A bipartisan group of Representatives sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack regarding dairy and the U.S-Mexico-Canada Agreement. They’re asking the administration to move ahead with enforcement measures negotiated in the USMCA to support U.S. dairy farmers. A key part of the USMCA agreement was the promise of new export opportunities for America’s …
USDA Announces Plan for Black Farmer Payments
The USDA says it plans to make debt relief available to Black farmers. The announcement came one day before Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack participated in a roundtable discussion with Black farmers in Georgia. A spokesman says Vilsack will be traveling to other states to discuss the plan in the weeks ahead. Late last week, the Farm Service Agency published the …
Over $2.3 Million Invested in Small Business Innovation Research
Small businesses play a vital role in driving innovation and technology advancements, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is investing over $2.3 million in such projects through its Small Business Innovation Research program. As the program aims to encourage participation by women-owned and socially or economically disadvantaged small businesses, it can greatly benefit …
Some Things to Consider When Purchasing a Tractor
Some things to consider when purchasing a tractor for your homestead. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. A tractor is an incredibly useful tool. But not all tractors are created equal, so the prospect of picking a tractor out, let alone deciding if you should buy one, can be overwhelming. Owning your own Utility Compact Tractor and implements …
Lower Broiler Supplies Leading to Higher Prices
Supplies of broilers and their products are lower than a year ago, but demand is growing. And according to a story from Gary Crawford, broilers and broiler products are fetching very high prices right now. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2025Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: Partners in ProfitabilityApril 1, 2024
Farmers National: Interest in Farmland Selling to Increase
Land sales activity was flat the past few years, but that may soon change. The lower supply of farms for sale has been one of the factors that supported land values after the 2013 peak in prices paid for ag land. But Farmers National Company reports seeing indications for increased land sale activity through to the end of 2021. Farmers …
Record Florida Budget Awaits Governor’s Approval
When the 2021 Florida Legislative Session wrapped up last Friday, it capped off a session where lawmakers passed a record $101.5 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year that starts July 1. According to the News Service of Florida, with the Covid-19 pandemic severely damaging the state’s economy last year, lawmakers feared they could face a multibillion-dollar budget shortfall. But, …
Ag Economy Barometer Mostly Unchanged from April
The April Ag Economy Barometer was 178, virtually unchanged from a month earlier. Last month, the index stood at 177, and just five points below its all-time high of 183 set back in October. Compared to March, however, there was a small change in producers’ perspective on the ag economy as they became more optimistic about the future, while their …
NCBA Stands Ready to Fight for Sound Tax Policy
We are hearing more reactions about the Biden Administration’s American Families Plan, especially concerning the several provisions of the tax code meant to raise approximately $1.5 trillion in revenue over the next 10 years. This week, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) noted they have long advocated for sound tax policy for rural America. “Family-owned cattle operations, no matter the size, are …
Ag Businesses Report Favorable First Quarter Earnings
Earning reports topped headlines on Wall Street this week, and agriculture businesses seem to be doing well. Syngenta reported first-quarter sales of $7.1 billion, up 20% for the same period last year. BASF reported first-quarter sales were up 16% to 19.4 billion euros, or $23.52 billion. AGCO reported sales for the first quarter were approximately $2.4 billion, an increase of …