harvest festivals

Ancient and Modern Harvest Festivals of August 1st

Dan Agri-Business, This Land of Ours

August first marks one of the original harvest festivals. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Whether it’s Lughnasadh, Lammas, or Loaf Mass Day, August first is a harvest festival day in many cultures. Starting with the ancient Gaelic cultures of Scottland, Ireland, and Wales, Lugnasadh was celebrated about halfway between the summer solstice and the autumn equinox. It …

farm loan

Non-Real Estate Loan Activity Higher in 2024

Dan Agri-Business, Economy

As commodity prices have continued to drop, many producers may face economic losses with less balance sheet resiliency. The economists at Agricultural Economic Insights (AEI) say recent loan data revealed that farmers utilized more non-real estate debt in early 2024.  In the first quarter of the year, total non-real estate debt was 14 percent higher than in 2023. AEI says …

ag groups

Consequences of No New Farm Bill

Dan Agri-Business, American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), Farm Bill, Funding, Legislative

The farm bill is already a year late, the stakes are high, and time is running out. The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) released its Market Intel Analysis of the consequences of not finishing the legislation and adding another extension of the 2018 bill. While crop insurance is a permanent program, it does need improvements to make it more affordable …

Rural America

Challenges in Rural America

Dan Agri-Business, Commodities, Economy

Times have been tough for many farmers across the country, and that is having an effect on the business owners they normally deal with. During a trip across rural America last week, Mark Oppold had a chance to learn more about some of those many challenges. Sponsored ContentFlorida Senator Shares Origins of Florida Cattle Enhancement BoardNovember 14, 2025CIR Agriculture Harvester …

Forest

USDA Offering Payment Programs to Help Private Forest Landowners Address Climate Change

Dan Agri-Business, Climate Change, Forestry, Funding

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service is making $190 million available to help private forest landowners adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change and retain working forestlands.  Of the total, $140 million is available to support state-endorsed cost-share programs for landowners. Cost-share payments lower the financial barriers for landowners to adapt to climate change by making forests more resilient …

food

Some Good News in Food Price Forecast

Dan Agri-Business, Economy, This Land of Ours

USDA’s latest food price forecast has a little good news for shoppers. Gary Crawford has more coming on up This Land of Ours. Analysts at the Agriculture Department are projecting that food at the grocery store this year will likely cost us more than last year, but only about 1% more. “And that’s compared to a 5% increase in prices …

Farm Income Forecast

House Ag Takes Close Look at Dropping Ag Income

Dan Agri-Business, Economy, Legislative

Farmers across the U.S. could see a drop of nearly 25-percent in their farm income compared to last year. That’s what USDA is predicting—and that’s why your lawmakers in Washington, D.C. are looking for answers. Ag banker Tony Hotchkiss, who serves as Chairman of the Agriculture and Rural Bankers Committee of the American Bankers Association, testified before the House Ag …

livestock industry

National FFA Members Attend the Washington Leadership Conference

Dan Agri-Business, Education, Legislative, This Land of Ours

National FFA heads to Washington DC. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. For more than 50 years, thousands of FFA members from across the country have converged on the nation’s capital each summer for the Washington Leadership Conference. It’s a chance to engage with legislators, hone civic engagement and leadership skills, and create community impact projects to take …

tractor tires

Keeping Tractor Tires Inflated Properly

Dan Agri-Business, Commodities, Economy

This week, Mark Oppold is at an event where he is learning more about the proper inflation of tractor tires and how important this is for farmers doing field work. Sponsored ContentFlorida Senator Shares Origins of Florida Cattle Enhancement BoardNovember 14, 2025CIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsNovember 8, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Plays Critical Role To Extend ResearchNovember 7, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement …

farm groups

Farm Groups Want Changes to SAF Tax

Dan Agri-Business, Biofuels/Energy, Economy, Energy

Top farm groups want improvements in the administration’s sustainable aviation or clean fuel tax credit, shortcomings they say could put the benefits “out of reach for many farmers.” The American Farm Bureau, the American Soybean Association, the National Corn Growers Association, and the National Farmers Union wrote to the Department of the Treasury and the White House budget office, OMB. …