USDA is announcing an additional $250 million in automatic payments for distressed direct and guaranteed farm loan borrowers. This step continues USDA’s commitment to keeping farmers and ranchers financially viable and supporting agricultural companies. “USDA continues to invest in the future of producers through our loan portfolio,” says Zach Ducheneaux, Farm Service Agency Administrator. He…… MORE
Category Archives: Agriculture News
Middle East Conflict Affecting Fertilizer Markets
Farmdoc from the University of Illinois says the ag sector is closely watching the fertilizer markets this week because of the ongoing war in the Middle East. Following months of tight supplies, global nitrogen values started rising last week. The story of the week was Iran’s attack on Israel. The Middle East is an important…… MORE
Lame Duck Session Seen as Last Chance to Save Farm Bill
The legislation that would set food and farm policy for the next five years is in limbo, waiting for lawmakers to decide its fate after the election. The latest deadline for the Farm Bill passed unceremoniously at midnight on Sept. 30, without a push from lawmakers to pass a new bill or an extension. Congress…… MORE
Human Bird Flu Cases Confirmed in Tulare County
In a news release, Tulare County Public Health announces that the department, in coordination with the California Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has confirmed two human cases of H5N1 bird flu in individuals who had contact with infected cattle at two separate Tulare County dairy farms. Both cases…… MORE
Dairy Groups Call for End to Port Strike
The National Milk Producers Federation and the U.S. Dairy Export Council called on the administration to immediately intervene in the port labor strike at the East and Gulf Coast ports. The dairy organizations warned that this disruption could have a devastating impact on America’s dairy farmers and exporters, who rely on the smooth functioning of…… MORE
Farmer Outlook Reaches Lowest Point Since 2016
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
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
