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.
USDA
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.
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.
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.
USDA Cattle Numbers Show Small Increase in Feeding
USDA’s final Cattle on Feed Report for 2020, released Friday, lacked much drama as all the projections of the domestic cow herd fell in line with analyst projections.
China Continues Agressive Purchases of U.S. Agricultural Commodities
USDA released their latest Weekly Export Sales Report on Thursday morning, providing the markets a better idea of current trade trends. China continues to be a major buyer of wheat, corn, sorghum, soybeans, cotton and pork.
Soybean and Cotton Prices Moving Higher on Exports
The outlook for U.S. wheat this month is for slightly smaller supplies, unchanged domestic use, higher exports, and lower ending stocks.
Biden Selects Vilsack As Next Agriculture Secretary Nominee
Former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack, who turns 70 on Sunday, appears to be in line to be both the 30th and 32nd Secretary of Agriculture.
U.S. Pork Exports Continue Record Pace in 2020
U.S. pork exports posted broad-based gains in October, solidifying a record pace for 2020, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation.
U.S. Corn Exports Reach High, Soybeans Sales Tumble
USDA released their latest Weekly Export Sales Report on Thursday morning with corn exports reaching a marketing-year high and soybean sales hitting a marketing-year low.
Familiar Names Mentioned as Next Secretary of Agriculture
Democratic candidate Joe Biden is officially closing in as the next President of the United States and agricultural leaders are examining potential candidates to replace Sonny Perdue as the next Secretary of Agriculture.
Monthly Cattle On Feed Report Surprises Traders
USDA released their monthly Cattle on Feed report on Friday, after the market closed, and surprised traders.
Despite Increasing Financial Assistance, Global Food Insecurity Growing
The U.N. says nearly 690 million people in the world were undernourished in 2020, According to their reporting, the number of undernourished people has increased over the last six years.
Sales Report Reveals Big Week for Beef Exports
USDA released their Weekly Export Sales report on Thursday morning, with a marketing-year high for beef and a marketing-year low for wheat and soybeans.
Traders Preparing for Monthly Cattle on Feed Report
raders are preparing for what is considered one of the most important feeder reports of the season, the November USDA Cattle on Feed Report.
GAO Offers Advice to Improving USDA’s “Actively Engaged”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) distributes billions of dollars a year through programs that, by law, require payment recipients to be actively engaged in farming.
Strong Cotton/Wheat Price Gains Expected This Decade
USDA projections for changes in U.S. farm prices between 2020 and 2030 indicate a mixed outlook shaped by the expected recovery in the U.S. and global demand, continued export competition, and market conditions during 2020.
USDA Expecting More CRP Acres in 2021 Signup
Next year, USDA will begin the process of enrolling new and existing acres of conservation lands into the largest federally administered private land retirement program.
U.S. Wheat Industry Optimistic Amid Growing Export Sales
Wheat growers are cautiously optimistic as export sales show signs of improvement in 2020.
Lamb Exports Grow in Both Volume and Value
According to the latest information from USDA for the month of September, U.S. lamb exports were higher in both volume and value.
Despite Record Chinese Purchases, U.S. Beef Exports Fall
Beef exports were fairly steady with last year in major Asian markets but trended lower overall according to recent data released by USDA.
USDA’s Supply and Demand Estimates Stable
The USDA released their monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates or WASDE report Tuesday.
Larger Cotton, But Smaller Corn and Soybean Crops
USDA released their monthly Crop Report on Tuesday, providing a late-season glance at the projected size of the corn, cotton and soybean crops.
U.S. Pork Exports on Break-Neck Pace in 2020
Chinese demand for U.S. pork is leading to a record pace for exports, according to data released recently by USDA.
Deadline Approaching for Pasture and Rangeland Insurance Program
As portions of the country slip further into drought, one approaching deadline is important for landowners and cattlemen.
2019 PLC Payment Rates Finalized For Most Crops
USDA has finalized payment rates for covered commodities under the 2018 Farm Bill.
Mango Industry Votes to Continue Federal Checkoff Program
USDA announced this week that the mango industry has voted to continue their federal research and promotion program while removing the provisions of frozen mangos as a covered commodity.
Export Report Reveals Demand for Corn, Cotton, Beef
USDA’s Foreign Agriculture Service provided their weekly look into export sales and shipments Thursday by highlighting a big week for corn, cotton and beef.
More Than 100 Million Farmer Food Boxes Delivered
The Farmers to Families Food Box Program program has already provided almost 101 million food boxes through the first two rounds and in the third and final round reports another 6.7 million food boxes invoiced since September 22.
Annual CRP Payments From USDA “In The Mail”
USDA is issuing $1.68 billion in payments to producers and landowners for the 21.9 million acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program.
USDA Outlines New Interim Rules for Conservation Program
USDA recently released the final rule for its Conservation Stewardship Program, making updates to the popular conservation program as directed by the 2018 Farm Bill.
USDA Raising Projected Crop Prices Across the Board
USDA released their monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand estimates on Friday.
Enrollment Begins This Week for Dairy Margin Program
USDA will begin accepting enrollment applications for the 2021 Dairy Margin Coverage program this week.
USDA Releases Newly Updated 2020 Crop Production Estimates
United States upland cotton production is expected to total 16.5 million bales, down 14 percent from last year according to the latest USDA Crop Production Report released on Friday.
Namibia’s Newest Beef Customer May Ban Their Imports
After two decades of haggling, Namibia shipped 25 tons of beef to Philadelphia after successfully overcoming U.S. safety regulations and logistics.
Comment Period Closes on Animal Disease Traceability Project
The official comment period for a national Animal Disease Traceability framework closed at midnight on Monday, but not before many industry groups submitted ideas to USDA’s Animal Plant Health Inspection Service.
Winter Wheat and Barley Production Falls in 2020
According to USDA’s Annual Small Grain Agricultural Survey, yields this past growing season averaged just a tick under 51 bushels per acre.
Rural Members Revolt Forcing Return of USDA Funding
Last week, as the House of Representatives was preparing to pass a Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the government through October, members from farming regions – on both sides of the aisle – were up in arms over a plan to exclude funding for USDA through the Commodity Credit Corporation.
USDA Still Projecting Tough Season for Cotton Industry
USDA lowered their production estimates for the U.S. cotton crop last week by one million bales from the August projection.
USDA Projecting Record Corn, Cotton and Soybean Yields
Corn and soybean production is up from 2019, according to the Crop Production report issued Friday by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.
U.S Pork Exports on Pace to Shatter Record
July exports of U.S. pork, which are on a record pace in 2020, were down from a year ago but increased compared to June according to statistics released by USDA.
Beef Exports Rebound From Recent Lows, Below 2019
July exports of U.S. beef rebounded from recent lows but remained below 2019 levels, according to data released by USDA.
USDA May Have Additional Resources for CFAP 2.0
As Friday’s deadline to enroll in USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program nears, one ag policy expert believes the cost of the program will not equal the expected budget.
Low Prices Causing Drop in Brazilian Cotton Plantings
USDA’s Foreign Agriculture Service projects 2021 Brazilian cotton plantings at 3.7 million acres, down 10 percent from the current harvest.
USDA to Extend Summer Meal Program Through December
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced that USDA will allow summer meal program operators to continue serving free meals to all children through December 31, 2020 or until all funding is exhausted.
Another Round of Food Boxes Coming from USDA
Following the President’s announcement of additional funding up to $1 billion, USDA is planning to extend current contracts to deliver food boxes through September 18.
USDA Supplying RFID Ear Tags for Voluntary Traceability
More than 10 years ago, USDA proposed a mandatory national animal identification program to protect the cattle industry from long-term injury in the event of a disease outbreak. That proposal, however, fell as cattlemen across the country balked at a government-mandate that would increase costs at a local level and could expose personal producer information to others.
Looking to Improve: USDA Asking Farmers for Advice
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a new annual survey of farmers, ranchers, and private forestland owners.
FSA Establishes Call Center to Assist New Customers
With so many different programs and deadlines facing producers this year, USDA’s Farm Service Agency has set up a call center to provide answers and assistance.