A dramatic rise in fertilizer prices weighs heavily on U.S. crop farmers and input suppliers as they prepare for the 2022 planting season. Prices for nitrogen-based fertilizers commonly used for corn production have skyrocketed to all-time highs in recent months. Fertilizer price increases are driven by nitrogen production challenges, tight global supplies, rising natural gas costs and steady demand. According …
Limited Demand for Farm Loans, But Strong Profits for Ag Banks
Agricultural lending at commercial banks continued to decline but showed some signs of stabilizing in the third quarter. Data reported by the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank this week shows farm debt decreased at the slowest pace in two years. Non-real estate debt declined substantially slower than in recent quarters, and farm real estate loans increased slightly for the first …
Congress Approves Funding, Continues Ag Disaster Aid
Congress narrowly averted a government shutdown last week amid a GOP fight over the president’s vaccine policies, passing another stop-gap funding measure that continues farm disaster and pandemic aid. The new funding lasts only until February 18th, when lawmakers must again wrestle with funding for the rest of the current fiscal year. But until then, the second stop-gap bill in …
USDA Raises 2021 Farm Income Forecast
The final farm income picture for 2021 is shaping up even better than had been expected. USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) recently updated their farm sector profit projections, which are now forecast to increase this year. Gary Crawford has more details. Spiro Stefano, ERS Administrator, outlines some of the changes in this new farm income forecast, compared to the last forecast three …
USDA Responds to Producer Needs by Updating Crop Insurance
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced they are making updates to crop insurance in order to respond to the needs of agricultural producers, and this includes organic producers. Specifically, USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) is making permanent a new provision that allows producers to hay, graze or chop cover crops and still receive a full prevented planting payment. …
NCBA on Infrastructure Package
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, otherwise known as the Build Back Better bill, is an infrastructure package focused on creating American jobs, rebuilding our nation’s roads and bridges, and combatting the climate crisis. President Biden signed the $1 trillion infrastructure deal into law back in mid-November. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Vice President of Government Affairs, Ethan Lane, says this …
Farm Real Estate Values Jump Sharply Higher
The Federal Reserve Survey of Agricultural Credit Conditions shows that farmland values rose in the third quarter of this year. The value of non-irrigated cropland rose by at least 12 percent in all of the participating Districts in the survey. The rapid increase was consistent in most states, with annual increases of more than 20 percent in some areas. Supporting …
Agricultural Lenders Expect Borrowers to be Profitable This Year
The American Bankers Association and the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation released their most recent survey of agricultural lenders. The good news is that the lenders expect 80 percent of their borrowers to show a profit in 2021. Looking ahead to next year, the lenders expect that 70 percent of their borrowers will remain profitable through 2022. The report says the …
U.S. Peanut Export Market is Down
New numbers show U.S. peanut exports are down. Tyron Spearman explains why. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Offers Unique Opportunity For Applied ResearchOctober 24, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Plays Major Role in Applied Beef Cattle ResearchOctober 17, 2025FCEB Recurring Funding Provides Opportunity for Longer Term Research ProjectsOctober 10, 2025
A Slowdown in Milk Production as Margins Shrink
How are milk producers responding to a squeeze on margins? A new report from USDA has the answer. Gary Crawford has more details. Mark Jekanowski, USDA Outlook Board Chairman, talks about projected trends in dairy product prices. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Offers Unique Opportunity For Applied ResearchOctober 24, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Plays Major Role in Applied Beef Cattle …