The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer improved in April, rising eight points to a reading of 121. However, that remains 32 percent below its level from the same time last year. Producer perspectives on current conditions and future expectations saw an uptick over the past month. The Index of Current Conditions improved seven points to a reading of 120, …
Vilsack Requests Higher USDA Budget
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack says his department’s lost thousands of staffers in recent years, and the latest USDA budget request tries to recoup some of those losses. USDA’s fiscal year 2023 budget request of close to 24 billion dollars is up more than 2 billion or 10-percent from this year, and part of that is to make up personnel losses. …
Vilsack Authorizes Additional CCC Funds for HPAI Response
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Wednesday approved Commodity Credit Corporation funding to assist USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service response to highly pathogenic avian influenza. The virus has been confirmed in 29 states, affecting more than 33 million domestic birds. APHIS is working closely with state animal health officials on joint incident responses in each affected state. To help ensure …
USDA-NRCS Providing Technical and Financial Assistance
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) continues to provide both technical and financial assistance through various programs. NRCS offers this assistance to agricultural producers in an effort to help manage natural resources in a sustainable manner. Through these programs, NRCS assistance helps plan and implement conservation practices that address natural resource concerns. NRCS Chief, Terry Cosby, invites agricultural producers and private landowners to …
Farm Lending Activity Accelerates in Early 2022
The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City says farm lending activity at commercial banks increased during the first quarter of 2022 due to a significant increase in the size of operating loans. With some input costs surging in recent months, the volume of operating loans increased sharply from a year ago, and non-real estate lending increased on a rolling four-quarter …
Investments in Watershed Improvement Projects
On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced an investment in projects designed to improve rural watersheds and the infrastructure necessary in their management. Rod Bain has more details. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL Cattle Enhancement Board Wraps up Funding YearJune 30, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Awarded Researcher Discusses New World Screwworm OverviewJune 19, 2026Verdant Robotics Offers …
COUNTRY Financial Provides Tips for Storm Season Preparation
While many think about the storms we’ve seen this spring, Georgia is prone to storms all year. Farmers are encouraged to take time to think about what their families and/or employees should do in the event of a weather-related emergency. Bart Hester, COUNTRY Financial insurance agency owner based in Moultrie, GA. talked with Southeast AgNet’s Randall Weiseman about this. They …
Farmland Prices up 20% in 2022
The stronger land prices of late 2021 continued in the first months of 2022. Farmers National Company reports sale prices took another jump higher because of the war in Ukraine and ongoing inflation fears. Farmers saw higher commodity prices, and investors wanted a low-risk inflation hedging investment, which propelled the competition for good cropland. Farmland values are roughly 20 percent …
Demand and Price Reflected in Dairy Outlook
Strong demand and prices are noted in USDA’s latest forecasts for dairy. Rod Bain has the story. World Agricultural Outlook Board Chair Mark Jekanowski looks at USDA’s April projections for dairy prices by product and by class. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL Cattle Enhancement Board Wraps up Funding YearJune 30, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Awarded Researcher Discusses New …
Beef, Pork and Poultry Production and Price Forecasts for April
Slight gains in both beef production and price forecasts are noted in the latest USDA outlook. But according to a story from Rod Bain, the latest pork production and price forecasts reveal tighter supplies and a price adjustment for hogs. World Agricultural Outlook Board Chair Mark Jekanowski also goes over USDA’s April outlook for broiler and turkey production and prices. …