A majority of agriculture economists surveyed in the September Ag Economists Monthly Monitor say that both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump would hurt trade in the United States as president. Of the 70 ag economists surveyed for the Monthly Monitor, 86% say a Trump administration would hurt United States trade, while 55% say a Harris […]
Ryan Hanrahan
Ryan Hanrahan is the Farm Policy News editor and social media director for the farmdoc project. He has previously worked in local news, primarily as an agriculture journalist in the American West. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri (B.S. Science & Agricultural Journalism). He can be reached at rrh@illinois.edu.
Mississippi River Falls During Record Harvest Season
Progressive Farmer’s Mary Kennedy reported Monday that “as fall harvest of record corn and soybean crops is in full swing, river conditions continue to worsen, stalling barges trying to move up and down the Lower Mississippi River (LMR). In addition, barge drafts and tow sizes have been cut.” “Ceres Consulting said in their daily barge […]
Florida Citrus Hit by Hurricane Milton
Bloomberg’s Ilena Peng reported that “oranges and some citrus trees are lying useless on the ground in Florida’s groves after Hurricane Milton tore through the state, setting back growers just as they hoped the worst for the struggling industry was over.” “The powerful storm moved through key citrus-producing counties after making landfall in Florida (last) […]
Bird Flu Spread Continues in Humans, Slowing in Cattle?
Successful Farming’s Chuck Abbott reported that “on the same day the CDC confirmed the third human case of bird flu in California, state officials said Wednesday that they had identified two more possible infections, also farmworkers in the Central Valley. In less than six weeks, California has become the U.S. hot spot for bird flu, […]
Hurricane Milton To Disrupt Phosphate Production
Argus Media’s Taylor Zavala reported that “the US phosphate market anticipates Hurricane Milton’s Florida landfall … will cause further disruptions to regional production as the Tampa area continues to recover from Hurricane Helene.” Bloomberg’s Mary Hui and Brian K Sullivan reported Thursday morning that “Hurricane Milton is moving off the coast of eastern Florida into […]
McDonald’s Sues Big 4 Meat Packers for Price Fixing
Reuters’ Mike Scarcella reported Monday that “McDonald’s has sued JBS, Tyson Foods and other leading meat processing and packing companies for allegedly conspiring for years to limit beef supplies, boosting their profits while causing the fast food giant to pay artificially higher prices.” “McDonald’s said in a lawsuit filed on Friday in Brooklyn federal court […]
Ukraine Ag Sector War Losses Could Top $80 Billion
Reuters reported at the beginning of October that “indirect losses in Ukraine’s key agricultural sector caused by the Russian invasion could reach $83 billion by the end of 2025, mainly due to falling harvests, the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE) said on Thursday. Ukraine is a global major grower and exporter of grain, vegetable oils […]
Middle East Tensions Affecting Fertilizer Markets
RFD-TV reported at the end of this past week that “the ag sector is keeping a close eye on the fertilizer market amid tensions in the Middle East. Global nitrogen values started to rise following events earlier this week, which comes following months of tight supply.” “The story this week has been the Iranian attack […]
East & Gulf Coast Port Strike Ends
Reuters’ Doyinsola Oladipo and David Shepardson reported late Thursday that “U.S. dock workers and port operators reached a tentative deal that will immediately end a crippling three-day strike that has shut down shipping on the U.S. East Coast and Gulf Coast, the two sides said Thursday.” “The tentative agreement is for a wage hike of […]
2018 Farm Bill Extension Expires — What Does That Mean?
“The Farm Bill is kaput,” reported Food Safety News’ Dan Flynn. “Congress has failed to extend or replace the 2018 Farm Bill by the Sept. 30 deadline, meaning it has expired,” Flynn reported. “Officially known as the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, the 2018 farm bill is the most recent omnibus farm bill. It contained […]
Hurricane Helene Causes Billions in Ag Damage
Bloomberg’s Gerson Freitas Jr and Ilena Peng reported that “Hurricane Helene has halted chicken processing plants and caused severe damage to some flocks, while also downing pecan trees and flattening cotton crops, as floodwaters swamped the southern US.” “Every commodity was impacted, with cotton, pecans, poultry and timber the hardest hit, according to Matthew Agvest, […]
Dockworkers Begin Strike at East and Gulf Coast Ports
The Associated Press’ Tom Krisher and Tassanee Vejpongsa reported early Tuesday morning that “dockworkers at ports from Maine to Texas began walking picket lines early Tuesday in a strike over wages and automation that could reignite inflation and cause shortages of goods if it goes on more than a few weeks.” “The contract between the […]
Lawmakers Push for Post-Election Farm Bill
FERN’s Ag Insider reported this past week that “six of every 10 House Republicans signed a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson asking for a floor vote on the new farm bill during the lame-duck session of Congress, arguing that the legislation is a ‘must-pass item.’ The letter was released on Thursday, a day after House Democratic […]
Crops in Danger After Hurricane Helene Makes Landfall
USA Today staff reported Thursday that “Hurricane Helene made landfall Thursday night carrying catastrophic 140 mph winds as the first known Category 4 storm to hit Florida’s Big Bend region since records began in 1851.” “Helene made landfall at about 11:10 p.m. ET near Perry, Florida. Hours later, the system weakened to a Category 1 […]
Lawmakers Propose 10 Year Extension for Biofuels Tax Credit
FERN’s Ag Insider reported Wednesday that “the 45Z tax credit, intended to encourage the development of sustainable aviation fuel and other low-carbon fuels, would be available until 2034 and limited to domestic feedstocks under companion bills filed in the House and Senate on Tuesday.” “Farm groups said the legislation would allow time for domestic production […]
US Port Strike Could Affect Ag Shipping
The Financial Times’ Taylor Nicole Rogers reported Sunday that “businesses are bracing for a strike at three dozen US ports that could upend supply chains and raise prices just weeks before election day.” “The International Longshoremen’s Association says its 25,000 members will walk off the job if the union does not come to a new […]
Trump Threatens Deere with 200% Tariff over Production Move to Mexico
Reuters’ Gram Slattery and Kanishka Singh reported that “Donald Trump said on Monday he would slap a 200% tariff on John Deere’s imports into the United States if the company moved production to Mexico as planned, comments that hit the agricultural equipment manufacturer’s share price. Earlier this year, John Deere announced that it was laying […]
Farm Bill Discussions Continue, Though Same Issues Remain
Agri-Pulse’s Philip Brasher and Rebekah Alvey reported Sunday that “top staff from the House and Senate Ag committees continue their private talks this week on a possible new farm bill, while lawmakers prepare to approve a stopgap spending deal announced Sunday to keep the government funded until Dec. 20.” “The continuing resolution includes an extension […]
Another Government Shutdown Looms After Funding Bill Fails
The Hill’s Mychael Schnell reported that “a diverse group of House Republicans torpedoed Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-La.) proposal to fund the government on Wednesday, dealing an embarrassing blow to the GOP leader and derailing his strategy to avoid a shutdown at the end of the month.” “Fourteen Republicans joined virtually every Democrat in voting against […]
Fed Cuts Interest Rates, Could Provide Some Relief For Ag
Reuters’ Howard Schneider and Ann Saphir reported that “the Federal Reserve cut interest rates by half of a percentage point on Wednesday, kicking off what is expected to be a steady easing of monetary policy with a larger-than-usual reduction in borrowing costs that followed growing unease about the health of the job market.” “‘The committee […]