financial markets

Rural Bankers Expecting Recession

Dan Economy

Rural bankers say they anticipate a U.S. recession, according to the latest Creighton University Rural Mainstreet Index. The region’s overall reading for June slumped to 49.8, its lowest level since September 2020, and down from May’s 57.7. The index ranges between 0 and 100, with a reading of 50.0 representing growth neutral. Approximately 92.9 percent of rural bankers surveyed rate …

russia

Ukraine Invasion Costly for Americans

Dan Economy

Russia’s war against Ukraine is hitting Americans in the pocketbook and many overseas in the stomach. From soaring food costs to skyrocketing fuel prices, the war in Ukraine is taking a painful toll at home and abroad. Ukrainian grain exports have collapsed, and Western sanctions limit Russian oil and fertilizer exports. Experts say all of this makes U.S. and European …

beef exports

Inflation Prompts Some Trading Partners to Cut Tariffs on Red Meat

Dan Beef, Cattle, Economy, Exports/Imports, Livestock, Pork, Tariff

South Korea is the latest country to suspend import duties on pork and other food items in an effort to combat inflation. They join Mexico, the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam and Brazil in reducing or eliminating tariffs on certain food items to lower consumer prices. And while these tariff reductions sometimes benefit global competitors more than U.S. red meat, the overall …

agriculture

U.S. Ag Tractor, Combine Sales below Five-Year Average in May

Dan Economy

U.S. tractor and combine monthly unit sales in May 2022 fell below the five-year average for the first time since March 2020. The monthly data, released last week by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), shows U.S. total farm tractor sales fell 14.5 percent for the month of May compared to 2021, and U.S. combine sales for the month declined …

ranch land

Investing in Farm & Ranch Land

Dan Beef, Cattle, Economy, Field Crops, Livestock, Pasture

We told you last week that stronger land prices during late 2021 continued higher through the first five months of this year. That was partially helped by investors looking for a low-risk inflation hedging investment. And Mark Oppold reports wealthy investors are turning to farm and ranch land. According to Farmers National Company, prices for good quality cropland are up 20 …

farmer

Farmer Sentiment Plummets as Production Costs Skyrocket

Dan Economy

The Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer plummeted in May to a reading of just 99, the weakest reading since April 2020. The May 2022 barometer reading marked just the ninth time since data collection began in fall 2015 that the overall measure of farmer sentiment fell below 100. Agricultural producers’ perceptions regarding current conditions on their farms, as well …

inflation

Farm Real Estate Debt Builds in First Quarter

Dan Economy

Farm real estate debt at commercial banks grew modestly in the first quarter, while production loans remained steady. The Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank says alongside soaring farmland values, real estate loan balances increased at the fastest pace in four years and drove an increase in the overall amount of agricultural lending. Following a sharp pullback over the last two …