farmers

8 Billion Dollars Available for Farmers

Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has announced that USDA will make available eight billion dollars for one-time payments to farmers this harvest season. It’ll provide relief during temporary market disruptions and increased input costs. Producers of non-title commodities also will receive part of these funds. It’s called the eight-billion-dollar payment provided through the harvest fuel relief program authorized under the …

halloween

Halloween Events Upcoming

Americans are gearing up for Halloween in a big way. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the price of candy up over 8% from last Halloween, more than double overall inflation. Yet despite that increase, the National Retail Federation estimates Americans will spend over four billion dollars handing out Halloween candy. In addition, one only needs to look around any neighborhood, …

housing market

Housing Market Drops

The housing market continues to weaken as we head to the end of the year. September numbers are now out, and the National Association of Home Builders market index fell to its lowest level since June 2012. The index of prospective buyers fell to its lowest level since April of the same year. Regionally speaking the biggest decline came in …

wheat market

Wheat Market Updates

Keeping an eye on this wheat market early week, December Chicago wheat no trouble crashing through a major 200-day moving average last week at the $6.50 level, moving for that $6.20. Some analysts say now $6 from late June is in play. December Chicago has been below $6.50, actually a lot more than above it the past year. Kansas City …

Farm Loan

Farm Loan Program to Continue

Because of the government shutdown, the peanut industry has not been able to secure their farm loan or to place peanuts in the loan to receive the minimum price of $3.55 per ton. Well, good news. Starting Thursday this week, USDA will resume Farm Service Agency core operations, including critical services for the farm loan processing, the ARC program, average …

harvest fuel relief

Details on Harvest Fuel Relief Program

More details have been announced on the eight-billion-dollar harvest relief, harvest fuel relief program that has been announced by USDA as farmers get ready to receive some help. Eligible producers are encouraged to create a login.gov account in advance of the application period announcement. Pre-applications will be available online to producers with a login.gov account linked to USDA. The commodity …

CME FedWatch

CME FedWatch Estimations

A week ago, the CME FedWatch tool showed a 60-65% chance there would be a quarter-point rate hike by the Federal Reserve Board at the conclusion of their two-day meeting next Wednesday afternoon. But recent public comments by Chairman Warsh have calmed those expectations. In a recent speech, Warsh called inflation, “a common challenge”, a common challenge for all economies. …

ARC and PLC programs

Changes in ARC and PLC Provides Support for Farmers

Changes to the ARC and PLC programs aim to boost support for producers. Farm Service Agency Deputy Administrator Jared Hagert describes the ways in which the Working Families Tax Cuts Act updates are resulting in record producer payments. “The Working Family Tax Cut Act also increased payment limits from $125,000 to $155,000 starting with the 2025 crop year, and there …

energy ceasefire

No Pause in Energy Ceasefire

There appears to be no pause in the administration’s suggested energy ceasefire, Ukraine and Russia continuing to exchange attacks. That, along with attacks in Saudi Arabia keeping a lot of support under the crude oil market and slowly pushing that VIX or fear index closer to 18-19, the highest it’s been in over a month. The soybean harvest wrapping up …

hurricane

Post Hurricane Efforts

Farmers and ranchers in the area continue responding to last week’s hurricane and tropical storm, making sure the cattle have plenty of feed and clean water. A lot of water, of course, around, but making sure it’s not contaminated, analysts say is as important as having feed, but clean water is also important. We watched the cattle trade, December live …