Everyday Surfaces Can Harbor More Bacteria Than Toilets
LUBBOCK, TX – Foodborne illness remains a real concern, but some of the bacteria people […]
Rural Economy
Economic Indicators Signal Slower Growth For Rural America
NASHVILLE, TN – U.S. economic growth is continuing, but leading indicators point to slower momentum […]
Lumber Prices Firm While Timber Markets Stay Uneven
NASHVILLE, TN – Finished lumber prices remain firmer than many regional timber markets, creating a […]
AGRIBUSINESS REPORT PODCAST – Sen. John Boozman
Today’s guest is Sen. John Boozman of Arkansas, chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee. He […]
AGRICULTURE TODAY PODCAST 09/15/2026
Today’s episode features the latest agribusiness news, commodity markets, weather, and issues affecting farmers and […]
Rural Communities Explore Cooperatives To Preserve Grocery Access
COLUMBIA, SC – Some rural communities are exploring cooperative grocery stores as independent retailers disappear […]
Record Diesel Prices Renew Focus On Refining Capacity
LUBBOCK, TX – Record diesel prices are putting fresh attention on U.S. refining capacity as […]
Senate Agriculture Committee Prepares Another Farm Bill Vote
WASHINGTON, DC – The Senate Agriculture Committee is preparing another attempt to advance Farm Bill […]
Agricultural Trade Stays Above Trend Despite Global Headwinds
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – Global agricultural raw-material trade remains above trend despite Middle East disruptions and […]
Fed Chair Says Agriculture Is Showing Economic Strains
JACKSON HOLE, WY – Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh says agriculture is among the sectors […]
Packing Plant Closures Ripple Through Rural Communities
LUBBOCK, TX – The closing of Cargill’s Plainview beef plant in 2013 showed how quickly […]
Higher Fuel Costs Reduce Consumer Grocery Spending Plans
NASHVILLE, TN – Higher fuel costs are reshaping household budgets, with more consumers cutting grocery […]
Inflation Fears Deepen Pressure On Rural Household Spending
NASHVILLE, TN – Consumer confidence weakened sharply in August as more households worried that wages […]
Federal Borrowing Adds Pressure To Farm Credit Outlook
WASHINGTON, DC – Federal borrowing continues to accelerate, adding another challenge for farmers and rural […]
Cooling Inflation Masks Persistent Energy Pressure For Agriculture
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. inflation eased slightly in July, but energy costs remain a significant […]
Upstream Agriculture Adds More Value Than Farms Themselves
WASHINGTON, DC – Businesses supplying farmers and ranchers generated more economic value, employment, and worker […]
Farm Financial Pressure Rises Without Reaching Crisis Levels
AMES, IA – Farm financial pressure is spreading across Iowa agriculture, but strong land equity […]
Catfish Farms Shift Ponds Toward Rebuilding Future Supplies
NASHVILLE, TN – Southern catfish producers are shifting pond space toward future production after inventories […]
Trade Deficit Strategy Could Reshape Agricultural Export Markets
NASHVILLE, TN – White House efforts to reduce the national trade deficit could bring new […]
Tractor Sales Slide While Combine Demand Improves Slightly
MILWAUKEE, WI – U.S. tractor sales fell sharply in June as producers remained cautious about […]
Small Business Optimism Improves While Inflation Pressures Persist
NASHVILLE, TN – Rural businesses gained a more hopeful economic outlook in June, but inflation, […]
Food Inflation Pressures Rural Consumers And Ag Markets
NASHVILLE, TN – Higher food prices are squeezing household budgets and reshaping demand across the […]
Small Business Labor Rebound Highlights Rural Hiring Challenge
NASHVILLE, TN – Small business hiring plans rebounded in June, but rural employers are still […]
Rural Farm Communities Face Deeper Economic Downturn Risks
LUBBOCK, TX – Rural communities built around agriculture can face deeper and longer-lasting pressure when […]
Rising Rural Labor Costs Threaten Main Street Investment
NASHVILLE, TN – Rural businesses and farm communities can feel a labor squeeze even when […]
Drought Aid Could Help Ranchers Preserve Cowherds Longer
LUBBOCK, TX – Timely disaster assistance can help ranchers avoid forced herd liquidation when drought, […]
Labor Inflation Keeps Pressure On Rural Main Street
NASHVILLE, TN – Small business optimism remained below average in April, and labor problems continue […]
Rural Population Growth Driven By Migration Gains Recently
LUBBOCK, TX – Rural population trends are shifting, with more people moving into rural areas […]
Rising Fuel Costs Shift Consumer Spending Patterns Nationwide
NASHVILLE, TN – Rising fuel prices are beginning to reshape how consumers spend, with ripple […]
Farmer Lender Relationships Influence Key Farm Financial Decisions
NASHVILLE, TN – Relationships with agricultural lenders can directly shape how farms operate and make […]
USDA Creates Seafood Office Expanding Support For Producers Nationwide
WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Agriculture is expanding its role in food production […]
Small Business Weakness Signals Pressure On Rural Economies
NASHVILLE, TN – Small business optimism declined in March, signaling growing economic pressure that could […]
Federal Reserve Highlights Investment Needs Across Rural America
LUBBOCK, TX – Federal Reserve Governor Michael Barr says stronger investment in rural communities will […]
Rural Economy Weakens As Farm Income Pressures Persist
LUBBOCK, TX – Parts of rural America tied to row-crop agriculture are showing recession-like conditions, […]
Ethanol Expansion Strengthens Corn Demand And Rural Economies
NASHVILLE, TN – Record ethanol production and expanding fuel market access are reinforcing demand for […]
Trade Rules, Regulation And Policy Battles Dominate Debate
LUBBOCK, TX – Beyond financial protections, the upcoming farm bill fight is shaping into a […]
U.S. Farms Decline Again While Operations Continue Expanding
(NOTE: This is the first in a four-part series from USDA’s Farms and Land in […]
Small Business Optimism Holds Firm In Rural America
NASHVILLE, TN – Small business confidence in rural America remained steady entering 2026, offering a […]
Oil And Gas Industry Preparing For More Uncertainty
LUBBOCK, TX – Oil and gas companies are planning for a period of modest prices […]
Rural Population Growth Signals Post-Pandemic Economic Stabilization
NASHVILLE, TN – Rural America added population from 2023 to 2024, marking continued recovery from […]
Record Ranch Purchase Highlights Shifting Rural Land Ownership
NASHVILLE, TN – A massive New Mexico ranch purchase by billionaire Stan Kroenke is reshaping […]
USDA Expands Transparency With New Rural Lending Dashboard
WASHINGTON, DC – Rural lenders, producers, and community leaders now have clearer insight into where […]
Rural Small Business Confidence Improves Heading Into 2026
NASHVILLE, TN – Small business confidence finished 2025 on firmer ground, offering cautious optimism for […]
Consumer Confidence Offers Cautious Demand Signal For Agriculture
LUBBOCK, TX – U.S. consumers are ending 2025 with improving confidence but restrained spending habits, […]
Rural Small Businesses See Modest Optimism Despite Labor Strain
NASHVILLE, TN – Rural and agriculture-adjacent small businesses saw a slight boost in confidence in […]
Comfort Colors Leans On American Cotton, Expands Reach
LUBBOCK, TX – A Vermont-rooted T-shirt label is suddenly everywhere—and its supply chain runs straight […]
Farmland Values Climb Again, Gains Vary by Region
NASHVILLE, TN – USDA’s 2025 state-level cropland value report shows farmland values continuing to rise, […]
Small-Town Business Optimism Ticks Higher Despite Hiring Hurdles
NASHVILLE, TN – The National Federation of Independent Business says its Small Business Optimism Index […]