Category Archives: Agriculture News

January Tractor Sales Up Slightly

Unit sales of four-wheel-drive tractors grew slightly in the U.S. during January. The latest data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers shows four-wheel-drive tractor sales increased 1.4% year-over-year and was the only segment to show growth in January. “The slight gain in U.S. four-wheel-drive tractors is positive news as 2024 begins,” says AEM Senior Vice…MORE

Census of Agriculture Highlights Aging Farmer Population

The 2022 Census of Agriculture shows the number of farmers over the age of 65 is outpacing younger farmers. Almost 1.3 million farmers are now at or beyond retirement age, while just 300,000 farmers are under the age of 35. The average age of all producers was 58.1, up 0.6 years from 2017. However, this…MORE

EPA Outlines Potential ESA Pesticide Policies

EPA Outlines Potential ESA Pesticide Policies The Environmental Protection Agency announced implementation approaches for pesticide policies under the Endangered Species Act. Assistant Administrator Michael Freedhoff talked about the steps during a speech at the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture’s winter policy conference. When registering pesticides under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act,…MORE

Lack of Heifers May Limit Milk Production Growth

A sharp decline in the number of dairy heifers available to replace older cows exiting the U.S. dairy herd could limit meaningful growth in milk production. The number of dairy replacement heifers has fallen almost 15% in the last six years to reach a 20-year low. While the global demand outlook for U.S. dairy products…MORE

Market Prices and Input Costs are Pushing Expectations Lower

Farmer outlook took a downturn at the start of 2024 as the January Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer Index fell to a reading of 106, eight points below a month earlier. Compared to year-end, producers had a more negative outlook of their farms’ current situation along with a weakened outlook for the future. The…MORE

Agricultural Disaster Loss Survey

Fresno County agricultural producers are being urged to fill out a disaster loss survey if they suffered any property loss due to the recent winter storm activity. The form is posted on the Ag Commissioner’s county website near the top of the front page. After filling out information for every damaged site on each permit…MORE

America’s Biggest Landowners

The Land Report Research Team issued a report detailing who are America’s largest landowners. The “Land Report 100” shows that as of 2021, America’s largest landowner is named Red Emmerson. He and his family own just over 2.4 million acres in California, Oregon, and Washington through their timber products company, Sierra Pacific Industries. They surpassed…MORE

New Poll Suggests Ag Economic Downturn

A new poll of agricultural economists by Farm Journal shows most expect lower commodity prices, along with the outlook for higher costs, to weigh on the agriculture industry in 2024. Farm Journal has partnered with the University of Missouri to create the Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor. University of Missouri agricultural economist Scott Brown says, “If…MORE

Trade Caucus Presents Opportunities for Agriculture

Trade Caucus Presents Opportunities for Agriculture Lawmakers in the House of Representative’s launched a new Agricultural Trade Caucus. The effort seeks to advance and promote policies vital to U.S. agriculture, including boosting agricultural exports, facilitating food and agriculture trade, and knocking down unnecessary trade barriers. The caucus includes Republicans Adrain Smith of Nebraska, Dusty Johnson…MORE

New California Biofuels Plant Impacts Soybean Market

The increasing use of biofuels should generate bullish vibes for agricultural commodities in the future. E-T-F Trends says plans for a biofuel plant in California could spur more investors to take a closer look at agricultural commodities. California has one of the more ambitious plans when it comes to reducing carbon emissions. Given this, the…MORE