Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Economy”
Weather and Trade Take Priority Over Latest Crop Report In this month’s bottom-line analysis, Mark Oppold of Southeast AgNet reports that the latest USDA Crop Report is shaping up to be a non-factor for markets. Instead, the agricultural spotlight shifts to two dominant forces: short-term weather forecasts and ongoing tariff uncertainties. According to Oppold, “Corn pollination peaks next week in …
Holiday Travel Highlights Rise of Agritourism According to recent estimates from AAA, over 72 million Americans traveled at least 50 miles during the recent holiday period. Of those, between 8 to 10 million travelers sought out agricultural destinations, highlighting the growing appeal of agritourism across the country. Agritourism Fuels Economic Growth Nationwide Agritourism has evolved into a vital sector of …
USA Peanut Congress 2025: Ag Economy Stable, But Challenges Remain At the recent USA Peanut Congress, agricultural economist Jeffrey Dorfman of North Carolina State University provided an in-depth look at the U.S. economic and agricultural outlook for the coming year. Dorfman highlighted that supply chains are mostly back to normal, giving the broader economy a solid footing. However, housing remains …
With the Senate’s passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill on July 1st, livestock groups are reacting to the news. Ethan Lane, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association said, “The Senate version of the One Big Beautiful Bill protects family farmers and ranchers across the country from a massive tax hike at the end …
Mid-Year Review Shows Soybean Oil Leading Ag Markets With the first half of 2025 complete, market data reveals a clear leader in the agricultural commodities space: soybean oil, up an impressive 26% year-to-date. It’s the top agricultural performer among 48 tracked commodities, and second overall only to platinum, which has surged more than 50% so far this year. Trailing closely …
The latest quarterly Hog and Pig Report delivered fresh insights for the grain and livestock markets, confirming a trend that’s been building since spring. Lean hog futures have continued their upward momentum, with July contracts hitting new highs and August trading near peak levels at $113.37 before a recent modest pullback. Even with the slight retreat early this week, managed …
As JFK said in speech in 1963, “A rising tide lifts all boats,” that may be a sign of what we’re seeing playing out in meat industry. The USDA is highlighting the price increases that the meat industry is experiencing. USDA livestock analyst Michael McConnell shares details on the increase in hog and pig inventory, somewhat due to the price …
Secretary Rollins Reports on Egg Price Relief, Biosecurity Strategy U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins recently announced a major milestone in the fight against highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), coupled with encouraging news for American consumers. Speaking last week, Secretary Rollins confirmed that egg prices have dropped by 64%, with retail costs down 27% from their peak earlier this year. …
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is highlighting the support from their members for the passage of the Big Beautiful Bill as it makes its way through the legislative process. During the “One, Big, Beautiful Event” held at the White House last week, President Trump highlighted specific efforts and sectors that would be impacted by the bill. Kevin Kester, fifth-generation …
From Columbus to the Cotton Gin: The Crop That Changed a Nation In this edition of the American Agriculture History Minute, Mark Oppold shares a pivotal chapter in American farming—how cotton became one of the nation’s most transformative crops. When Christopher Columbus arrived in the New World in 1492, he discovered cotton growing wild. It wasn’t long before the crop …
