The September Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer reached its lowest readings since March 2016. Declining income expectations pushed farmer sentiment down as the barometer fell to 88, and the Index of Future Expectations dropped 14 points to 94. The Index of Current Conditions also fell seven points to 76, nearly matching levels seen in…… MORE
Category Archives: Agriculture News
Lawmakers Push for Post-Election Farm Bill
Now that the farm bill extension reached its deadline on Monday, what’s next? Farm Policy News says while the bill expired, the funds don’t run out until the end of the year. Some lawmakers, including Senate Ag Committee Ranking Member John Boozman (R-AR), have called for another one-year extension. House Republicans said that another extension…… MORE
Port Strike Could Hinder U.S. Ag Shipments
A potential strike at three dozen U.S. ports could upend supply chains and raise prices weeks before election day. Farm Policy News says the International Longshoremen’s Association says it will have 25,000 members walk off the job if the union doesn’t come to a new agreement with the U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents carriers and…… MORE
Stolen Grapes Land Suspects Behind Bars
The Tulare County Sheriff’s Office arrest two Fresno County men for stealing nearly 500-pounds of grapes. Authorities say Ag detectives were alerted about a traffic stop that involving a SUV transporting lots of unpackaged grapes. Detectives soon found out that the grapes were stolen from a field and were cut and stored at a nearby…… MORE
New Support Network for Financially Stressed Producers
The USDA launched the Distressed Borrowers Assistance Network, an initiative designed to provide support to financially distressed farmers and ranchers across the nation. Through a series of Cooperative Agreements, this national network will connect distressed borrowers with individualized assistance to help them stabilize and regain financial footing. Network partners include Farm Aid, the University of…… MORE
USDA Finds Antibiotics in Sample of Animals Raised Antibiotic Free
USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service released new guidelines aimed at strengthening documentation in support of environmental or animal-raising labeling claims on meat and poultry products. This comes after a recent study found antibiotics in livestock raised for the no-antibiotics market. USDA called for meat and poultry companies to do more to verify claims that…… MORE
Fed Cuts Interest Rates Benefiting Agriculture
Kicking off an expected loosening of U.S. monetary policy, the Federal Reserve cut interest rates by half a percentage point on Wednesday. The move brings a larger-than-normal reduction in the cost of borrowing, which followed growing concern about the health of America’s job market. Farm Policy News says higher interest rates have hit the agricultural…… MORE
AM Radio Bill Moves to House Floor
Efforts to keep AM radio in the dashboards of U.S. vehicles have taken a step forward in the House. The House Energy and Commerce Committee voted 45-2 to send the proposed AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act to the full House for a vote. “It’s been a stalwart of American prosperity and information sharing,” says…… MORE
Fertilizer Institute Wants More from Rail Industry
The Fertilizer Institute testified before the Surface Transportation Board and emphasized the ongoing need for the freight rail industry to shift its focus toward customer service and growth. The fertilizer industry has long relied on rail service for the efficient and safe transport of its products but has struggled with declining service quality, increasing rates,…… MORE
Cracks Showing in the Farm Bill Logjam
While the 2024 Farm Bill has been stalled for multiple months, the legislative logjam is showing a few signs of breaking after key ag groups took to Capitol Hill to share the economic reality facing farmers and ranchers. In a letter last week to House Ag Committee Democrats, Ranking Member David Scott (D-GA) said, “We…… MORE
