The Rural Mainstreet Index fell to its lowest level of the year last month as farmland prices declined and agriculture equipment sales were dismal. The index, compiled by Nebraska’s Creighton University, surveys bank CEO’s in ten Midwestern states. Overall, the index, which ranges between 0 and 100, slumped to 39.6, its lowest level since December 2016, and down from 42.2 …
Agri View: National Support
Everett Griner talks about animal agriculture supplying significant national support in today’s Agri View. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2025Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: Partners in ProfitabilityApril 1, 2024
House Debates Ag Spending Bills as Fiscal Battle Looms
House lawmakers began debating bills on Wednesday to fund the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration. Politico’s Morning Ag Report says the funding would be for all of the fiscal year 2018 and be part of a package of eight government spending bills. The ag appropriations bill would set aside $20 billion in discretionary funding for …
Farm Income Projected to Increase Slightly
The recent projections of farm income released by USDA’s Economic Research Service in their 2017 Farm Sector Income Forecast suggest that while farm income may have hit rock bottom in 2016, there will be an uptick in both net farm and net cash income in 2017 American Farm Bureau. Federation Chief Economist Dr. Bob Young says livestock sales are driving …
Perdue on President Trump’s Tax Reform Agenda
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue reiterated his strong support for President Trump’s tax reform agenda, as the president outlined in North Dakota. Perdue issued the following statement: “Farming is a complicated operation, so to place more burdens on the people of agriculture through the tax code has never made any sense. Most agricultural enterprises are small businesses, and the …
Encouraged with Efforts on Needs of Rural America
During Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue’s visit to Georgia recently, a major topic of discussion was Rural Prosperity. Tyron Spearman talked with University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Dean and Director, Sam Pardue about these efforts. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2025Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: Partners in ProfitabilityApril 1, 2024
Perdue Wants to Improve Rural Conditions
During his visit to Tifton, Georgia last week, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue talked about efforts to improve conditions in rural areas. Tyron Spearman was there and has the story. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2025Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: Partners in ProfitabilityApril 1, 2024
USDA Forecasts Increase in Farm Income
The Department of Agriculture Wednesday predicted a slight increase in farm income for 2017, reversing three years of major decline. The August update of the farm income forecast predicts net cash farm income for 2017 at $100.4 billion, up $11.2 billion, or 12.6 percent, from 2016. Net farm income, a broader measure of profits, is forecasted at $63.4 billion, up …
Farm Debt Likely to Reach All-Time High in 2017
Low commodity prices have made things tough by bringing down land values, tightening balance sheets, and increasing the stress level of America’s producers. Unfortunately, that means farmers are continuing to take on more debt. The amount of outstanding farm debt is likely to reach an all-time high this year. Brent Gloy of Agricultural Economic Insights says if the debt level …
Farm Machinery Stocks Drop After USDA Reports
Last week’s Department of Agriculture crop reports sent stocks of farm machinery companies lower. USDA on Thursday reported higher than expected crop yields in the August round of crop reports, which includes key yield speculations. Following the report stocks of Agco and Deere dropped roughly 2.5 percent each. CNH Industrial, the manufacture of Case and New Holland, dropped 1.5 percent …