Rural Mainstreet Index Signals Continued Economic Weakness
New survey results show the rural economy continues to struggle, with weak commodity prices, rising input costs, and ongoing uncertainty surrounding trade policy weighing heavily on farmers and ranchers. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says rural bankers across a 10-state region remain concerned about the out...
Cattle Feeders Optimistic as Cattle Trade Begins to Normalize
The U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to reopen cattle imports from Mexico later this month, beginning at the Douglas, Arizona, port of entry. Ben Weinheimer, president and CEO of the Texas Cattle Feeders Association, says the phased reopening comes with extensive health protocols designed to keep New World screwwor...
Boozman Announces Senate Farm Bill Markup is Thursday, August 6
Late last Friday, Senate Ag Chair John Boozman announced a last-minute farm bill markup will take place just before the senate's long summer recess. The announcement came well after business hours and followed Boozman's telling reporters in June. "Before August, work hard to actually have a vote and get it out of ...
Blood Supplies Dangerously Low in Rural America
Farming, ranching, meat processing, grain handling, and many other aspects of agriculture can be very dangerous. If blood is needed to sustain someone after an accident, there could be a problem. Following weeks of declining blood donations, the United States Surgeon General warned the nation that the blood supply has ...
Strong Export Sales Overshadowed by War and Weather Issues
Both corn and soybean sales were strong this week, but those strong export sales were overshadowed by market pressure from the wars overseas as well as the weather here in the U.S. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave a breakdown of the corn export data. "Yeah, corn sales were very good. This is new crop. ...
Challenges Ahead For Keeping Farmland in Farming
While the rapid increases in farmland values have slowed, the cost of buying farmland is still creating hurdles for producers looking to expand or for young farmers trying to get their start. Julia Freedgood, program advisor with American Farmland Trust, says prices may be stabilizing, but affordability remains a chall...
AFBF Analysis Details Concern About Available CCC Funds
While increases in the farm safety net through the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act were welcome, there are concerns about USDA receiving enough funding for the safety net to work. John Newton, vice president of public policy with the American Farm Bureau Federation, says this is where the Commodity Credit Corporation comes...
Rain Helps, But Drought Persists Across the Carolinas
For the first time in a couple of days here in the Carolinas, we have seen blue skies and sun, which is normally what we've been seeing over the last six months. But this has been one of the wettest Julys on record, especially here in the Carolinas. We got State Assistant Climatologist Corey Davis to talk about it. Cor...
Cattle Feeders Welcome Border Reopening
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a phased reopening of the southern border to Mexican cattle imports beginning Aug. 24 at the Douglas, Arizona port of entry. The border closed in May of last year to prevent the spread of New World screwworm. For cattle feeders, the announcement marks an important step t...
EPA Seeks Changes to DEF Rules, WOTUS
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing a rule that would eliminate diesel exhaust fluid, or DEF, derate requirements on certain diesel-powered equipment. EPA South Central Regional Administrator Scott Mason says the proposal comes after months of feedback from farmers, ranchers and truckers, who identifi...