USDA Details Trade Damage Estimate Calculations

Dan Economy, Industry News Release

Washington, D.C. (USDA) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of the Chief Economist has published a detailed accounting of how estimated damage from trade disruptions was calculated for its support package for farmers announced on July 25, 2019. USDA’s Office of the Chief Economist developed an estimate of gross trade …

First Round of MFP Payments Underway

Dan Economy

The process for the first round of Market Facilitation Program (MFP) payments is underway. Farm Service Agency Director Richard Fordyce says the first payments have been mailed out. Round one of the three potential payments is 50 percent of the overall amount farmers may receive. Fordyce says expects up to $14.5 billion of payments will be sent to farmers, pending the trade negotiation …

Farm Service Agency Expands Payment Options

Dan Economy

This week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced they are expanding payment options to now accept debit cards and Automated Clearing House (ACH) debit. Tyron Spearman has more details. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Plays Critical Role To Extend ResearchNovember 7, 2025CIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsNovember 1, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Funded Research Impactful for the Future of …

NMPF Urges Farmers to Sign Up for DMC

Dan Dairy, Economy, Industry News Release

ARLINGTON, VA (NMPF) – With one month left until the 2019 sign-up for the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program closes, the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) urged all dairy farmers to enroll in the program, which guarantees a payout for cash-strapped producers in 2019. The DMC, a retooling of dairy programs included in the 2018 farm bill, is guaranteed to …

Peanut Farmers Watching Weather and Markets

Dan Economy, Peanuts, Weather

Weather and markets are two things many peanut farmers are closely watching right now. Tyron Spearman has the story. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Plays Critical Role To Extend ResearchNovember 7, 2025CIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsNovember 1, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Funded Research Impactful for the Future of the Florida Cattle IndustryOctober 31, 2025

Tariffs, Farm Income, Squeezing Sales for Deere

Dan Economy, Industry News Release

(NAFB) — Low farm income, a challenging growing season and the impact of trade tariffs on agriculture have farmers putting off purchases of equipment. The depressed farm economy is part of the factors why Deere &Co. trimmed its earnings forecast for the year to $3.2 billion, from an expected $3.3 billion and a five percent increase in sales. The sales …

Nearly 17,000 Dairy Operations Enrolled in Dairy Margin Coverage Program

Dan Dairy, Economy, Industry News Release

Dairy producers must sign up before Sept. 20 for 2019 coverage. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that producers of nearly 17,000 dairy operations have enrolled in the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program since signup opened June 17. Producers interested in 2019 coverage must sign up before Sept. 20, 2019.  DMC offers protection to dairy producers when the difference between …

Study Measures Investment in National Peanut Board

Dan Economy, Industry News Release, Peanuts

In fiscal year 2019, the National Peanut Board (NPB) commissioned an economic study to measure the return of peanut producers’ investments in the marketing and research funding programs managed by the board. The study, “An Economic Evaluation of the National Peanut Board,” conducted by Harry M. Kaiser of Cornell University, found that each dollar invested in the board’s checkoff program …

AEM Releases July Ag Equipment Sales Numbers

Dan Economy, Industry News Release

(NAFB) — July 2019 saw decreases in U.S. sales of combines and four-wheel-drive tractors as well as total U.S. two-wheel-drive tractor sales compared to July of last year. Monthly data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) shows U.S. four-wheel-drive tractor sales decreased 4.7 percent in July, compared to last year. U.S. July combine sales decreased 25.9 percent. And, total …