Farm Sector Profits Expected To Decline in 2018 Net farm income, a broad measure of profits, is forecast to decrease $4.3 billion (6.7 percent) from 2017 to $59.5 billion in 2018, the lowest net farm income level in nominal dollar terms since 2006. Net cash farm income is forecast to decrease $5.0 billion (5.1 percent) to $91.9 billion, the lowest …
USDA Projects 2018 Farm Income to Fall
While it may be a bit early to know what will happen with farms and farmers in 2018, USDA has just put out its early farm income forecast for this year. Gary Crawford has the details. USDA Projects 2018 Farm Income to Fall Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsNovember 1, 2024Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: Partners in …
Farmers Union Launches Farm Bill Campaign
American family farmers and ranchers are enduring the worst economic slide in generations, and they need Congress to pass a Farm Bill in 2018 to strengthen the farm safety net. In order to educate the general public and to generate support for a Farm Bill to be passed this year, National Farmers Union (NFU) and Farmers Union state divisions have …
Ag Lending and Interest Expense Increasing for Farmers
Farm lending at commercial banks increased during the fourth quarter of last year. Demand for all types of loans, except for farm machinery and livestock, increased significantly over 2016. Operating expenses continue to make up the majority of loan originations. Loans for livestock made up over a quarter of all new non-real estate loans. The total value of operating and …
Agri View: Withdrawing from NAFTA
Everett Griner talks about withdrawing from NAFTA, North American Free Trade Agreement, could be disastrous for agriculture in today’s Agri View. Agri View: Withdrawing from NAFTA There is a lot about NAFTA that most Americans don’t understand. In fact, I would say there is very little they do understand. Here are just a few things that economist say would most …
U.S. Crop Prices Forecast to Remain Stable
U.S. grain prices and demand for grain products will likely not change much, if at all. That forecast comes from Dr. Keith Coble, the Agricultural and Economics Department head at Mississippi State University. He spoke to attendees of the American Farm Bureau national convention during a workshop on global crop trends and the U.S. farm policy forecast for the year …
Expert Says Being Proactive Key to Farm Succession
The main key to passing the family farm from one generation to the next is being proactive, according to Oklahoma State University professor, Dr. Shannon Ferrell. Ferrell is an attorney, associate professor, and agricultural law specialist at Oklahoma State University. This week he’s been the keynote speaker at a series of downstate Illinois meetings hosted by Farm Credit Illinois. Dr. …
FCA Reports on Agricultural Economic Conditions
The Farm Credit Administration (FCA) released a quarterly report on economic issues affecting agriculture and updated the financial condition of the Farm Credit System. The report says the USDA is predicting farm income will stabilize near its historical average. The USDA is predicting an increase in farm income, rising from $93.3 billion in 2016 to 96.9 billion in 2017. Factors …
Interest Rate Hike a Double-Edge Sword for Agriculture
It was no surprise earlier this week when the Federal Reserve upped its federal funds rate target range by 0.25%. With their positive outlook for the U.S. economy, the Feds plan on continuing to raise interest rates well into 2018. This most recent hike was one of the bright spots for farm commodities this week, according to Mike Zuzolo from …
Report Outlines BayerAG-Monsanto Merger Impact
A research document released by Farmers and Families First shows the proposed BayerAG-Monsanto merger would reduce competition and increase cost for farmers. The white paper says the deal would create a $66 billion corporation with “unprecedented control” over the products farmers and agriculture businesses need to grow, produce and distribute food. Farmers and Families First is an advocacy organization that …