Top agribusiness, farming, ranching and rural-related news
EPA Issues Proposed Rules Increasing E15 Availability Nationwide
The agency proposed changes to fuel dispenser labeling requirements for the gasoline-ethanol blend earlier in the month
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Genetically-Engineered Seed Planted on Majority of Cotton Acres
Many of the major crops grown in the United States are genetically-engineered or modified and are either herbicide-tolerant, insect-resistant or stacked with both traits.
Farm Suppliers and Cooperatives Looking for Favorable Year
A recent CoBank 2021 outlook report examines key factors that will shape agriculture and market sectors that serve rural communities throughout the U.S. this year.
IRS Announces Delay in Beginning of Tax-Filing Season
Tax season will begin on February 12 and will allow the IRS time to complete testing of internal systems following tax law changes that provided a second round of Economic Impact Payments and other benefits.
American Farm Bureau Sets Policy Priorities for 2021
The nation’s largest farm and ranch organization capped off its recent annual meeting by adopting policies that will guide the organization through 2021.
Growing Interest for Hemp Fueling Demand for Education
What is the newest old crop today? According to USDA, it’s hemp.
New USDA Tools Used for Meeting Innovation Challenges
USDA has released its U.S. Agriculture Innovation Strategy Directional Vision for Research summary and dashboard that will help to guide future research decisions within USDA.
Smaller Farmers and Ranchers Find New PPP Opportunities
The Paycheck Protection Program, authorized originally in the 2020 CARES Act, was reauthorized recently to re-appropriate the unused funds from the first round.
Ag CEO Council Meets With Biden’s Trade Nominee
Leaders of major agricultural and commodity groups recently met with the Biden Administration’s nominee for trade ambassador, Katherine Tai.
Specialty Crop Industry Facing Uphill Battle This Winter
The CoBank 2021 outlook report examines key factors that will shape agriculture and market sectors that serve rural communities throughout the U.S. this year.
Chinese Beef Production Slipping, Pork Production is Rising
Global beef production for 2021 is fractionally lower at 61.2 million tons primarily due to declines in China and the United States.
USDA Announces Changes and Revisions to CFAP Program
The new round of CFAP, announced Friday, will expand eligibility for some producers and commodities.
Corn, Sorghum, Soybean and Cotton Export Sales Rebound
Last week was an active one for export sellers as all major commodities, except wheat, experienced an uptick from foreign buyers.
2021 Agricultural Outlook Forum Theme: “Building On Innovation”
USDA is rolling out details of the 97th annual Agricultural Outlook Forum, to be held virtually in mid-February.
USDA Investing $12 Million for Feral Swine Control
USDA is investing $11.65 million in 14 projects to help agricultural producers and private landowners trap and control feral swine as part of the Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program.
Feedlots Could Find Path to Profitability in 2021
COVID-19 and fluctuating fed cattle and feed prices resulted in another challenging year for cattle finishers. But current breakeven and fed cattle price projections suggest that net returns may close in on breakeven prices by July.
China Looks to Rebound, Increasing Demand for Meat
Driven by higher estimates for pork, total meat import forecasts for China in both 2020 and 2021 have been revised higher.
Despite Crazy Year, Farm Machinery Sales Experience Growth
While the majority of the American economy was struggling through a year marked by mandatory business closures due to COVID-19, 2020 appears to have been good for farm equipment manufacturers.
Recent Rain and Snowfall Help to Lessen Drought
The latest drought map for conditions as of January 5 shows the largest one-week improvement since 2018.
USDA Projects Reduced Stocks For All Major Crops
USDA end of year stocks estimate for all major crops is fairly easy to report: all are lower than in 2019. Specifically, corn stocks are slightly lower while wheat stocks are down 9 percent, soybeans are off 10 percent and sorghum stocks are down 12 percent as of December 1.
2020 U.S. Pork Exports Continue Record-Setting Pace
November was a strong month for U.S. pork exports, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation, as totals have already surpassed the full-year volume and value records set in 2019.
USDA Increases Season-Average Price for Most Crops
Markets reacted favorably to USDA’s latest monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report on Tuesday. Corn, soybeans, wheat, and cotton all closed higher on the overall positive news for 2021.
Larger Grain and Oilseed Crops in 2020, Lower Cotton
In what was the equivalent of a data dump of crop information on Tuesday, USDA rounded out their reports with an annual crop production summary for 2020.
During Transition Period, Career Staff Will Lead USDA
As the Federal government begins a slow transition to a new administration, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue has announced interim staffing to guide USDA through the process.
Plant-based, Meat-substitute Producer Aiming at Animal Agriculture Extinction
Whether the announcement by Impossible Foods represents demand growth or a lack thereof, the company making plant-based meat substitutes is dropping prices.
Record Beef Exports in November, Annual Exports Lower
U.S. beef exports posted one of the best months on record in November, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation.
Farmers On Their Feet More Than Other Occupations
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that in 2020, agricultural workers spent 78 percent of their workday standing, well above the national average
Investors Turning to Agricultural Land to Improve Portfolios
Owning land has always been a priority for farmers and ranchers, but interest in this real asset by investors has grown the past year.
Georgia Senate Losses Gives Stabenow Senate Agriculture Gavel
As the dust settles from a unique set of circumstances in Georgia, the state now has two new Senators and the Democratic party has control of the U.S. Senate. The losses also bring major changes to the Senate Agriculture Committee.
Caprock Cattle Educational Series: Supplemental Feeding
Floyd and Hale County’s Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Agents are your hosts for a series of talks with experts for the 2020 Caprock Cattle Educational Series.
Cattlemen Meeting Virtually Prior to In-Person Industry Convention
Late last year, the National Cattleman’s Beef Association announced a postponement of the annual Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show originally scheduled for early February in Nashville, TN until mid-August.
Lackluster Week for U.S. Crop Sales and Exports
USDA’s Foreign Agriculture Service released their latest Weekly Export Sales Report on Thursday, outlining sales and exports for the final week of 2020.
CoBank Outlines Ten Factors Shaping Agriculture in 2021
Even though the calendar no longer says 2020, the American economy continues to struggle.
Texas Drought Deepens In Spite of Recent Moisture
Despite some much-needed moisture across Texas over the past week, the latest drought map for conditions as of December 29, 2020, shows little change from the previous week
Farmers Likely to Increase Machinery Purchases in 2021
As crop prices improve, farmers and ranchers appear more optimistic to make large investments in their operations.
Higher Prices Helping Some, Drought Conditions Pressuring Others
While many farmers are relieved to see higher prices in nearly every commodity market, bankers in the Southwest are alarmed by the expanding drought across the region.
Sustainability Message Reverberates at Virtual Beltwide Cotton Conference
Sustainability took the main stage at Wednesday’s annual Beltwide Cotton Conference.
Farmer Optimism Improves on Rally in Crop Prices
There was a modest improvement in producer sentiment according to the December Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer.
Drought and EPA Decisions in Spotlight at Beltwide
The 2021 Beltwide Cotton Conference kicked off Tuesday morning, albeit virtually, with the annual Consultants Conference General Session. The event, which was scheduled to be in-person in New Orleans, fell victim to the health protocols of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Custom Harvesting Community Preparing to Meet In-Person
As many organizers are choosing to either postpone, cancel or hold their events virtually in 2021, one group is pushing forward with their annual convention.
Effects of Drought on Ogallala Aquifer Being Measured
Starting Monday, High Plains Underground Water Conservation District (HPWD) personnel will begin their annual water level measurements in an attempt to determine the effect of 2020 pumping on groundwater levels in the area.
Dairy Producers Experiencing Higher Prices Fueled By Exports
According to the National Milk Producers Federation, the industry survived with government support and robust export markets.
Revised Rules for PPP Stand to Benefit Agriculture
With the passage of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, Congress reauthorized the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and provided new rules related to agriculture.
USDA Announces First Significant Purchase of FMD Vaccine
The USDA has been working to develop a Foot and Mouth vaccine bank, and last week announced their first significant purchase.
Program Developed to Aid in On-Farm Biosecurity Plans
In collaboration with USDA and its Secure Beef Supply plan, the Beef Checkoff-funded Beef Quality Assurance program recently developed a Daily Biosecurity Plan for Disease Prevention.
Trump Names New Director to Head USDA’s NIFA
Dr. Carrie Castille has been named the new director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
Drought Conditions Continue to Deepen, No Relief Expected
The latest drought map for conditions as of December 15 shows improvement in the northern Panhandle and East Texas and degradation in Central and South Texas.
Congress Passes Economic Relief Package, Agriculture Weighs In
Agricultural groups are reacting to the passage of an economic relief package by Congress this week.
More Details Released Regarding Pandemic Assistance to Agriculture
As Congress agrees to fund the government through next year and also provides just under $1 trillion in pandemic relief, the agriculture industry has been sorting through the details of an additional $13 billion expected to flow through USDA in the coming months.
Pandemic Relief Bill Riding on Government Funding Coattails
Americans and agricultural producers may be receiving a Christmas gift from the Federal government this week, based on the agreement by the legislative and executive branches to a COVID relief deal.