agricultural economy

Wall Street Journal writers Ryan Dezember and Kirk Maltais reported last week that, "Dry weather, China’s push to fatten its pigs and the lockdown-induced baking bonanza are lifting prices for U.S. row crops."

A news release this week from the American Bankers Association (ABA) stated that, "As the farm economy continues to work through a prolonged downturn in the midst of an unparalleled, global economic dislocation, ag lenders remain focused on credit quality,…

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 third quarter of 2020.

Brazil is expected to produce a record grain crop in 2020/2021, despite the drought that affected planting in some regions. On Tuesday, the National Supply Company (Conab) projected 268.9 million tons of grain production, 4.6% more than 2019/2020.

On Friday, the USDA’s Office of the Chief Economist released selected tables prepared for the Department’s upcoming Agricultural Baseline Projections report.

Soybean prices rose recently on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, driven by the delay in planting the Brazilian crop, among other factors.  

In an update last week from the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City ("Ag Lending Update: Fewer Loans Issued to Farmers Limit Lending Activity"), Cortney Cowley and Ty Kreitman stated that, "Farm lending remained muted in the third quarter of 2020 but…

On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve Board released its October 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.

Reuters writer Mark Weinraub reported late last week that, "U.S. corn and soybean supplies will be smaller than previously forecast, as adverse weather reduced the acreage that farmers will harvest, the U.S. government said on Friday."

In an update late last month at the USDA blog, Robert Johansson, the Department's Chief Economist, highlighted how the COVID-19 pandemic was adversely impacting the American farm economy.

Soybean planting, which promises to set a new record in Brazil, is underway in the Paraná, Mato Grosso do Sul, and Mato Grosso regions of the country.

The price of food has increased significantly in Brazil. The Broad Consumer Price Index (IPCA) rose 2.44% in 12 months, while food inflation rose 8.83%.  More specifically, the price of rice increased 19.2% in 2020, and soy oil rose 18.6%,…

On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve Board released its August 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 $19 billion (22.7 percent) from 2019 to $102.7 billion in 2020. Net cash farm income is forecast to…

Bloomberg writers Michael Hirtzer, Dominic Carey, and Kim Chipman reported last week that, "The corn crop in the U.S. Midwest deteriorated the most in 8 years with hot weather adding to woes from drought and the Aug. 10 derecho windstorm…

The Pantanal, the largest continental humid area on the planet, is facing the greatest environmental tragedy in decades.

Wall Street Journal writer Kirk Maltais reported on Saturday that, "Following a growing season last year filled with battering rainfall and bitter trade wars, U.S. farmers hoped 2020 would provide them an opportunity to make up some ground. Instead, the…

On Thursday, the Federal Reserve Banks of Chicago and Kansas City released updates regarding farm income, farmland values and agricultural credit conditions from the second quarter of 2020.

Reuters writer Tom Polansek reported on Friday that, "A storm packing hurricane-force winds on Monday impacted 37.7 million acres of farmland across the Midwest, including 14 million in Iowa, the Iowa Soybean Association said on Friday, citing estimates from the…

Wall Street Journal writer Jesse Newman reported last week that, "More U.S. farmers are filing for bankruptcy, as federal payments projected to reach record levels this year fall short of compensating for the coronavirus pandemic and a yearslong slump in…