agricultural economy

Reuters writer Tom Polansek reported on Tuesday that, "The U.S. Senate on Tuesday confirmed Tom Vilsack to head the Department of Agriculture, returning the former Iowa governor to the job he held under ex-President Barack Obama."

Speaking on Thursday at USDA’s virtual Agricultural Outlook Forum, USDA Chief Economist Seth Meyer provided a broad outlook for U.S. agriculture.  Today’s update provides an overview of key aspects of Dr. Meyer’s presentation.

Wall Street Journal writer Jacob Bunge reported on Thursday that, "Brutal winter weather continued to batter the U.S. agriculture industry, as companies and farmers contended with snow, ice and cold temperatures that disrupted processing, snarled transport and killed livestock across…

On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released its 10-year projections for the food and agricultural sector.

Last week, the Federal Reserve Banks of Chicago, Kansas City and Minneapolis released updates regarding farm income, farmland values and agricultural credit conditions from the fourth quarter of 2020.

The USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) indicated on Friday that, “Net farm income, a broad measure of profits, is forecast to decrease $9.8 billion (8.1 percent) from 2020 to $111.4 billion in 2021."

On Tuesday, the Senate Agriculture Committee held a confirmation hearing for Secretary of Agriculture nominee Tom Vilsack.

A recent report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City ("Ag Lending Update: Fewer New Loans to Farmers," by Ty Kreitman and Cortney Cowley) stated that, "Lending activity at commercial banks continued to slow in the fourth quarter, according to…

Jesse Newman reported on the front page of Saturday's Wall Street Journal that, "A crop glut that battered American farmers is subsiding, fueling an unexpected recovery in the U.S. Farm Belt following a yearslong agricultural recession."

On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve Board released its January 2021 Beige Book update, a summary of commentary on current economic conditions by Federal Reserve District. The report included several observations pertaining to the U.S. agricultural economy.

Reuters News reported last week that, "World food prices rose for a seventh consecutive month in December, with all the major categories, barring sugar, posting gains last month, the United Nations food agency said on Thursday."

Bloomberg writers Kim Chipman and Megan Durisin reported on Wednesday that, "Soybean futures in Chicago extended their winning streak for a sixth day and corn exceeded $5 a bushel on expectations that the U.S. will cut domestic supply forecasts for…

Last month, the Congressional Research Service (CRS) released a report titled, "USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program: Round Two (CFAP-2)."  Today's update includes highlights from the report, which was authored by Randy Schnepf.

A news release last month from the USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced the release of a report, prepared in close partnership with the Department of Transportation," titled: "The Importance of Highways to U.S. Agriculture."

A news release Tuesday from the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development at Iowa State University and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach indicated that, "Favorable interest rates, a strong demand for land, and substantial government payments helped stabilize Iowa’s…

Last week, the USDA's Economic Research Service (ERS) released its annual report exploring characteristics of U.S. farms: "America's Diverse Family Farms: 2020 Edition."  Today's update includes highlights from the report, which was written by Christine Whitt, Jessica E. Todd, and…

Wall Street Journal writer Lucy Craymer reported late last week that, "La Niña is shaking up agriculture in an already-tumultuous year for commodity markets."

Donnelle Eller reported on the front page of Friday's Des Moines Register that, "Mid-Iowa Cooperative's Mike Kinley sees a $275 million soybean processing plant under construction in eastern Iowa as a way for farmers to get more money for the crops…

On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve Board released its November 2020 Beige Book update, a summary of commentary on current economic conditions by Federal Reserve District. The report included several observations pertaining to the U.S. agricultural economy.

The USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) indicated on Wednesday that, "Net farm income, a broad measure of profits, is forecast to increase $36.0 billion (43.1 percent) from 2019 to $119.6 billion in 2020."