financial

Slight Improvement in Farmer Sentiment

Farmer sentiment did see a slight improvement in July as the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer index rose 8 points to 113. The Index of Current Conditions was up 10 points to 100, and the Index of Future Expectations was 7 points higher than a month earlier.  The July survey showed that high input costs remained the biggest concern for 34% of …

crop report

USDA Forecast: U.S. Corn Production Down, Soybeans & Cotton Up

The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Crop Production report shows corn production this year will be down 1% from last year while soybean production is expected to increase 10% from 2023.  The corn forecast, at 15.1 billion bushels, is expected to have an average yield at a record high 183.1 bushels per acre, up 5.8 bushels from last year. Soybeans, forecast …

hurricane debby

USDA Assists Farmers, Ranchers, and Communities Affected by Hurricane Debby

(USDA/WASHINGTON, August 7, 2024) — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has directed the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to aid recovery efforts for farmers, ranchers and residents affected by Hurricane Debby, which continues its track up the East Coast. USDA staff in offices across the country are ready to respond with a variety of program flexibilities and other assistance to producers and …

FDACS Announces Preservation of Florida Family Farm Through Rural and Family Lands Protection Program

(FDACS/TALLAHASSEE, FL/July 31, 2024) — Today, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced the preservation of a Florida family farm through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ (FDACS) Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. An approximately 1,449-acre portion of the Canaan Ranch, a 3,040-acre working tree farm in Gilchrist County, is being preserved through a rural land protection easement …

farm loan

Non-Real Estate Loan Activity Higher in 2024

As commodity prices have continued to drop, many producers may face economic losses with less balance sheet resiliency. The economists at Agricultural Economic Insights (AEI) say recent loan data revealed that farmers utilized more non-real estate debt in early 2024.  In the first quarter of the year, total non-real estate debt was 14 percent higher than in 2023. AEI says …

quarterly

Pork Industry Impact on U.S. Economy

Despite some challenges this year, the U.S. pork industry remains an important contributor to the nation’s economy.  National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), released its latest Economic Impact Report featuring new data on the U.S. pork industry’s contributions to the national economy. “It’s an interesting report because we look not just at the farm level, but we estimate the impact that arises …

farmers adjust

How Farmers Adjust Spending During Low Commodity Prices

History does repeat itself, especially in agricultural cycles. Rabobank put together a report on how farmers adjust input spending when commodity prices drop. It explores the responsiveness of input volume and price to farm profitability in America, forming a view of how the current downturn will impact the input marketplace through next year.  For example, the report says farm machinery …

producers

Forest and Grazing Questionnaires are Due July 28

For forest and grazing landowners across the Southeast that received a questionnaire concerning conservation practices, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) wants to remind you the completed questionnaires need to be returned by July 28th.  The Conservation Practice Adoption Motivations Survey (CPAMS) is a combined effort by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). They are looking to gather information to better understand …

cotton

Cotton Condition Improving, Peanuts Ahead of Pace

Rain in some of the major cotton growing areas has helped the overall crop. According to USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey, the condition of the cotton crop is improving. And Rippey has the latest on the peanut crop. According to the USDA National Agricultural Statics Service (NASS), this is how the cotton and peanut crops were progressing across the Southeast as of this past Sunday: In …