Agricultural Groups Offer Recommendations for USDA ‘Carbon Bank’
The Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance has worked over the past three months to develop specific recommendations for how USDA should approach a potential carbon bank.
USDA
USDA Updating 2022 Dairy and Livestock Insurance Programs
USDA has announced updates to two popular livestock insurance policies in an effort to improve options and create additional opportunities for producers to participate.
Weekly Pork Exports Achieve New Marketing Year High
For the week ending April 22, 2021, U.S. pork exports hit a new marketing year high and sales for corn, sorghum, and soybeans were higher than the previous week according to the latest USDA Weekly Export Sales Report.
Tyson Becomes First Processor to Join Traceability Project
In a sign of what seems to be coming for the livestock industry, Tyson Foods last week joined U.S. CattleTrace. The program launched three years ago to assist animal health officials with a quick and effective means to respond to any foreign disease outbreak in the beef industry.
Despite Placements, Cattle on Feed Report Within Expectations
USDA released their monthly Cattle on Feed Report for April 1, and for one brokerage firm, there were no surprises.
USDA Study: Western Rainfall More Erratic Since 1970
Dry periods between rainstorms have become longer and annual rainfall has become more erratic across most of the western United States during the past 50 years.
Bill Aims to Break Down Carbon Market Barriers
The Senate Agriculture Committee has reintroduced a bipartisan bill aimed at breaking down barriers for farmers and foresters interested in participating in carbon markets for climate-smart practices.
USDA Opens CRP Enrollment with Higher Payment Rates
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Wednesday that USDA will open enrollment in the Conservation Reserve Program with higher payment rates, new incentives, and a more targeted focus on the program’s role in climate change mitigation.
China Returns as America’s Top Buyer of Commodities
In 2020, U.S. agricultural exports to China totaled $26.4 billion, a $12.6 billion increase from 2019 and representing the largest market for American farmers and ranchers.
USDA Encouraging Producers to Sign Up for CFAP-2
USDA is implementing updates to the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program for farmers and ranchers who faced market disruptions in 2020 due to COVID-19.
Economists Question Whether Today’s Death Tax Kills Farms
As many farm and commodity organizations draw attention to the potential disasters of the Federal estate tax, the Economic Research Service is asking how it will affect farmers and ranchers.
Sorghum Sales and Exports Hit Marketing Year High
USDA’s Foreign Agriculture Service is reporting a marketing-year low for U.S. wheat, and lower sales for corn, soybeans, and cotton in their latest Weekly Export Sales Report for the week ending April 8, 2021.
Pork Struggling to Catch Export Waves Like 2020
February pork exports fell 12 percent from a year ago, and at a value of $629 million, down 13 percent from 2020.
Georgia Returns as Nation’s Top Pecan Producing State
In January USDA’s National Agricultural Statistic Service reported U.S. pecan production for this marketing season (October-September) at 302 million pounds, an 18 percent year over year increase.
Planting Time Fertilizer Prices Leading to Sticker Shock
For corn producers who contacted their fertilizer needs in 2020, they’ll more than likely have costs comparable to the past few years.
Beef Exports Off to Slow Start, Optimism Ahead
This could be a banner year for beef exports if projections from the U.S. Meat Export Federation are realized.
USDA Warned of Unintended Consequences to Forgiving Loans
Bankers and lending groups are calling on USDA to exercise caution when implementing Section 1005 of the American Rescue Plan.
Livestock Producers Eyeing Additional Assistance Through New Program
Livestock producers may be eligible for new or additional payments under USDA’s latest program, the Pandemic Assistance for Producers.
U.S. Cotton Industry Celebrates Another Large Export Crop
U.S. exports of cotton declined 3 percent in 2020 to $6 billion but remained the fifth-highest export value on record.
USDA Releases World Ag Supply and Demand Estimates
USDA released their latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimate report on Friday.
Nationwide Conservation Easements Now Cover 5 Million Acres
USDA and private landowners have partnered to protect more than 5 million acres of wetlands, grasslands, and prime farmland according to the latest information from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Weekly Exports Good for Cotton, Disappointing for Others
USDA released their latest Weekly Export Sales Report on Thursday, for the week ending April 1, 2021. Other than cotton, all commodities experienced lower sales, including marketing year lows for wheat and soybeans.
U.S. Beef Exports Fell in 2020, Rebound Expected
In 2020, the value of U.S. beef & beef product exports contracted 5.5 percent year-over-year, largely due to supply chain constraints and food service struggles in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
China Continues Filling Grocery Cart With U.S. Exports
USDA’s Weekly Export Sales Report for the week ending March 25, 2021, produced a surprisingly large week of sales for pork thanks to China.
Quarterly Grain Stocks Report Bullish for Most Commodities
With more countries beginning to reopen from the COVID-19 shutdowns, export demand for U.S. commodities is increasing, a fact highlighted in USDA’s latest Quarterly Stocks report.
Soybean Acreage Increases Highlight Annual Prospective Plantings Report
Once every year, USDA releases their estimates on prospective plantings in the United States. For 2021, that report places the expectations for soybean plantings at 91.1 million acres, a 5 percent increase over last year.
Pork Stocks Expanding, Prices Improving, Export Demand Growing
USDA is projecting ending stocks for pork in the United States during February 2021 to grow 24 percent above levels last February.
Allendale’s Annual Acreage Estimates Ahead of USDA Report
Traders, and analysts are preparing for two reports from USDA.
USDA Announces Restart to CFAP Under New Program
USDA unveiled their new Pandemic Assistance for Producers program this week, establishing new programs and efforts to bring financial assistance to farmers, ranchers, and producers who felt the impact of COVID-19 market disruptions.
March 1 Cattle Inventory Second Highest on Record
Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 12.0 million head on March 1.
Agribusiness Report: Ken McCarty
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
Agribusiness Report: Tom Vilsack
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
U.S. Pork Exports Stumble While Lamb Exports Improve
January pork exports, in volume, slipped 9 percent in January compared to one year ago and export values fell 13 percent according to the latest data from USDA.
Good Export Sales Report for Most U.S. Commodities
USDA’s Foreign Agriculture Service released the latest Weekly Export Sales Report on Thursday which highlighted positive growth in wheat, corn, soybeans, and cotton.
U.S. Red Meat Exports Struggle to Find Traction
U.S. beef and pork exports opened 2021 below the large volumes posted a year ago, according to January data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation.
Latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Report Neutral
According to USDA’s latest WASDE Report, white wheat exports are raised on continued strong sales and shipments to China and South Korea.
Spring Crop Insurance Prices Favor Soybeans Over Corn
New spring crop insurance prices for corn, cotton, and soybeans are at the highest levels in at least eight years, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation.
USDA Extending Deadline for Quality Loss Adjustment Program
USDA is extending the deadline for producers interested in applying for the Quality Loss Adjustment Program to April 9.
Three Decades Later, CCC Borrowing at 56% Loss
New legislation would give a much-needed boost to the Commodity Credit Corporation’s annual borrowing limit.
Changes Announced Relating to Mexico’s Cattle Export Program
USDA Veterinary Services recently announced changes to the bovine tuberculosis testing requirements for certain imported cattle from Mexico, which went into effect last Monday.
Vilsack Returns to Lead USDA While Making History
For the first time in the history of the United States, a former Secretary of Agriculture will be returning to the Whitten Building as the leader of USDA.
USDA Releases Latest Monthly Cattle on Feed Estimates
According to USDA feedlots have their second-highest inventory in 25 years.
Record-Setting Year of Exports Ahead According to USDA
USDA released their Outlook for U.S. Agricultural Trade Thursday morning during their 97th Agricultural Outlook Forum, held virtually for the first time ever.
Corn and Wheat Prices Increase on Tightening Supplies
Futures prices — the price of a contract to deliver a commodity at a certain time in the future – for wheat, corn, and soybeans have been trending higher since August 2020.
Agriculture Experiences Best Export Sales Year Since 2014
According to a recent report from USDA, agriculture trade through exports has increased 6.6 percent over the past year – reaching their highest levels since 2014.
USDA Offers Assistance to Producers Weathering Winter Storms
As a deadly winter storm crawls across the country, USDA is reminding rural communities, farmers, ranchers, families, and small businesses affected by the recent weather that the Federal government has programs that provide assistance to those in need.
Climate Change Headlines USDA’s 97th Annual Outlook Forum
USDA’s 97th Annual Agricultural Outlook Forum gets underway this week with the first presentation coming from Chief Economist Dr. Seth Meyer, who just returned to the Department after having been away for a few years.
Farmers Encouraged to Make ARC/PLC Election Before Deadline
The 2018 Farm Bill put into place safety net programs to help farmers survive substantial drops in crop prices or revenue. In order to participate, a producer must sign a 2021 enrollment contract before March 15.
USDA Expecting Higher Prices for Wheat and Corn
USDA released their latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report Tuesday morning, and it appears the supply and demand outlook for U.S. wheat is largely unchanged this month.
Increases in 2020 Net Farm Income at Risk
Despite the challenges faced by agriculture producers over the past few years, inflation-adjusted net cash farm income is expected to increase nearly 24 percent in 2020.