The Creighton University Rural Mainstreet Index climbed above growth neutral in May for the fourth-straight month. The index surveys bank CEOs in rural areas across a ten-state region that depends on agriculture or energy to power its economy. It’s the first time since 2015 that the index readings have been above growth-neutral in four consecutive months. The growth index rose …
Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue: “Trump Administration Stands Behind Ag Producers”
“My message to rural America is always the same: President Trump hears you and is working to make your life better.” Trump Administration Stands Behind Ag Producers By Secretary Sonny Perdue Omaha World-Herald May 20, 2018 … Throughout my travels, I’ve heard from the people living in rural America about what they want out of this administration: a boost in …
Farm Loan Rates Edging Higher
Interest rates on most types of farm loans continued to move higher. A Kansas City Fed report says, following modest increases in short-term rates, commercial banks raised interest rates on loans used to finance various farm-sector purchases. Following a period of historically-low rates, interest rates increased most significantly on loans used to finance operating expenses. Operating loan interest rates have …
Farm State Senators Worry About Trade During Hearing
The Senate Agriculture Committee convened a hearing on Tuesday and expressed a great deal of concern over the trade strategy of President Donald Trump and its effects on the U.S. farm economy. Politico says farm-state senators used the opportunity to direct Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue to impress on the Trump administration just how sensitive commodity markets are to trade actions. …
Ending Payment Limits Could Cause Farm Consolidation
The farm bill draft released by the House Agriculture committee includes provisions that “would reverse decades of precedent,” and usher in an era of “unlimited farm subsidies for the nation’s largest mega-farms,” according to the National Sustainable Ag Coalition. The coalition calls the farm bill a “brazen attempt to undo years of statute for the benefit of the nation’s largest …
Farmers Have Other Concerns Than Farm Bill
Farmers are more concerned with trade and being burdened with over-regulation, rather than the farm bill, according to one U.S. Senator. Republican Roy Blunt of Missouri said during a Senate hearing last week that “the farm bill never came up” during a recent listening session with farmers in his state, as pointed out by the Food and Environment Reporting Network. …
Farm Credit Administration Releases Quarterly Report
A report on the performance of the Farm Credit System shows 2018 is another challenging year for agriculture. The report, presented to the Farm Credit Administration board, outlines the economic issues affecting agriculture. Based on its first forecast of the 2018 farm economy, The Department of Agriculture projects net farm income to decline by 6.7 percent, with both crop and …
Officials Mulling Possible Help for Farmers during Trade Tensions
There has been a lot of talk this week about the proposed Chinese tariff increase on U.S. ag products. But according to a story from Gary Crawford, the Administration is considering actions that might reduce the possible economic damage to farmers from trade disruptions and possible trade wars. Officials Mulling Possible Help for Farmers during Trade Tensions Sponsored ContentNuseed Carinata …
Rural Mainstreet Index Remains Positive
Dodd-Frank Limits Lending for Most Rural Banks March Survey Results at a Glance: * For a second straight month the overall index rose above growth neutral. * Approximately 16.8 percent of grain farmers are expected to suffer negative cash flow for 2018. This is down slightly from 12 months earlier. * The percent of farmland purchases for cash (not financed) declined …
New Tax Law Will Wipe Out Estate Tax Worries for Most People
The new tax law still has estate taxes, but according to a story from Gary Crawford, very few people will ever have to worry about them. New Tax Law Will Wipe Out Estate Tax Worries for Most People Sponsored ContentNuseed Carinata Covers New GroundJuly 15, 2024CIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: Partners in ProfitabilityApril 1, 2024