Category: Farm Report

Ethanol stands out in nationalized campaigning in Iowa Republican presidential candidates pledged allegiance to corn ethanol ahead of the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses in a contest dominated by former president Donald Trump and his personality. There was little room for any farm policy debate in an effectively nationalized campaign. As food… Continue reading

As inflation falls, ‘backwards pressure’ on food prices Compared to food price inflation of 11 percent in 2022, grocery price increases will be virtually nonexistent this year, said a Wells Fargo analyst Wednesday during a panel discussion on the 2024 outlook for the food and ag sector. A Rabobank analyst… Continue reading

Lower commodity prices point to belt-tightening for corn and soy growers Corn and soybean growers will operate in “a much tighter margin environment” this year than in recent years because of lower market prices for the crops, said two University of Illinois agricultural economists on Tuesday. They cited fertilizer and… Continue reading

USDA has spent $1 billion fighting bird flu Since bird flu outbreaks began nearly two years ago, the USDA has spent slightly more than $1 billion to compensate farmers for lost flocks and to suppress the spread of the viral disease, said a spokesperson for the Animal and Plant Health… Continue reading

Agreement on spending limits may prevent USDA shutdown House and Senate leaders announced an agreement on Sunday to limit federal spending to $1.66 trillion this fiscal year, a step toward averting a partial government shutdown in 11 days. Stop-gap funding expires on Jan. 20 for the Agriculture, Transportation, Energy, Veterans,… Continue reading

Nearly 80 million birds die in almost two years of bird flu One-fourth of U.S. losses to bird flu in outbreaks that began in early 2022 were recorded in the past three months, when the viral disease staged a resurgence, according to USDA data released on Thursday. Some 20.9 million… Continue reading

Hemp’s farm bill goals: Raised THC threshold, clearance as dietary supplement Congress should encourage development of the hemp market by including provisions in the new farm bill that would allow the sale of hemp as a food additive and dietary supplement and raise the THC allowance for hemp plants, said… Continue reading

STAKEHOLDER ANNOUNCEMENT USDA Offers Grants for Programs to Create High-Wage Jobs and New Businesses in Underserved Rural Communities WASHINGTON, Jan. 2, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that USDA is accepting grant applications for community-driven programs that will help create high-wage jobs and new businesses in… Continue reading

Yes… Missouri bans foreign adversaries from purchasing farmland near military facilities Pointing to “China and other adversarial nations,” Gov. Mike Parson announced on Tuesday a ban on the purchase of agricultural land in Missouri by citizens and businesses from six nations if the property lays within 10 miles of critical… Continue reading

In 2024 animal welfare standards take effect in California and the USA Six years after voters approved it in a landslide, California’s Proposition 12 animal welfare law, which requires farmers to provide more room for egg-laying hens, veal calves, and breeding sows, is fully in effect with the start of… Continue reading