USDA Starts Issuing Payments for Spot Market Hog Pandemic

Dan Economy, Pork, USDA-FSA

The USDA is increasing the amount of funding available for the Spot Market Hog Pandemic Program and expects to issue approximately $62.8 million in assistance payments to producers this week. SMHPP assists eligible producers who sold hogs through a spot market sale between April 16 and September 1 in 2020. “In order to provide more targeted support to hog producers …

USDA Helps Schools and Childcare Providers Deal with Rising Food Costs

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

Helping schools manage rising food costs. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The USDA announced an increase in funding to help schools continue to serve healthy meals this coming school year and provided financial relief for schools and childcare providers. The reimbursement schools will get for each meal served will increase by 68 cents per free or reduced-price …

July 1 Cattle Inventory Down 2 Percent

Dan Beef, Cattle, Economy, Marketing

The U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released their July 1 Cattle Inventory Report, and it shows all cattle and calves in the U.S. on July 1st totaled 98.8 million head, 2 percent below the 101 million head on July 1, 2021. All cows and heifers that have calved totaled 39.8 million head, 2 percent below the 40.6 million head …

Traders Continue to Watch the Weather

Dan Economy, Wheat

While many factors are being watched when it comes to the grain trade, Mark Oppold reports right now one of those factors is of course the weather. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Helps to Support Forage Development and Management PracticesMarch 6, 2026CIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsMarch 1, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Offers Targeted Research for Florida Cattle IndustryFebruary 20, 2026Florida Cattle …

Ag Land Market Will Be Active During the Fall

Dan Agri-Business, Economy

Early indications are suggesting that land auction activity will be good both before and after the harvest in 2022. Farmers National Company (FNC) says land sales typically slow during the spring and early summer. However, the rate of late summer and fall auctions getting scheduled with Farmers National Company is picking up rapidly. The overall number of sales and amount …

House Agriculture Hearing on Credit for Farmers

Dan Economy, Farm Bill, Legislative

The House Agriculture Committee recently held a hearing titled “A 2022 Review of the Farm Bill: The State of Credit for Young, Beginning, and Underserved Producers.” During his opening statement, chairman David Scott of Georgia said those producers face difficulties in obtaining credit that our more seasoned and established producers may not encounter. “Historically, these groups of producers tend to …

Inflation, Weather are Major Market Factors

Dan Biofuels/Energy, Corn, Economy, Soybeans, Weather

Various factors affect the grain markets, with two of those being inflation and weather. Mark Oppold looks at those facts and also has and update on crude oil and looks at how the national averages for both corn and soybean yields have risen over the past few years. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Helps to Support Forage Development and Management …

Family Farm Living Expenses

Dan Economy, This Land of Ours

Inflation is hitting everyone, but what does it mean for the farm family? That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. A study by the Kansas Farm Management Association shows that farm family living expenses jumped 14 percent higher last year to an average of $82,000. It’s significantly higher than the previous high of $74,000 in 2014 and the largest …

Report Highlights Effects of Rising Labor Costs

Dan Economy, Labor and Immigration

When ag labor costs rise, specialty crop growers are usually among those hit hardest. Now, a new USDA report goes in-depth on how fruit and vegetable growers are handling the higher costs of labor. The report says farm labor costs increased from 2010-19 for several reasons, including fewer newly-arrived unauthorized workers, rising State minimum wages, and new requirements to pay …

Agricultural Tractor Unit Sales Fall in June

Dan Agri-Business, Economy

U.S. agricultural tractor sales fell in June, while harvester sales grew. This is according to the latest data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM). U.S. total farm tractor sales fell 8.2 percent for the month of June compared to 2021. The 100+ horsepower 2WD tractor segment was the only one in the black for the fourth month in a row, up …