Smaller Trade Deficit May Not Mean Farm Strength
KNOXVILLE, TN – A smaller U.S. agricultural trade deficit may look like progress, but one […]
farm economy
Current Farm Downturn Differs From 1980s Farm Crisis
LUBBOCK, TX – The current farm downturn is serious, but economists say it is not […]
Farm Downturn Pushes Producers Back To Management Basics
LUBBOCK, TX – Crop producers are facing a farm downturn driven less by collapsing prices […]
Farm Income Downturn Intensifies As Policy Decisions Near
WASHINGTON, DC – Farmers are facing a third straight year of declining economic conditions as […]
Bridge Payments Reach Farmers Amid Ongoing Financial Strain
LUBBOCK, TX – USDA has already sent nearly $9.6 billion in Farmer Bridge Assistance payments […]
Monopoly Behavior Signals Raise Concerns Across Agricultural Markets
NASHVILLE, TN – Watch for industries restricting innovation, blocking competitors, or influencing regulations — those […]
Fed Beige Book Signals Mixed Outlook For Agriculture
NASHVILLE, TN – The Federal Reserve’s April Beige Book shows a mixed and increasingly cautious […]
Federal Reserve Highlights Investment Needs Across Rural America
LUBBOCK, TX – Federal Reserve Governor Michael Barr says stronger investment in rural communities will […]
Tariffs Not Primary Driver Of Rising Goods Inflation
NASHVILLE, TN – New analysis from the Minneapolis Federal Reserve suggests tariffs are not the […]
Fertilizer Costs Surge As Farmers Face Tight Margins
NASHVILLE, TN – Rising fertilizer and fuel costs are tightening margins for U.S. farmers during […]
Farm Survey Signals Growing Stress Across U.S. Agriculture
LUBBOCK, TX – U.S. farmers are increasingly concerned about long-term profitability and global competitiveness, as […]
Iran Conflict Drives Volatility In Crop Margins Outlook
NASHVILLE, TN – Rising energy and fertilizer costs tied to the Iran conflict are rapidly […]
Rural Economy Weakens As Farm Income Pressures Persist
LUBBOCK, TX – Parts of rural America tied to row-crop agriculture are showing recession-like conditions, […]
Renewable Diesel Policy Uncertainty Clouds Soybean Crush Outlook
NASHVILLE, TN – Uncertainty surrounding federal biofuel policy is shaping the expansion of renewable diesel […]
Energy Rally Lifts Farm Costs Across Key Inputs
NASHVILLE, TN – Surging energy markets are quickly becoming a cost story for U.S. agriculture […]
House Committee Advances Bipartisan 2026 Farm Bill Forward
WASHINGTON, DC – The House Agriculture Committee advanced a bipartisan five-year farm bill early Thursday […]
Livestock Strength Offsets Continued Weakness Across Crop Sector
KANSAS CITY, MO – U.S. farm income conditions remained uneven through 2025 as strong livestock […]
Livestock Strength Offsets Continued Weakness Across Crop Sector
KANSAS CITY, MO – U.S. farm income conditions remained uneven through 2025 as strong livestock […]
Government Payments Mask Weak Farm Profitability Into 2026
NASHVILLE, TN – Producers entering 2026 still face tight margins despite improved headline farm income, […]
U.S. Catfish Sales Edge Higher Despite Acreage Decline
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. catfish producers posted slightly higher sales in 2025 even as production […]
Farm Bankruptcies Rise Again As Financial Pressures Intensify
WASHINGTON, DC – Farm financial stress continued to deepen in 2025 as Chapter 12 farm […]
USDA Expands Export Financing To Boost Farm Sales
WASHINGTON, DC – The Trump Administration is expanding export financing tools to strengthen overseas demand […]
Farmer Sentiment Slides As Financial, Export Worries Rise
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – Farmer confidence weakened sharply at the start of 2026 as economic […]
U.S. Farm Economy Shows Strength, Growing Divergence
KANSAS CITY, MO – U.S. agriculture entered 2026 with mixed financial signals, as strong livestock […]
AGRIBUSINESS REPORT PODCAST – Wesley Davis
Today’s guest is Wesley Davis. He is the Chief Economist for Meridian Agribusiness Advisors in New […]
AGRIBUSINESS REPORT PODCAST – Dr. Darren Hudson
Today’s guest is Dr. Darren Hudson, Director of the International Center for Agricultural Competitiveness at […]
Economist Says Strong Net Farm Income Helping Producers
LAKELAND, FL – Despite rising interest rates and input costs, the 2022 farm economy is […]
Farmer Sentiment Down 30 Percent Since November 2020
Volatilty in commodity markets combined with historic increases in crop input prices are leading farmers and ranchers down a road of growing pessimism.
Despite Recent Price Declines, Producers Slightly More Optimistic
Farmers and ranchers appear to be slightly more optimistic about the agricultural economy, according to the latest results from the August Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer.
Net Cash and Farm Income Reaching 7-Year Highs
USDA’s Economic Research Service forecasts inflation-adjusted net cash farm income to increase by 17.2 percent from last year.
Farm Bankruptcies Bucking Trend, Fall to Six-Year Low
According to the data from the U.S. Courts, there were 24 percent fewer filings over the past year with the total number of 438 representing the lowest number since 2015.
Farm Income and Credit Conditions Continue to Improve
Alongside a sharp turnaround in agricultural economic conditions and lasting support from government programs related to pandemic relief, both farm income and loan repayment rates increased from a year ago.
Few ‘Corporate’ Farms in U.S., Most are Sole-Proprietors
According to AgAmerica Lending,the average farm size in 2019 was one acre larger than the same farm in 2018. USDA statistics show that increase in farm size comes at the expense of a decline in total number of operations.
U.S. Farms Come in Many Shapes and Sizes
From a sunny citrus grove in Florida to a colorful Washington apple orchard, the U.S. is home to a wide variety of farm operations. That being said, every farm operates differently and faces unique challenges.
Longtime Ag Economist Says Sustained Inflation Not Likely
As more economists warn about the pending threat of sustained inflation, one agricultural economist suggests the fear may be unwarranted.
How Much Does a Farmer Make? Hearty Meal
How much does the farmer make? You might be surprised to learn that the farmer receives less than 10 percent of the profit on one pound of boneless ham at the grocery store.
How Much Does a Farmer Make? Salad Items
How much does the farmer make? According to the National Farmers Union, a farmer makes 7 percent of the profit from a pound of lettuce.
Farmers’ Working Capital Expected to Dip in 2021
The Economic Research Service forecasts farm sector working capital will likely face the largest decline in five years in 2021.
Government Projects Banner Year for Net Farm Income
Last year proved to be an interesting year for many reasons, but according to the Economic Research Service, 2020 may be remembered for being the year agriculture broke out of the recession to the industry had suffered through for almost a decade.
Agricultural Exports Responsible for $300 Billion to Economy
How important are exports for U.S. agriculture? According to the Economic Research Service, ag exports add $302 billion in economic output every year.
Financial Stress on Farms Easing With Economic Improvements
Economic and financial conditions in U.S. agriculture continued to strengthen in the first quarter alongside ongoing increases in the prices of major row crops.
Global Economic Crisis Could Cost U.S. Agriculture $4 Billion
The United States is a major exporter of agricultural products, with about 20 percent of its farm output sold abroad, however, an economic crisis in foreign markets is threatening to reduce U.S. export sales.
Despite Volatility, Agricultural Economist Appears Optimistic About 2021
Volatile seems to be one of the best words to describe 2020, especially in agriculture.
Dairy Producers Make Least From Off-Farm Income
Though some producers are able to supplement their income with off-farm jobs, the Economic Research Service says dairy producers are the least likely to do so.
Will Consumer Spending Steer Farm-Level Investments in 2021
The U.S. economy continues to outperform expectations as stimulus funds are fueling robust consumer spending.
Most Agricultural Landlords Live Within Hour of Farms
What role do most landlords have in the operation of their farms? That’s a question the Economic Research Service has been asking.
KC Federal Reserve: Signs Point to Agricultural Recovery
Economic conditions in agriculture improved dramatically in the fourth quarter of 2020 alongside sharp increases in the prices of several major commodities, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.
More Than 40 Percent of Farmers Working “Off-Farm”
According to the Economic Research Service, in 2019, about 71 percent of farm households had one or more members earning wages away from the farm.
Ag Lender Concerns Last Year, Still Top List
As the farm economy continues to work through a prolonged downturn amid a global economic slowdown, agricultural lenders remain concerned with the same factors for themselves and their borrowers as they did last year.
Despite Tough Agricultural Conditions, Lenders Expect Borrowing Expansion
As the farm economy continues to work through a prolonged downturn in the midst of an unparalleled, global economic dislocation, ag lenders remain focused on credit quality.