Category: Farm Report

USDA embraces hemp as a crop, but many hurdles remain for growers   On Tuesday, the Department of Agriculture tempered optimism about hemp, a new, money-making crop for many farmers, with caution of obstacles for an emerging industry.   Lawmakers agree on bill offering path to legal status for farm… Continue reading

USDA takes an earlier look at the long-term crop forecast   Almost unnoticed, the USDA has shifted to an earlier reference point for an arcane but important document that helps shape the federal budget and provides a first look at the likely size of next year’s crops.   Multiple lawsuits… Continue reading

Senate to vote on funding for ‘heirs property’ initiative   The Senate is scheduled to vote today on an amendment to provide $5 million for a re-lending program that would be a step toward resolving ownership issues for farmers operating on so-called heirs property — land that passed from one… Continue reading

Ag purchases are welcome, but significant Sino-U.S. issues remain, says Pence   President Trump aims to sign a “phase one” trade agreement with China that will result in vast sales of U.S. farm exports on the way to resolving “a whole range of structural and significant issues” between the nations,… Continue reading

Biofuel advocates challenge EPA on RFS waivers   The EPA justified its exemption of 31 refineries from the Renewable Fuel Standard in a two-page memorandum that it did not reveal for weeks, said a coalition of four biofuel groups and two farm groups in a challenge filed in a U.S…. Continue reading

Despite trade and weather woes, low farm income ‘not so unusual’   An array of factors, from foreign competition to slower economic growth at home and abroad, will constrain U.S. farm income in the near term, but one economist says current income levels are “more normal than we like to… Continue reading

Still recovering from recession, rural America has assets for growth   Rural America was hit harder by the Great Recession than metropolitan areas and has not recovered fully, said the Center for American Progress on Monday. Although rural communities face unique challenges, they have assets for growth, the liberal think… Continue reading

Although weaknesses persist, farmers borrow less money   Farmers and ranchers are taking out fewer loans from agricultural banks, and asking for smaller amounts of money when they need cash to pay for equipment, livestock or day-to-day expenses, said the Federal Reserve in its quarterly Agricultural Finance Databook. “Weaknesses in… Continue reading

Trump ‘chose oil companies over family farmers,’ says senator The Trump administration is siding with Big Oil despite announcing a plan to increase ethanol consumption, farm state senators told the No. 2 USDA official on Thursday. “That’s a president that has chosen oil companies over family farmers,” said one of… Continue reading