distressed

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

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

In an update concerning crude oil futures, Mark Oppold has new suggestions for producers looking ahead. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Funding For Quicker Response to Research QuestionsApril 10, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Opportunities That Spark Research ProjectsApril 3, 2026United Dairy Farmers of Florida Director Encouraged About the FutureMarch 27, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provided Opportunity To Highlight Difficult …

National Cooperative Month

National Cooperative Month

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 ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Funding For Quicker Response to Research QuestionsApril 10, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Opportunities That Spark Research ProjectsApril 3, 2026United Dairy Farmers of Florida Director Encouraged About the FutureMarch 27, 2026Florida …

usda

USDA Invests in Dairy Industry

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

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

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 …

Farmers Face Uncertainty as 2018 Farm Bill Extension Expires Without Replacement

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

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 ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Funding For Quicker Response to Research QuestionsApril 10, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Opportunities That Spark Research ProjectsApril 3, 2026United Dairy Farmers of Florida Director Encouraged About the FutureMarch 27, …

dock worker

Dock Worker Strikes Threaten U.S. Meat Exports

Dock worker strikes across the East and Gulf Coasts threaten to disrupt the U.S. meat and livestock industries significantly, according to Erin Borror, Vice President for Economic Analysis at the U.S. Meat Export Federation. The affected ports are critical, having facilitated nearly $3 billion in red meat exports during the first seven months of the year, averaging about $100 million …