to pass a bill that would head off a potential rail strike that could have disrupted the movement of grain and input shipments. The vote comes a day after the House approved similar legislation. The National Corn Growers Association applauded the development. “We are extremely relieved that Congress took action to head …
House Acts to Prevent Rail Strike
The House of Representatives Wednesday took action to avert a pending rail strike. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, on the house floor Wednesday, stated, “A shutdown would grind our economy to a halt, and every family would feel the strain,” while adding, “Small businesses wouldn’t be able to get their products to market. Many of them, as I say, farmers.” National …
Concerns with China
There are a lot of things taking place in the country of China at this time, something Mark Oppold notes is a real concern for many traders. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board provides support for cattle producers regardless of herd sizeNovember 28, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Expands the promotion and educational work of the Florida Beef CouncilNovember 21, 2025Florida Senator …
USDA Kicks Off Spain Trade Mission Delegation
The USDA kicks off its trade mission in Spain. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service Associate Administrator Clay Hamilton arrived Monday in Madrid to launch a USDA agribusiness trade mission to Spain. More than 70 participants, representing various sectors of U.S. food and agriculture, including businesses, trade associations, and state government, …
Farm Share of U.S. Food Dollar Reached Historic Low in 2021
U.S. farm establishments received 14.5 cents per dollar spent on domestically produced food in 2021—a decrease of 1.0 cent from a revised 15.5 cents in 2020. The figure is the lowest recorded farm share value in nearly three decades, according to USDA’s Economic Research Service. The remaining portion of the food dollar—known as the marketing share—covers the costs of getting …
Another Record Land Sale in Iowa
Iowa set another record for farmland sales. Seventy-three acres of high-quality farmland in Sioux County, Iowa, sold for $30,000 per acre at auction on November 11. That’s a total sale worth $2.195 million. That’s just part of a new $30,000-per-acre club in Iowa. A local farmer was the buyer, and the runner-up was also a farmer. A statement from Iowa …