Continuing Resolution Provides Much Needed Disaster Assistance for Agriculture

Dan Economy

Last week, the Senate and House passed a Continuing Resolution to fund federal agencies through December 3. The CR provides $10 billion in much-needed disaster relief for losses incurred by farmers and ranchers in 2020 and 2021. It also extends Livestock Mandatory Reporting through December 3 of this year. National Farmers Union President Rob Larew says this is good news …

AFBF: No Methane Tax on Animals in Reconciliation Bill

Dan Cattle, Dairy, Economy, Legislative, Livestock, Regulation

The American Farm Bureau Federation, addressing a social media myth, says “the current language of the reconciliation bill does not impose a methane tax on agriculture.” Those words from AFBF’s Public Affairs Vice President Sam Kieffer, who says the statement seeks to clear up any confusion. Kieffer says that over the summer, Farm Bureau economists conducted an analysis, at the …

Farm Credit Situation Shows an Improving Farm Economy

Dan Economy

We told you back in early June that strengthening of the U.S. ag economy bolstered farm credit conditions in the first quarter of 2021. And a current look at the farm credit situation shows a continuing strong and improving farm economy. Gary Crawford has more details. The overall outlook for farm income and credit conditions remained significantly improved from recent years. Sponsored …

Hurricane Ida Does More than $500 Million to Louisiana Agriculture

Dan Economy

Hurricane Ida did more than a half-billion dollars’ worth of damage to Louisiana agriculture. The LSU AgCenter says the Category 4 hurricane’s total damage to Louisiana’s agriculture industry is at least $584 million. Economist Kurt Guidry tells The Hill that about half the damage is to the timber industry, the top-grossing ag commodity in the Bayou State. Over 168,000 acres …

Discussing Milk Pricing Issues

Dan Dairy, Economy, Marketing

Last week, the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee Dairy Subcommittee held a hearing that was called by chair Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY). The hearing focused on issues related to milk pricing and the Federal Milk Marketing Order system, which has shown strains during the COVID-19 pandemic due in large part to flaws in the current Class I mover and its ripple effects through …

Ag Disasters Funding Included in House Stop-Gap Funding Bill Facing Senate GOP Filibuster

Dan Beef, Cattle, Dairy, Economy, Field Crops, Legislative, Livestock

House Democrats included billions for Ag disaster aid in their stop-gap government funding bill that passed on a party-line vote, but that now faces a Senate GOP filibuster over its debt limit hike. The stop-gap spending bill to avert a government shutdown October first passed on a partisan 220-211 vote, despite Democrats including billions for Ag and other disasters. Here …

Commissioner Fried / FDACS Submit 2022-23 Legislative Budget Request

Dan Economy, Florida, Legislative

(Tallahassee, FL/Sept. 20, 2021-FDACS) — Last week, Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) submitted the department’s Legislative Budget Request (LBR) for Fiscal Year 2022-2023. “Despite the challenges of operating through a continuing pandemic, our core mission remains the same: to safeguard the public and support Florida agriculture. Our budget priorities are solutions-oriented and critical not only to our …

September Forecast for Beef, Pork and Poultry Production and Prices

Dan Beef, Economy, Pork, Poultry

USDA’s September outlook notes the trends of production and price for the beef sector are moving in opposite directions, while showing a reduction in pork production. Rod Bain has more details. World Agricultural Outlook Board Chair Mark Jekanowski also discusses the September outlook for poultry production and prices. Sponsored ContentNuseed Carinata Covers New GroundAugust 29, 2024CIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, …

What Farmers Need To Know About Disaster Assistance

Dan Alabama, Economy, USDA-FSA

Natural disasters can devastate family farms, wreaking havoc on infrastructure and affecting crops and livestock. An economist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES) said the most significant threats come from hurricanes and their aftereffects. “The nature of their job means that farmers face inherent risks,” said Adam Rabinowitz, who is also an Auburn University assistant professor of agricultural economics. …