As lawmakers continue early work on shaping the 2023 farm bill, one of the bill’s biggest programs continues to create a divide. Nutrition programs account for about 80 percent of the farm bill, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the largest food assistance program administered by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Lawmakers on both sides of the …
Legislation Seeks to Increase USDA Technical Service Providers
Legislation introduced in the U.S. House and Senate last week seeks to help address America’s shortage of Technical Service Providers at the Department of Agriculture. Technical Service Providers help producers deploy and manage conservation programs through one-on-one assistance. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Chief Terry Cosby recently projected his agency would need to hire between 3,000 and 4,000 employees …
Ag Economy Barometer: Farmer Sentiment Improves
Farmer sentiment improved modestly in April as the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer reversed a two-month decline, up six points to 123. The Current Conditions Index rose three points to 129, while the Index of Future Expectations rose seven points to 120. More producers expect prime interest rates to either hold steady or possibly decline during the next 12 …
Preparing For Another Interest Rate Hike
Wall Street is preparing for another interest rate hike from the Fed. Mark Oppold has more details. Sponsored ContentCattle Producers Proud of Efforts Funded Through the Florida Cattle Enhancement BoardMay 29, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Funding Crucial For Forage DevelopmentMay 22, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Funding to Enhance Brahman GeneticsMay 15, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Production ResearchMay 8, …
Additional Assistance for Farm Loan Borrowers
There’s more assistance on the way for some farm loan borrowers. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced, on May 1, 2023 (see below News Release), that nearly $130 million in additional, automatic financial assistance has been obligated for qualifying farm loan program borrowers who are facing financial …
World Bank: Commodity Prices to Drop Through 2024
Look for a drop in commodity prices through next year. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Global commodity prices are expected to drop this year at the fastest clip since the beginning of COVID-19. A World Bank report says that clouds the prospective growth of approximately two-thirds of the developing economies that depend on exports. The Commodity Markets …
Grain Futures Seeing Lower Prices
As of late, the grain trade has been nothing to get excited about. Mark Oppold says it’s almost like this year’s crop is already in the bin. Sponsored ContentCattle Producers Proud of Efforts Funded Through the Florida Cattle Enhancement BoardMay 29, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Funding Crucial For Forage DevelopmentMay 22, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Funding to Enhance Brahman …
Millions of U.S. Seniors Face Food Insecurity
Millions of U.S. seniors are facing hunger. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Feeding America® this week released a study (Map the Meal Gap 2022) about seniors facing hunger in the United States. The report sheds light on the extent to which food insecurity affects individuals aged 60 and older. The report shows that out of 78 million …
Number of U.S. Farms Continues to Decline
New data released this week by USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) shows the number of U.S. farms continues to decline. After peaking at 6.8 million farms in 1935, the number of U.S. farms and ranches fell sharply through the early 1970s. Researchers say the rapidly falling farm numbers in the mid-20th century reflect the growing productivity of agriculture, increased mechanization, …
Taylor Leads USDA Trade Mission to the Netherlands
A U.S. trade mission to the Netherlands. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis Taylor launched the first-ever regional agribusiness trade mission to the Netherlands in Amsterdam. The delegation includes representatives from 31 agribusiness and farm organizations and ten state departments of agriculture. The group aims to expand economic …