Participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) increased 2.3% in 2023 to an average of 42.1 million people each month, while total federal spending on the program decreased 5.6% in 2023 to $112.8 billion, according to new research from the USDA’s Economic Research Service. The 42.1 million people participating in SNAP each month “was […]
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.
Senate Ag GOP Unveils Farm Bill Framework
Politico’s Meredith Lee Hill and Grace Yarrow reported Tuesday that “Senate Agriculture Committee Republicans released their farm bill proposal Tuesday, which would significantly expand farm safety net programs, setting up a major clash with Democrats.” “The legislative framework, which outlines various policy priorities but does not contain bill text, largely mirrors the GOP-led House farm […]
Crop Insurance Coverage Exceeds 500 Million Acres for First Time
FERN’s Ag Insider reported Monday that “farmers and ranchers bought crop insurance policies on more than 500 million acres of land last year, the largest amount ever, driven by the surging popularity of forage policies. Overall enrollment in crop insurance was up 85% in the seven years from 2016, according to USDA data.” “In 2021, […]
Brazil Tax Change Could Make US Soybeans More Attractive
Bloomberg’s Clarice Couto reported this past Friday that “a surprising tax change in agriculture powerhouse Brazil has the potential to make soy grown in the world’s largest bean exporter less competitive with supplies from the US, according to a report from risk management firm Amius Ltd. The provisional measure, signed Tuesday by President Luiz Inacio […]
US Dairy Cows Dying and Being Culled Due to Avian Flu
Reuters’ Leah Douglas and Tom Polansek reported Thursday that “dairy cows infected with avian flu in five U.S. states have died or been slaughtered by farmers because they did not recover, state officials and academics told Reuters.” “Reports of the deaths suggest the bird flu outbreak in cows could take a greater economic toll in […]
Farm Finances Remain a Concern, Fed Reports
Pro Farmer reported at the end of May that “the Fed’s Beige Book noted 10 of 12 districts reported slight or modest economic growth (in May), while the other two had no change in activity. The Fed noted, “Agricultural reports were mixed, as drought conditions eased in some districts, but farm finances/incomes remained a concern. […]
Flood Related Soybean Losses Estimated at 2.71 MMT in Brazil
Reuters’ Andre Romani and Leticia Fucuchima reported Tuesday that “soybean losses related to recent floods in Brazil’s southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul were estimated at 2.71 million metric tons, crop agency Emater said on Tuesday, in line with private forecasts ranging from 2.8 million to 3 million tons.” “Emater said in a statement […]
Corn Condition Off to Best Start Since 2021
Progressive Farmer’s Anthony Greder reported Monday that “the condition of the U.S. corn crop is starting off significantly better this year than it did last year, USDA NASS reported in its weekly Crop Progress on Monday.” “In its first condition rating of the season for corn, NASS estimated that 75% of the crop was in […]
Deere & Co. Layoffs, Cargill Workers Strike in Canada
Bloomberg’s Michael Hirtzer reported this past Friday that “Deere & Co., the world’s top seller of farm machinery, will cut an undisclosed number of employees in its global production and salaried workforce, according to a letter sent to employees Friday that was seen by Bloomberg.” “The company is facing rising operational costs and declining demand, […]
Active Severe Weather Spring Causes Planting Season Challenges
Fox Weather’s Andrew Wulfeck reported Thursday that “a spring severe weather season under a diminishing El Niño helped propel the fifth month of the year to become the second-most-active May for tornadoes, hail and damaging winds, only to be outdone by 2011.” “Through the first 28 days of May, the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction […]
US Ag Trade Deficit Widens to $32 Billion
The United States agricultural trade deficit is projected to increase once again to $32 billion in fiscal year 2024, an increase of $1.5 billion from the February projection, according to the USDA Economic Research Service’s May 2024 Outlook for U.S. Agricultural Trade report, which is released quarterly. “U.S. agricultural exports in fiscal year (FY) 2024 […]
Biden Admin Unveils Carbon Offset Guidelines
Bloomberg’s Jennifer A. Dlouhy and Natasha White reported Tuesday that “the Biden administration unveiled a framework for using carbon offsets to drive climate progress, with principles it says are meant to help ensure the trading regimes deliver real emissions reductions — not a green mirage.” “The documents released Tuesday by top cabinet officials, including Treasury […]
US, Europe Considering Bird Flu Vaccines for Poultry and Dairy Workers
Reuters’ Julie Steenhuysen and Jennifer Rigby reported that “the United States and Europe are taking steps to acquire or manufacture H5N1 bird flu vaccines that could be used to protect at-risk poultry and dairy workers, veterinarians and lab technicians, government officials said, moves influenza experts say could curb the threat of a pandemic.” “U.S officials […]
House Ag Committee Advances Contentious Farm Bill
Agri-Pulse’s Noah Wicks, Rebekah Alvey, and Philip Brasher reported that “Republicans pushed their $1.5 trillion farm bill through the House Agriculture Committee early Friday with the help of four critical Democratic votes, giving the massive legislation some momentum as it heads to an uncertain future in the full House.” “The four Democrats who supported the […]
Republicans Represent 81 of Top 100 Ag Production Districts
Agri-Pulse’s Noah Wicks reported Wednesday that “Republicans are tightening their electoral grip on farm country, holding all but 19 of the top 100 congressional districts in terms of agricultural sales, according to an Agri-Pulse analysis of newly released data from USDA’s 2022 Census of Agriculture.” “Republicans control 21 districts ranked highest for the value of […]
Frontline Democrats to Oppose House Farm Bill
Politico’s Meredith Lee Hill reported Wednesday morning that “frontline Democrats (are) set to oppose (the) House farm bill in markup tomorrow.” “Specifically, frontline Democrats will vote for amendments stripping out nutrition and climate policies in the GOP bill they oppose, then most are set to vote no on the massive legislation,” Lee Hill reported. “…’We’re […]
Kansas Wheat Yield Projected Highest Since 2021
Reuters’ Heather Schlitz reported this past week that “scouts on an annual tour of Kansas wheat fields projected better-than-average yields in the top U.S. winter wheat state, reflecting improved moisture after several years of drought.” “The tour estimated Kansas wheat’s yield potential at 46.5 bushels per acre (bpa) after scouting 449 fields over three days,” […]
House Unveils Farm Bill Text, Democrat Support Remains Uncertain
Politico’s Meredith Lee Hill reported this past Friday that “House Agriculture Chair G.T. Thompson’s long-awaited farm bill significantly boosts farm safety net programs but crosses two of Democratic leaders’ red lines, setting up a showdown with the Senate over the must-pass legislation.” “In addition to major boosts in critical farm safety net program funding to […]
US Soybean Seed Costs Have Risen 260% Since 1997
The USDA Economic Research Service’s Bryn Swearingen and Kate Vaiknoras reported earlier this week that the cost of soybean seeds per acre in the United States has risen more than 260% since 1997, while total soybean production costs have risen 157%. “In 1997, U.S. farmers spent an average of $19.72 per acre on soybean seeds,” […]
Brazil Floods Likely to Affect Future Crop Seasons
Bloomberg’s Clarice Couto reported Wednesday that “catastrophic floods in Brazil will have long-lasting impacts for agriculture, with soaked soils making it harder for farmers to plant crops including rice and wheat for next season.” “Growers in Rio Grande do Sul will likely be forced to shift away from their traditional crops and into new cultures, […]