Global food prices dropped for a fifth-straight month after a seasonal rise in supplies took place and demand dropped for some products. The northern hemisphere wheat harvest is helping to ease supply concerns as more grain moves out of Ukraine. A U.N. index of world food costs dropped 1.9 percent in August and remains at its lowest level since January. …
USDA Program Feeds Children During Summer Months
States and territories issue $12.5 billion in USDA’s Summer Child Food Benefits program. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) partnered with 32 states and territories to provide summer food buying benefits to families with children. The states and territories provide an estimated $12.5 billion in temporary nutrition benefits to approximately 32 million children. …
USDA Says Farm Profits to Reach Near-Record High in 2022
USDA’s Economic Research Service forecasts inflation-adjusted U.S. net cash farm income to increase by $13.5 billion or 8.7 percent from 2021. Net cash farm income is gross cash income minus cash expenses and will reach $168.5 billion in 2022, the highest level since 2012. In comparison, net farm income is forecast to drop by almost $1 billion from 2021 to …
Ample Turkey Supplies this Thanksgiving, but at Higher Prices
Now that the Labor Day holiday weekend is winding down, some eyes are already set on the next big long holiday weekend, Thanksgiving. But what will the retail turkey situation look like this year? Gary Crawford has a story answering that very question. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Critical Funding To Enhance Brahman GeneticsApril 24, 2026Strong Relationship Exists Between …
Climate Smart Commodities and Rural Economies
During his visit to the Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa last week, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack explained how he sees climate smart commodities and practices as key to improving rural economies. Rod Bain has the story. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Critical Funding To Enhance Brahman GeneticsApril 24, 2026Strong Relationship Exists Between the Florida Cattle Enhancement Board and …
USDA Updates Crop Insurance Plans to Broaden Access
The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is improving two of its most comprehensive risk management safety net programs. USDA announced the improvements for the Whole-Farm Revenue Protection, and Micro Farm, making them more accessible to farmers. The improvements include doubling the maximum insurable revenue under Whole-Farm Revenue Protection, now $17 million, more than tripling the size of farm operations eligible for …
‘Tool Time’ Tax Holiday in Florida Starts Saturday
If you have a few projects around the farm in you need to get started on but keep putting them off, then now’s the time to get serious about them. Florida’s first “tool time” sales-tax holiday on tools and other home-repair and construction items will kick off this weekend. According to the News Service of Florida (NSF), the seven-day holiday …
Interest Expense Ratio for Agriculture Stays Even with 20-year Average
USDA’s Economic Research Service reports the interest expense ratio of farms was 0.04 in 2020, remaining in line with the long-term trend and initial forecasts, despite the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic reduced demand for agricultural commodities. The interest expense ratio is calculated by dividing interest expenses by the sum of the value of production and Government payments for a given …
Ag Credit Conditions Stay Strong As Risks Grow
The Kansas City Fed says agricultural credit conditions remained strong in the second quarter, but slower improvement is expected during the months ahead. Those bankers who responded to the Federal Reserve Survey of Agricultural Credit Conditions say farm income continued to increase. However, the pace of increase slowed in recent quarters, and further softening is expected going forward. Farm loan …
Two Georgia Counties Designated as Primary Natural Disaster Areas
(USDA/FSA/WASHINGTON, D.C./August 25, 2022) — This Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans. Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming …