Stabenow Leads Opposition against USDA Decision on Dairy Aid

Dan Dairy, Economy, Industry News Release

(NAFB) — Senate Ag Committee Member Debbie Stabenow is leading a group of 15 senators asking Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue to reverse a decision that excluded dairy farmers from getting coronavirus aid for losses from meat produced from breeding animals. The Hagstrom Report says the senators point out that losses from meat produced from breeding animals were included in the …

Fewer Loans Issued to Farmers Limits Overall Lending Activity

Dan Economy, Industry News Release

The Kansas City Federal Reserve says a slower pace of farm financing activity continued in the third quarter of 2020. The total volume of non-real estate farm loans remained subdued amid ongoing weakness in the ag sector, thanks in part to developments regarding COVID-19. The National Survey of Terms of Lending to Farmers, confirmed by statistical research from same day …

Tighter Stocks Mean Higher Expected Prices for Major Crops

Dan Economy, USDA

The latest reports from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) indicate that tighter than expected stocks of most major crops are leading to higher expected prices. Stephanie Ho has the story. Sponsored ContentWhat Sets Provysol® Fungicide ApartJuly 8, 2025CIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2025Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024

Insurance, Water Issues on the Table for Legislative Session

Dan Economy, Florida, Industry News Release, Lake Okeechobee, Water

(NSF) — Florida senators will be asked to eliminate the state’s no-fault auto insurance option and increase spending to repair the state’s natural springs, the incoming Senate president said Thursday. Senate President-designate Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, told business leaders that lawmakers meeting for the 2021 legislative session also will need to consider efforts to keep polluted Central Florida waters from flowing …

State Cattle Groups Support Cattle Market Transparency Act

Dan Beef, Cattle, Economy, Industry News Release

More than a dozen state cattle organization voice their support for the Cattle Market Transparency Act. In a letter to Senate Agriculture Committee leadership, 16 state cattle groups say the bill “will aid in cattle market transparency for all producers.” Led by the Nebraska Cattlemen’s Association, the group says, “our respective organizations do not ask for any type of market …

Increased Florida Department of Citrus Budget

Dan Citrus, Economy

On Oct. 21, the Florida Citrus Commission approved a revised 2020-21 operating budget for the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) of nearly $19.8 million. The commission voted to sustain the preliminary budget set in June, prior to the October crop forecast, through a box assessment of ….. Read the full report about the increased Florida Department of Citrus budget on Citrus Industry …

Reuters: Payments to Farmers at All Time High

Dan Economy, Industry News Release

Direct payments to U.S. farmers are at an all-time high. Record government subsidies, much needed in the turbulent trade environment and coronavirus pandemic, are projected to make up more than a third of farm income in 2020. In a report by Reuters, the Environmental Working Group called agriculture aid in the latest COVID-19 relief package “old-fashioned vote-buying.” Farmers, facing steep …

ARC/PLC Enrollment for 2021 Underway

Dan Economy

Enrollment in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2021 crop year is underway. Tyron Spearman reports these key USDA safety-net programs help producers weather fluctuations in either revenue or price for certain crops. For more information on ARC and PLC, including two online decision tools that assist producers in making enrollment and election decisions, …

Farm Bureau Reviews State-Level Farm Income

Dan Economy

The most recent Farm Income Forecast from USDA in early September provided an update on 2020 farm income projections, as well as the first estimates of state-level financial conditions in 2019. Farm cash receipts are forecast to hit a ten-year low in 2020. In 2019, gross farm income from selling crops and livestock, federal support, and other income combined were …