Perdue on Dairy Margin Coverage

Dan Dairy, Economy

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue says implementing a new Farm Bill based Dairy Margin Coverage program as soon as possible is a priority. Rod Bain has the story. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provided Opportunity To Highlight Difficult Farming SubjectMarch 20, 2026Valley Helps Growers Get The Most Out Of Every AcreMarch 19, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Builds Relationships Between Researchers …

Georgia Ag Disaster Funding Update

Dan Economy, Georgia

The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA) and Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) has announced they are hosting an Ag Disaster Update, Tuesday March 5 in Tifton. It will be held at 7:00pm at the UGA Tifton Conference Center. Both Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black have confirmed they will attend to provide updates on state and …

Farm Debt Levels Equaling 1980s Farm Crisis

Dan Economy, Industry News Release

The amount of farm debt has risen rapidly to $409 billion. That’s up from $385 billion in 2018. U.S. Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue says demand for loans remains “historically high.” A Reuters article says the strain on the American farm belt is becoming more and more comparable to the agricultural crisis of three decades ago. The strain is being caused …

Perdue Reiterates Need to Restore Original Intent of SNAP

Dan Economy, Industry News Release

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue reiterated during a U.S. Senate hearing the need to restore the original intent of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which is to be a second chance and not a way of life. Secretary Perdue’s comments come on the heels of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) publishing in the Federal Register a proposed …

WTO Officially Acknowledges Chinese Subsidies Violate Rules

Dan Economy, Trade

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has now officially ruled in favor of the U.S. in a complaint related to Chinese subsidies for agricultural products.  The WTO dispute settlement panel found that China exceeded international standards for farming support, causing trade distortion and creating artificial pricing for wheat and rice.  The ruling was expected to go in favor of the U.S. …

Trump Budget Proposal to Include USDA Cuts

Dan Economy, Industry News Release

The Trump 2020 budget proposal will include “big cuts” to the Department of Agriculture, according to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue. The budget request will propose cutting non-defense programs by five percent. However, Politico reports USDA is likely to face steeper budget cuts. Perdue noted that Congress usually disregards the president’s budget request, which in recent years has unsuccessfully called for …

Coalition Asks Congress to Safeguard Crop Insurance

Dan Economy, Industry News Release

A coalition of more than 50 farm groups is asking lawmakers to safeguard crop insurance. The organizations, including the American Farm Bureau Federation, warned in a letter to top-ranking House and Senate budget leaders this week that “An overreliance on budget savings from the agriculture community and from crop insurance will unquestionably undermine rural economies.” 2018 farm profitability is expected …

Peanut Loan Deadline is Thursday

Dan Economy, Peanuts

The deadline to place peanuts in the loan is Thursday, February 28. Tyron Spearman has the details. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provided Opportunity To Highlight Difficult Farming SubjectMarch 20, 2026Valley Helps Growers Get The Most Out Of Every AcreMarch 19, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Builds Relationships Between Researchers and Cattle ProducersMarch 13, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Helps to Support …

Bipartisan Senators Introduce Major Disaster Relief Package

Dan Alabama, Economy, Florida, Georgia, Industry News Release

President Trump Drives Effort For Disaster Relief Funding U.S. Senators David Perdue (R-GA), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Doug Jones (D-AL), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Rick Scott (R-FL), Tim Scott (R-SC), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) introduced a bipartisan disaster relief package with the backing of President Donald J. Trump. President Trump, working with this bipartisan group of senators, has confirmed …

Ag Lenders Say Farmers Depend on Off-Farm Income

Dan Economy, Industry News Release

The chief economist for the American Farm Bureau Federation says the worst threat to farmers currently is a general economic recession. It’s because so many farmers have now become dependent on off-farm income to make ends meet and stay in operation. Farm Bureau’s Chief Economist, John Newton, spoke during a panel of ag economists’ discussion at the Crop Insurance Industry …