(WASHINGTON, DC/USDA FSA/June 3, 2022) — This Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans. Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a …
DeSantis Signs Florida Budget, Vetoes $3.13 Billion
(TALLAHASSEE/NSF) — Pointing to a need to further brace the state against a potential recession, Gov. Ron DeSantis issued $3.13 billion in vetoes Thursday as he signed a record $109.9 billion budget for the fiscal year that will begin July 1. Among the large vetoes were $650 million for a new 4,500-bed prison; $195 million for construction of a prison …
USDA Sends Out ERP Applications
Last week, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) mailed 303,000 pre-filled applications for the Emergency Relief Program (ERP). It’s a new program designed to help agricultural producers impacted by wildfires, droughts, hurricanes, winter storms, and other qualifying natural disasters experienced during calendar years 2020 and 2021. This all stems from legislation that Congress passed, and President Biden signed into law. It’s known as the Extending Government Funding …
Consumer Confidence Index Continues to Erode
When talking markets, many times we hear about the U.S. Consumer Confidence Index (CCI). The survey measures how optimistic or pessimistic consumers are regarding their expected financial situation. And according to Mark Oppold, that index continues to erode. The CCI is based on the premise that if consumers are optimistic, they will spend more and stimulate the economy. But, if they are pessimistic, …
Flexibilities Enhanced in Livestock Insurance Updates
USDA recently announced updates to insurance products starting next crop year designed to give livestock and dairy producers greater flexibilities. Rod Bain has more details.
Strong Farm Economy Continues to Support Credit Conditions
Agricultural credit conditions improved in the first quarter of 2022, and farm real estate values continued to increase alongside strength in the American farm economy. Following a year of accelerating increases, the value of non-irrigated cropland across much of the country has soared through March of this year. The sharp growth in land values persisted despite a slight increase in …
Ag Credit Conditions Stay Strong While Outlook Softens
Farmland values continued to increase at a rapid pace through the end of 2021. Alongside sustained strength in farm income and credit conditions, the Kansas City Fed says the value of all types of farmland was over 20 percent higher than the year before. The recent strength in agricultural real estate markets has been supported by strong demand, historically-low interest …
Dairy Groups: Retaliatory Tariffs Required as Canada Refuses its USMCA Obligations
The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) Monday called on the U.S. government to levy retaliatory tariffs on Canada. The call comes after Ottawa made clear that it refuses to meet its signed treaty obligations under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) concerning dairy market access. In January, a USMCA dispute resolution panel initiated by the …
Approximately $6 Billion Provided to Commodity and Specialty Crop Producers Impacted by Natural Disasters
First Wave of Payments Based on Crop Insurance Data (WASHINGTON, May 16, 2022) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that commodity and specialty crop producers impacted by natural disaster events in 2020 and 2021 will soon begin receiving emergency relief payments totaling approximately $6 billion through the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) new Emergency Relief Program (ERP) to offset crop yield and …
New Cotton Crop Could Bring Strong Prices
Across the Southeast, planting of the 2022 cotton crop continues to move along like normal. And while some cotton growers in other areas of the country have been struggling to plant the new crop, Gary Crawford reports this year’s cotton crop has a pretty good outlook when it comes to price.