Despite Some Cost Declines, Food Prices Increase Again
According to the latest Consumer Price Index released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the food price index increased 0.7 percent in July after rising 0.8 percent in June.
Articles by Tony St. James
Agriculture Today 8/17
Your daily look at what’s impacting agriculture around the globe.
Agribusiness Report: Kody Bessent
The longest-running farm program in West Texas, the AgriBusiness Report is our daily interview program with decision-makers in the world of Agriculture. Today’s guest is Plains Cotton Growers CEO Kody Bessent.
U.S. Beef Exports Jump 42 Percent Over 2020
Beef production in June increased 9 percent over May, and 1 percent year over year, to 2.4 billion pounds according to the Agriculture Marketing Service’s Monthly Economic Landscape.
Agriculture Concerned with Pending End to Trade Agreement
Last week, agricultural commodity groups sent a letter to U.S. Trade Ambassador Katherine Tai and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen regarding the future of trade with China.
Caprock Cattle Educational Series: Supplemental Grazing
Floyd and Hale County’s Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Agents are your hosts for a series of talks with experts for the 2021 Caprock Cattle Educational Series. This month’s guest is Dr. Cassandra Olds with Kansas State University.
Top Issue in 2021 Could Be Worker Shortages
From farm to supermarket, labor availability remains the biggest concern and continues to be a significant impediment to quick supply-side responses.
Agriculture Today 7/30
Your daily look at what’s impacting agriculture around the globe.
Agribusiness Report: Jennifer Granholm
The longest-running farm program in West Texas, the AgriBusiness Report is our daily interview program with decision-makers in the world of Agriculture. Today’s guest is Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm.
Beef Cattle Market Impacted by Limited Packer Capacity
Four experts offered a diverse group of Congressional members on Wednesday, ideas for addressing urgent challenges within the beef supply chain.
Corn, Soybean, and Cotton Cancellations Outpace Export Sales
Export sales of wheat were higher for the week ending July 22, but not just lower for corn, soybeans, and cotton, they were actually the equivalent of returns as the cancellation of previous sales outpaced the current week’s sales.
Agriculture Today 7/29
Your daily look at what’s impacting agriculture around the globe.
Agribusiness Report: Danielle Beck
The longest-running farm program in West Texas, the AgriBusiness Report is our daily interview program with decision-makers in the world of Agriculture. Today’s guest is Danielle Beck with National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.
Farmer Cooperatives Enjoy Strong Spring, Next Year Questionable
Farm supply cooperatives enjoyed a strong spring as rising grain prices gave U.S. crop producers the confidence to increase input spend.
USDA Projecting Record-High Commodity Exports in FY21
Though U.S. export commodity sales have been at impressive levels over the past 18 months, the Economic Research Service is predicting an all-time high for this fiscal year.
Senate Republicans and White House Reach Infrastructure Agreement (Again)
It appears the Senate and the White House have an agreement, which is more of an agreement than they had in the past, to fund an infrastructure bill.
Agriculture Today 7/28
Your daily look at what’s impacting agriculture around the globe.
Agribusiness Report: Rep. Rick Allen
The longest-running farm program in West Texas, the AgriBusiness Report is our daily interview program with decision-makers in the world of Agriculture. Today’s guest is Rep. Rick Allen of Georgia.
Uncertainty Set to Drive Volatility in Grain Markets
Volatility is expected to remain a key component of grain markets throughout the remainder of this year according to economists with CoBank.
Chinese Purchases of U.S. Ag Products Approaching Target
What is the value of the Phase One Trade Agreement that the United States and China implemented almost 18 months ago?
Agribusiness Report: Scott Yager
The longest-running farm program in West Texas, the AgriBusiness Report is our daily interview program with decision-makers in the world of Agriculture. Today’s guest is National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Chief Environmental Counsel Scott Yager.
Agriculture Today 7/27
Your daily look at what’s impacting agriculture around the globe.
Popular Program for Weather-Affected Losses Could Be Extended
On Tuesday, the House Agriculture Committee passed, unanimously by voice vote, legislation to reauthorize the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program.
California Leads Nationwide Milk Production Increases for June
Milk production in the United States expanded by more than 3 percent during the month of June, according to the latest data from USDA.
Senate Searching for Free Money to Fund Infrastructure
There are just two hurdles between members of the U.S. Senate and passage of a bipartisan infrastructure package: how to pay for it and the details.
Agriculture Today 7/26
Your daily look at what’s impacting agriculture around the globe.
Agribusiness Report: Bob Maurer on South American crop weather
The longest-running farm program in West Texas, the AgriBusiness Report is our daily interview program with decision-makers in the world of Agriculture. Today’s guest is Bob Maurer with Manduca Trading.
Federal Farm Payments in 2019 Averaged Almost $25k
Government payments to farm operator households totaled $14.8 billion in 2019, based on data from USDA’s Agricultural Resource Management Survey.
Senate Committee Hears Testimony, Considers Farm Workforce Modernization Act
Last week a Senate committee heard testimony on the importance of overhauling the U.S. guestworker programs, also known as the H-2A temporary visa program, concerning agriculture.
Strong Week for Exports of U.S. Upland Cotton
It was a good week for international demand for U.S. wheat and soybeans, through increased sales, and for exports of wheat and cotton according to USDA’s Weekly Export Sales Report for the week ending July 15.
Agribusiness Report: Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg
The longest-running farm program in West Texas, the AgriBusiness Report is our daily interview program with decision-makers in the world of Agriculture. Today’s guest is Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
Cattle on Feed Lower as U.S. Herd Shrinks
The nation’s cattle herd is in contraction, and has been confirmed by the latest July Cattle on Feed Report.
Agriculture Today 7/23
Your daily look at what’s impacting agriculture around the globe.
Agriculture Asks for Expanded Access to H-2A Program
It’s a simple sign, but one that many businesses are displaying today: help wanted.
Agribusiness Report: Rep. Chris Jacobs
The longest-running farm program in West Texas, the AgriBusiness Report is our daily interview program with decision-makers in the world of Agriculture. Today’s guest is Rep. Chris Jacobs of New York.
Bipartisan Senate Group Files Legislation Ending Ethanol Mandate
A bipartisan group in the Senate, has filed legislation to eliminate the corn ethanol mandate for renewable fuel under the Clean Air Act.
Agriculture Today 7/22
Your daily look at what’s impacting agriculture around the globe.
Chinese Agricultural Phase One Trade Deal Purchases Strong
As agricultural trade remains strong, commitments made during the Phase One Economic and Trade Agreement between the U.S. and China last year are still below the mark.
Expanding Drought in U.S. Signals Another Herd Reduction
The U.S. cattle herd experienced a drawdown in live animals about ten years ago on the heels of a severe drought across the Southwest. Today, the industry is looking at a similar situation.
Agribusiness Report: Highlights of 2021 DC Capitol Ag Tour
The longest-running farm program in West Texas, the AgriBusiness Report is our daily interview program with decision-makers in the world of Agriculture. Today’s guests are Reps. Kelly Armstrong (ND) & Troy Balderson (OH).
Union Pacific Halts All Chicago-bound Container Rail Shipments
The agriculture industry is not immune to supply-chain bottlenecks, but a recent announcement from Union Pacific to halt all shipments of international containers from West Coast ports to its Global IV terminal in Chicago just adds more concern for U.S. exporters through the containerized grain markets.
Agriculture Today 7/21
Your daily look at what’s impacting agriculture around the globe.
Cattle Industry’s 75 Percent Plan, Now Fully Operational
In an effort to increase price transparency in the cattle market, an industry-wide group developed a 75 percent plan as a path to a voluntary solution.
Chicken Consumption Expected to Increase Again in 2021
As the general economy struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic, one sector of the agricultural economy flourished: chicken.
Agribusiness Report: Kody Bessent
The longest-running farm program in West Texas, the AgriBusiness Report is our daily interview program with decision-makers in the world of Agriculture. Today’s guest is Kody Bessent with Plains Cotton Growers.
Agriculture Today 7/20
Your daily look at what’s impacting agriculture around the globe.
Nine-fold Increase in Free Student Meals in 2020
According to the Economic Research Service, in fiscal year 2020, USDA’s Summer Food Service Program served a record of almost 1.3 billion meals, just under 9 times more than one year earlier.
Senators Face Decisions on Trillions in New Spending
The Senate will consider two major pieces of legislation this week, and both will add trillions of dollars of new spending in the name of infrastructure.
Agriculture Today 7/19
Your daily look at what’s impacting agriculture around the globe.
Agribusiness Report: Bob Maurer on End of Open Outcry
The longest-running farm program in West Texas, the AgriBusiness Report is our daily interview program with decision-makers in the world of Agriculture. Today’s guest is Bob Maurer with Manduca Trading in Chicago.