erp

USDA Sends Out ERP Applications

Dan Economy, USDA-FSA

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 …

inflation

Consumer Confidence Index Continues to Erode

Dan Economy

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, …

farmers

Strong Farm Economy Continues to Support Credit Conditions

Dan Economy

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 …

foreign

Ag Credit Conditions Stay Strong While Outlook Softens

Dan Economy

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 …

usmca

Dairy Groups: Retaliatory Tariffs Required as Canada Refuses its USMCA Obligations

Dan Dairy, Economy, Exports/Imports, Marketing, Tariff

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 …

quarterly earnings

Approximately $6 Billion Provided to Commodity and Specialty Crop Producers Impacted by Natural Disasters

Dan Economy, Specialty Crops, USDA-FSA

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 …

cotton crop

New Cotton Crop Could Bring Strong Prices

Dan Cotton, Economy

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.

Florida

Record Fuel Prices in Florida

Dan Economy, Florida

(TALLAHASSEE/NSF/May 13, 2022) — Gas prices in Florida are at an all-time high, up seven cents per gallon since yesterday, and 28 cents higher than one week ago. According to Triple A Auto Club, the average cost of a gallon of regular unleaded fuel in Florida is now four dollars and 47 cents per gallon, which is four cents higher …