Farm bill Advances from U.S. House Panel
Republicans moved their long-awaited new farm bill through the U.S. House Agriculture Committee last week, despite opposition from most Democrats.
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House Unveils $1.5 Trillion Farm Bill Draft
The U.S. House Agriculture Committee Friday released the draft bill text of the long-awaited $1.5 trillion farm bill, which is likely to face opposition in the Senate from Democrats due to disagreements over federal anti-hunger programs and climate change requirements.
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Planting Progress Leaps Forward, But Behind Average
The USDA released its eighth Crop Progress Report of the 2024 growing season. Here鈥檚 a look at the most recent corn, soy, wheat, and oat numbers.
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Farmer Sentiment Reaches Lowest Point Since June 2022
Farmer sentiment declined sharply in April, as indicated by the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer, which fell 15 points from March to a reading of 99.
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Aviation Fuel Tax Credits Give Agriculture a Lift
The Treasury Department will allow U.S.-made ethanol and other biofuels to qualify for a sustainable aviation fuel tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act.
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U.S. Soybean Share in China to Fall as Argentina Gains Ground
U.S. soybean exports to China are set to decline further in 2024 as Argentina and Brazil increase their share in the world’s largest soybean market.
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House Pushes Ahead on Farm Bill
House Ag Chair Thompson is ramping up to release the House farm bill draft ahead of the planned May 23 markup.
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Rural Mainstreet Economy in Negative Territory Again
For an eighth straight month, the overall Rural Mainstreet Index (RMI) sank below growth neutral, according to the April survey of bank CEOs in rural areas of a 10-state region dependent on agriculture and/or energy.
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Farmer Optimism Rises Amid Shifting Interest Rate Forecasts
Farmer sentiment improved modestly in March with the rise primarily attributable to producers expecting financial conditions on their farms to improve in the year ahead. The improvement in farmers鈥 financial outlook was buttressed by an improved interest outlook with nearly half of this month鈥檚 respondents saying they expect interest rates to decline over the next 12 months.
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Worst Corn Growing Conditions by State
Here鈥檚 a look at drought conditions across the top 18 corn growing states as of the end of February 2024.
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U.S. Lost 142,000 Farms According to Ag Census
U.S. farmland declined by nearly 20 million acres between 2017 and 2022. As of 2022, there were 880.1 million acres of land dedicated to farming, compared to 900.1 million in 2017.
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U.S. – Mexico GM Corn Dispute to be Resolved This Year
The U.S. trade dispute with Mexico over genetically modified corn is expected to be resolved by the end of this year.
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Record Drop in Farm Income Expected in 2024
Farmers can expect the largest recorded year-to-year dollar drop in net farm income in 2024.
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Rural Mainstreet Economy Is Negative For Sixth Straight Month
For a sixth straight month, the overall Rural Mainstreet Index (RMI) sank below growth neutral, according to the February survey of bank CEOs in rural areas of a 10-state region dependent on agriculture and/or energy.
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NASDA Establishes Federal Policy Priorities for 2024
The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture has chosen five issues to serve as the organization’s primary policy focus for 2024. They include the 2024 Farm Bill, food safety, labor reform, pesticide regulation and PFAS.
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Farmer Sentiment Improves, Amidst Stronger Financial Condition
For the second month in a row, farmer sentiment improved as the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer climbed five points to reach an index value of 115 which left the index 12 percent higher than a year earlier
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Agriculture Leaders Agree to One-Year Farm Bill Extension
Agricultural leaders in Congress have negotiated a one-year farm bill extension to be included in a proposed measure to keep the government running.
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High Interest Rates Discourage Farm Loans
Ag bankers say farmers are tapping their savings from recent boom years instead of borrowing money at what are the highest interest rates since 2007.
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Rural Mainstreet Economy Slumps to 2023 Low
For a second straight month, the overall Rural Mainstreet Index (RMI) sank below growth neutral. This month鈥檚 reading is the most negative outlook recorded since May 2020.
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Deere Partners with DeLaval for Sustainable Milk Production
John Deere and DeLaval, a producer of dairy and farming machinery, have joined efforts to create the Milk Sustainability Center
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Low Water Levels May Plague Ag This Fall and Winter
From the Mississippi River to the Panama Canal, this year鈥檚 drought has resulted in low water levels that are likely to disrupt ag production and trade.
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NPPC Leader Not Betting the Farm on Prop 12
The president of the National Pork Producers Council said on Tuesday he won鈥檛 convert his Missouri hog farm to satisfy the California rules.
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New Law Incentivizes Selling Land to New Farmers
To recruit new generations to the agriculture industry, Missouri state lawmakers passed a bill to incentivize selling land to beginning farmers.
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Disappointment with EPA鈥檚 Latest WOTUS Rule
A number of agricultural groups have expressed significant disappointment in the revised Waters of the U.S. rule released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
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Rural Energy Program Awards $266 Million to 47 States
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced USDA is awarding $266 million in loans and grants for agriculture producers and rural small businesses.
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Farmer Sentiment Weakens in August
U.S. farmers鈥 sentiment weakened in August compared to July as the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer dipped 8 points to a reading of 115.
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$700 Million Allocated to Connect Rural Areas to High-Speed Internet
The USDA today announced nearly $700 million in grants and loans to connect thousands of rural residents, farmers and business owners in 22 states reliable, affordable high-speed internet.
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Midwest Farmland Values Rose Again in the Second Quarter
According to the most recent AgLetter, Seventh District farmland values in the second quarter of 2023 were 9% higher than a year ago.
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Farmers Remain Optimistic About Ag Economy
Agricultural producers were slightly more confident about the farming economy in July, despite recent crop price volatility and continued concerns about rising interest rates.
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No Drought Relief in Sight for August
Weather experts predict that There will likely be little to no improvement to the drought situation through the first half of August in the Corn Belt
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Rural Mainstreet Economy Begins Third Quarter on Healthy Note
After declining below growth neutral in March, the overall Rural Mainstreet Index for July expanded above the threshold for a fourth straight month, according to the July monthly survey of bank CEOs in rural areas of a 10-state region.
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New Online Tool Maps 鈥楤eans Gone Wild’
North Carolina State Extension agents recently released an online tracking tool to capture and share in-season crop problems and recommendations.
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Iowa Disappointed by EPA’s Ruling on Biofuel
Iowa Republican lawmakers and biofuels interest groups expressed disappointment after the U.S. EPA finalized a rule that holds steady the amount of corn-based ethanol that oil refiners must blend into the nation’s fuel.
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Iowa Ag Industry on Alert Following Approval of Lab-Grown Meat
Laboratory meats could have an economic impact on Iowa, one of the biggest livestock-producing states in the nation.
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Farm Bill Draft Could Be Ready by August
The House Agriculture Committee announced this week at an event that draft language for the 2023 Farm Bill could be available by August.
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Drone Images Helps Increase Soybean Yield in Wake of Climate Change
In recent years, Purdue University researchers have worked to predict soybean biomass from drone imagery in Indiana.
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Farmers Worry Bunge’s $8.2 Billion Ag Deal Will Diminish Competition
Farmer and consumer groups warn that the planned agricultural megadeael uniting Bunge and Glencore-backed Viterra could leave farmers with fewer alternatives for selling crops and drive up consumers鈥 prices for food.
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States Accelerate Efforts to Block China’s Ag Land Purchases
A growing number of states are considering or have passed measures this legislative term to ban 鈥渇oreign adversaries鈥 and foreign entities 鈥 specifically China 鈥 from buying farmland.
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Debt Ceiling Agreement is Critical to Ag Market
The recently passed debt ceiling agreement is important for the entire agricultural industry to avoid a default of the government and possible shutdown of essential services.
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Supreme Court Limits Federal Water Regulations
Farmers and property owners received a major win when the Supreme Court significantly reduced the scope of the Clean Water Act.
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Crop Progress: USDA Reports Planting Pace 鈥 Slower Than Expected
The latest crop progress data from the USDA showed both corn and soybean plantings moving slower than analysts anticipated.
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Ag Leaders Lobby to Strengthen Farm Bill Crop Insurance
Farm and commodity trade association leaders lobbied for updating commodity programs and strengthening crop insurance programs at a Tuesday hearing of the U.S. Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry committee.
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The EU Backs Plan to Forcibly Shut Down Thousands of Farms
The European Commission approved two Dutch plans worth a combined 1.47 billion euros ($1.61 billion) to buy out livestock farmers to reduce nitrogen pollution.
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Farmer Sentiment Improves Amidst Farm Bill Discussion
Farmer sentiment improved modestly in April as the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer reversed a two-month decline up 6 points to a reading of 123.
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Global Agriculture Equipment Market Sales Revenue to Surpass $519.44 Billion
The global Agriculture Equipment Market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 8.6% from 2023 to 2031.
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Farmer Sentiment Weakened Again in March
Farmer sentiment weakened again in March as the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer fell 8 points to a reading of 117.
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Biofuel and Farm Leaders Press White House For Action on E15
Biofuel and farm leaders called on President Biden to get ahead of rising fuel costs by authorizing sales of E15 this summer.
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Farm Equipment Sales Index Begins 2023 on Solid Note
As a result of strong farm financial conditions, the Farm equipment-sales index climbed to 61.4, its highest level since June of last year, and up from 60.4 in December. The index has risen above growth neutral for 24 of the last 26 months.
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Farmers React to New WOTUS Rule
Last Friday the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers announced a final rule establishing the definition of 鈥淲aters of the United States.鈥 Many farm and ag groups have reacted to the news.
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Farm Income Jumps 14% to Record High
High commodity prices will propel U.S. net farm income to a record $160.5 billion this year, despite a steep climb in expenses, said the Agriculture Department. Farm income, a gauge of profitability, would be 14% higher than last year and twice as high as three years ago.
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