Federation

Beef Promotions through the Federation of State Beef Councils

Dan Beef, Economy

The Federation of State Beef Councils represents a wide range of industry organizations and every segment of the beef industry. Chairman of the Federation, Clay Burtrum, told AgNet Media they partner with the Cattlemen’s Beef Board. And another big promotion for the Federation is the “Beef It’s What’s For Dinner 300” coming in February at the Daytona International Speedway. Burtrum says this will …

planting

More Planting, More Uncertainty Ahead

Dan Economy, Field Crops

The Wall Street Journal says farmers plan to plant more corn, soybeans, and wheat than last year, but they also face more uncertainty. The Journal says a banner year for grain prices has U.S. farmers planting even more commodities than they did last year. However, high fertilizer prices, forecasts for more weather challenges, and the threat of China slowing its …

food price index

Price of Food Moves Higher in November

Dan Economy

The USDA says the Consumer Price Index for Food moved higher in November, rising 0.5 percent from October to reach levels that are 6.1 percent higher than November 2020. The level of food price inflation varies depending on whether the food was purchased for consumption at home or away from home. The food-away-from-home, or restaurant purchases, CPI increased 0.6 percent …

Florida lawmakers

Florida Lawmakers Have Starting Point on New Budget

Dan Economy, Florida

When it comes to the state budget, Florida lawmakers have a starting point when they being negotiations for a spending plan during the 2022 legislative session that starts January 11th. According to the News Service of Florida, earlier this month Governor Ron DeSantis proposed a $99.7 billion budget that would funnel money to education, the environment and law-enforcement officers while …

tfi

Fertilizer Inflation under Scrutiny

Dan Economy, Fertilizer, Field Crops

Soaring fertilizer prices continue to plague farmers as Ag leaders, and lawmakers struggle for answers and solutions. And with those fertilizer prices more than doubling and some ingredients rising as much as 300 percent, farm leaders like American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duval want relief. “I mean, there are so many things that affect that, even the discussion around carbon …

Christmas trees

Why Christmas Trees Are Costing More than Last Year

Dan Economy

Higher prices for Christmas trees were found in many parts of the country this year. A combination of environmental factors, a tight supply of trees, strong demand and pandemic-related issues with shipping and trucking meant higher prices. Gary Crawford has the story.

deadline

Deadline Extended to Apply for Pandemic Support for Organic Operations

Dan Coronavirus, Economy, Organic

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) this week announced they have extended the deadline for agricultural producers who are certified organic, or transitioning to organic, to apply for the Organic and Transitional Education and Certification Program (OTECP). The deadline to apply for 2020 and 2021 eligible expenses was Jan. 7, 2022 but it’s been extended to Feb. 4, 2022. OTECP …

beef

Various Issues Pushing Up Pork Prices but Not Profits

Dan Economy, Pork

A report issued this week notes retail pork prices are rising, but not industry profits. Economists with Iowa State University, North Carolina State University and the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) says prices are rising due to increased transportation costs, supply bottlenecks and delays and increased labor costs throughout the pork chain. Those factors were either caused or exacerbated by …

registration

GPC Provides Comments at Roundtable Regarding Transportation and Supply Chain Issues

Dan Economy, Georgia, Infrastructure, Peanuts

(TIFTON, Ga./Dec. 17, 2021) — Georgia Peanut Commission (GPC) executive director Don Koehler participated in a roundtable discussion on Friday with U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, U.S. Port Envoy John Porcari and the Georgia Ports Authority in Savannah, Georgia. Koehler provided comments regarding infrastructure issues, rising costs of inputs and the need for education regarding career opportunities in the trucking …