Top agribusiness, farming, ranching and rural-related news
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.
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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.
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.
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.
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.
Growing Inflation Concerning Farmers; Economists Suggest Temporary Situation
There’s concern among farmers and ranchers about the potential for systemic inflation as supply chain bottlenecks and product shortages lead to increasing prices nationwide.
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.
Senator Touting Benefits of Farm System Reform Act
Sen. Cory Booker has reintroduced his Farm System Reform Act, suggesting that many of its measures would help the livestock industry and the cattlemen who are wanting a legislative solution to the limited processing capacity.
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.
USDA Begins Rolling Out Another Livestock Indemnity Program
USDA recently announced that livestock and poultry producers who suffered losses during the pandemic due to insufficient access to processing can apply for assistance for those losses and the cost of depopulation and disposal of the animals.
Export Sales of Wheat Improve, Decline for Others
The latest Weekly Export Sales Report suggests a week over week increase for wheat sales, but reductions from corn, soybeans and cotton.
Agribusiness Report: Dr. Heather Boushey
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 Dr. Heather Boushey from the White House Council of Economic Advisers.
Year-Round Ag Guest Worker Program Nearing Reality
The House Appropriations Committee approved an amendment to the FY22 Homeland Security funding bill that would expand the H-2A guest worker program from a seasonal use a program that could be accessed year-round.
EU Finds No Link Between Glyphosate and Cancer
The EU also found that there is no link to germ cell mutation, is not toxic to reproductive organs, and generally is not a hazard to any human organs – with the exception that glyphosate may “cause serious eye damage”.
Agribusiness Report: Rep. David Rouzer
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. David Rouzer of North Carolina.
House Ag Committee Tackling “Digital Divide” With Legislation
The House Agriculture Committee met on Wednesday to outline and debate HR 4374, the Broadband Internet Connections for Rural America Act.
Agribusiness Report: PCG’s Mark Brown
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 Mark Brown with Plains Cotton Growers.
Ag Secretary Outlines Goals Related to Presidential Order
While traveling through his home state of Iowa, Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack announced USDA intends to make significant investments to expand processing capacity and increase competition in meat and poultry processing.
Could U.S. Be Prepping for Vietnamese Trade War?
Negotiators from the U.S. Trade Representative’s office met virtually with their counterparts in Vietnam last week to discuss a number of trade issues, including an investigation launched under the former administration.
USDA Updates Trade on Expected World Supply/Demand
USDA’s latest WASDE report provides an increase in potential crop prices for wheat, no change for cotton, and lower prices for corn and soybeans.
Agribusiness Report: Bob Maurer on WASDE Report
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 on the latest WASDE report.
Foreign Demand lower as Commodity Prices rise
There may be some growing concern in regards to crop exports and foreign demand amid higher commodity prices.
Agribusiness Report: Rep. Rodney Davis
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 Rep. Rodney Davis of Illinois.
Labor Challenges Leading Increase in Food Supply Automation
As many employers across the country continue to struggle with labor issues, primarily the lack of an available and willing workforce, those planning to return to some jobs in the future will find their positions gone.
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 Rep. August Pfluger & Julia Letlow
Labor Shortage Means Declining Optimism for Producers
According to the latest Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer released earlier this week. two-thirds of all respondents admitted to having either some or a lot of difficulty in hiring adequate labor: a two-fold increase over one year ago.
Chinese Demand Projecting Billions for 2021 Ag Exports
According to AgAmerica Lending, the expectation for the Fiscal Year 2021 exports now sits at a record $164 billion, due in large part to increased purchases from China.
Biden to issue Executive Order on Right to Repair
Farmers who have been frustrated by the inability to work on their own equipment in the past, are receiving a nugget of good news from the White House this week.
Agribusiness Report: Rep. Randy Feenstra
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. Randy Feenstra of Iowa.
Americas Food Bill Falls to 60 Year Low
According to the Economic Research Service, the amount of money the U.S. consumer invested in food last year during the coronavirus pandemic fell to the lowest share in 60 years.
Expectation for Higher Input Costs Drives Producer Pessimism
Nationwide, producers are expecting input costs to rise at a rate of 8 percent or more in the upcoming year, which would be more than four times the average rise over the last 10 years.
Agribusiness Report: Shawn Wade
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 Shawn Wade with Plains Cotton Growers.
House Committee Passes EPA and Agriculture Appropriations Bills
The $177 billion spending program includes language that will limit increases in line speed at poultry plants and will also make it illegal for the Chinese government to own farmland in the United States.
Agribusiness Report: Rep. Kat Cammack
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. Kat Cammack of Florida’s 3rd Congressional District
Average All-Milk Prices Increasing Despite Higher Input Costs
The U.S. average all-milk price increased by a full dollar per hundredweight from a month earlier to $18.40 in April according to the National Milk Producers Federation.
Agribusiness Report: Kaitlynn Glover
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 Kaitlynn Glover with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.
Caprock Cattle Educational Series: Dairy Honors Program
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.
U.S. Corn Producers May Find Eager Brazilian Buyers
Corn growers in the United States may find an interesting partner in the export market soon: Brazil.
Agribusiness Report: Rep. Austin Scott
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. Austin Scott of Georgia.
Southeast Asia now top destination for dairy exports
Over the past decade, U.S. milk production has increased by an average annual growth rate of 1.5 percent while domestic demand has increased at a slightly slower pace.
FTC Adopts Stronger ‘Made in USA’ Rules
The Federal Trade Commission has voted to adopt a final Made in USA rule to strengthen enforcement of the new standard.
Agribusiness Report: Rep. Jim Costa
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. Jim Costa of California.
USDA Reminds Producers of Upcoming Crop Acreage Deadline
Another major deadline is approaching for row-crop producers, according to USDA, as those who have not yet completed their crop acreage reports after planting should make an appointment with the local Farm Service Agency soon.