~ Beginning next week, Florida farmers impacted by Hurricane Debby can apply for low-interest and interest-free loans ~ (FDACS/TALLAHASSEE, FL/Aug 6, 2024) — Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced that Florida farmers, ranchers, and growers impacted by Hurricane Debby will be able to apply for low-interest and interest-free loans beginning next week through the Agriculture and Aquaculture Producers Natural …
CBO Says House Farm Bill Cost Will Raise Deficit
The Congressional Budget Office released an official cost estimate of the House Ag Committee’s farm bill and said it’s $33 billion over budget and fails to pay for a large increase in crop subsidies. House Ag Chair GT Thompson says if the CBO doesn’t change its mind, he’ll rely instead on the House Budget Committee to overrule the CBO. The …
USDA-NRCS Offering Funding Opportunities through CSP
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) wants to remind producers and private landowners about assistance opportunities through the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). The program can help strengthening your operation by building on existing conservation efforts. Whether you are looking to increase crop resiliency, improve grazing conditions or develop wildlife habitat, NRCS can custom design a CSP plan to help meet your goals. It starts …
Ancient and Modern Harvest Festivals of August 1st
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 …
Non-Real Estate Loan Activity Higher in 2024
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 …
Consequences of No New Farm Bill
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 …
Challenges in Rural America
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 Cattle Enhancement Board Track Record Well Received By LegislatorsJanuary 30, 2026Florida Cattle …
USDA Offering Payment Programs to Help Private Forest Landowners Address Climate Change
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 …
Some Good News in Food Price Forecast
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 …
House Ag Takes Close Look at Dropping Ag Income
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 …










