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Producers with Crop Insurance to Receive Premium Benefit for Cover Crops

Dan Cover Crops, Crop Insurance, Economy, USDA-RMA

Agricultural producers who have coverage under most crop insurance policies are eligible for a premium benefit from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) if they planted cover crops during this crop year. The Pandemic Cover Crop Program (PCCP), offered by USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA), helps farmers maintain their cover crop systems, despite the financial challenges posed by the pandemic. …

May Ag Economy Barometer Tumbles

Clint Thompson Economy

The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer tumbled significantly in May, dropping 20 points to an index reading of 158. It marks the lowest point for the survey since September of 2020. Producers were less optimistic about both the current conditions and the future of the agricultural economy. The potential for changing tax rules and rising input costs appeared to …

quarterly earnings

Regional Farm Credit Conditions Improving

Clint Thompson Economy

Further strengthening of the U.S. Ag economy bolstered farm credit conditions in the first quarter of 2021. A Federal Reserve survey of agriculture credit conditions shows farm loan repayment rates continue to improve rapidly. After many years of growing financial stress and weakness in the Ag economy, bankers reported that farm income was higher than a year ago for the …

stabenow

Stabenow Urges USDA to Implement Food and Ag Supply Chain Provisions

Dan Economy

Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow is urging the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to implement American Rescue Plan provisions to protect food and farm workers. In a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Stabenow states the American Rescue Plan “included resources so that the people who power our food and ag supply chain are protected and have the resources they …

Commissioner Nikki Fried Joins USDA Event on American Rescue Plan Debt Relief for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers

Dan Economy, Florida, USDA

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried joined U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Monica Rainge, U.S. Representative Al Lawson, Jr. (FL-5), and others to highlight historic American Rescue Plan provisions that provide $4 billion in debt relief to socially disadvantaged farmers, ranchers, and growers. They were joined at the Florida A&M University (FAMU) Research and Extension Center in Quincy, Florida by FAMU President Larry Robinson, Ph.D., …

dicamba

National Cotton Council Working to Protect Current Tax Policy

Dan Cotton, Economy

The National Cotton Council (NCC) recently joined 40 other agriculture organizations on a letter to House and Senate leadership to express significant concerns about legislative proposals that would jeopardize the future of family-owned farm and ranch businesses. NCC Vice President of Washington Operations, Reece Langley, explains how the Council is working to protect current tax policy for farmers and others in agriculture. …

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza

Biden Administration Asked to Utilize USMCA Enforcement Measures

Dan Dairy, Economy

A bipartisan group of Representatives sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack regarding dairy and the U.S-Mexico-Canada Agreement. They’re asking the administration to move ahead with enforcement measures negotiated in the USMCA to support U.S. dairy farmers. A key part of the USMCA agreement was the promise of new export opportunities for America’s …

black farmers

USDA Announces Plan for Black Farmer Payments

Dan Economy, USDA-FSA

The USDA says it plans to make debt relief available to Black farmers. The announcement came one day before Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack participated in a roundtable discussion with Black farmers in Georgia. A spokesman says Vilsack will be traveling to other states to discuss the plan in the weeks ahead. Late last week, the Farm Service Agency published the …