sunbelt

Harvest Updates Confirm Hurricane Damage

Dan Commodities, Cotton, Economy, Field Crops, Hurricane

The latest harvest update does confirm just how Hurricane Helene affected various crops that were in the path of the storm. Mark Oppold has the latest information. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsNovember 1, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Funded Research Impactful for the Future of the Florida Cattle IndustryOctober 31, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Offers Unique Opportunity For Applied ResearchOctober 24, …

distressed

USDA Announces Additional $250 Million in Aid for Distressed Farm Loans

Dan Economy

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced an additional $250 million in financial assistance for distressed farm loan borrowers. This funding is aimed at helping farmers and ranchers struggling with loan payments, as part of the Inflation Reduction Act. No application is required, as payments will be made automatically to qualifying borrowers. Since August 2022, the USDA has distributed $2.4 …

crude oil futures

Update on Crude Oil Futures

Dan Biofuels/Energy, Commodities, Economy

In an update concerning crude oil futures, Mark Oppold has new suggestions for producers looking ahead. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsNovember 1, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Funded Research Impactful for the Future of the Florida Cattle IndustryOctober 31, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Offers Unique Opportunity For Applied ResearchOctober 24, 2025

National Cooperative Month

National Cooperative Month

Dan Agri-Business, Commodities, Economy

Many agricultural producers are familiar with the importance of their local coop. And Mark Oppold notes the role they play during National Cooperative Month. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsNovember 1, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Funded Research Impactful for the Future of the Florida Cattle IndustryOctober 31, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Offers Unique Opportunity For Applied ResearchOctober 24, 2025

usda

USDA Invests in Dairy Industry

Dan Agri-Business, Cattle, Dairy, Economy, Funding

Last Friday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced $11.04 million in funding to support dairy businesses and producers under the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives (DBI) grant program, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack made the announcement at the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin. The initiatives support small and mid-sized dairy businesses in the development, production, marketing, and distribution of dairy …

Hurricane Helene

Hurricane Helene Devastates Southeast Agriculture

Dan Economy, Hurricane, Weather

The Southeast agricultural sector is reeling from severe damage after Hurricane Helene, with losses reported in crops, poultry, and dairy operations. Hurricane Helene caused catastrophic damage to Georgia’s agricultural sector, according to U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff and Representative Austin Scott, both of Georgia. “The damage that Georgia growers have sustained is in some cases catastrophic,” Ossoff stated. He highlighted that …

hurricane debby

Approval of First Loan for Hurricane Debby Impacted Florida Farmers

Dan Agri-Business, Economy, Florida, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Funding, Hurricane, Industry, News from Our Sponsors

First loan approval comes just 15 days after Hurricane Debby made landfall in Florida (FDACS/TALLAHASSEE, FL/Oct. 4, 2024) — Today, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced the approval of the first Hurricane Debby recovery loan through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Agriculture and Aquaculture Producers Natural Disaster Recovery Loan Program. Commissioner Simpson announced the launch of the application …

congress

Farmers Face Uncertainty as 2018 Farm Bill Extension Expires Without Replacement

Dan Agri-Business, American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), Economy, Farm Bill, Funding, Legislative

With the expiration of the extension of the 2018 Farm Bill, U.S. farmers and ranchers could already be feeling the impact. Key programs supporting agriculture have been disrupted, and uncertainty looms over the industry. Sam Kieffer, vice president of public policy for the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), highlighted some of the immediate consequences. “Most impacts won’t be felt until …

commodities

Tracking Agricultural Commodities

Dan Cattle, Commodities, Economy, Marketing, Pork, Specialty Crops

In his continuing effort to track agricultural commodities, Mark Oppold looks at where some of them stand as we start the last quarter of 2024. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsNovember 1, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Funded Research Impactful for the Future of the Florida Cattle IndustryOctober 31, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Offers Unique Opportunity For Applied ResearchOctober 24, 2025

decline

Farmer Sentiment Reaches Lowest Point Since 2016

Dan Economy

The September Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer reached its lowest readings since March 2016. Declining income expectations pushed farmer sentiment down as the barometer fell to 88, and the Index of Future Expectations dropped 14 points to 94. The Index of Current Conditions also fell seven points to 76, nearly matching levels seen in April 2020, during the height …