Rising Cost of Credit Impacting Farmers
Earlier this week, Reuters writers P.j. Huffstutter and Bianca Flowers reported that, "Montana farmer Sarah Degn had big plans to invest the healthy profits she gleaned for her soybeans and…
As Some Grain Has Shifted to Rail From River, Railroad Strike Looms, Diesel Fuel Supply a Concern
Esther Fung reported in today's Wall Street Journal that, "One of the country’s largest railroad unions said Monday that its members voted to reject a new wage deal brokered by…
Farmland Values, Production Costs in Focus, No Agreement on Black Sea Export Deal, While Biden and Xi Meet
Linda Qiu reported in today's New York Times that, "Joel Gindo thought he could finally own and operate the farm of his dreams when a neighbor put up 160 acres…
Federal Reserve Ag Credit Surveys- 2022 Third Quarter
Yesterday, 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 2022. The Federal Reserve Bank…
Food Prices Increase in October, at Slower Pace
New York Times writer Ana Swanson reported yesterday that, "Food prices continued to grow in October, inflating grocery bills for American households, though at a slightly slower pace than in…
UN, Russia to Discuss Black Sea Export Deal, Mexican GM Corn Purchases an Issue, as Mississippi River Water Levels Highlighted
Reuters writer Michelle Nichols reported yesterday that, "Top U.N. officials will meet a senior Russian delegation in Geneva on Friday to discuss extending a Ukraine Black Sea grain export deal…
USDA Sees More Corn, Wheat Acres and Less Soybeans in 2023/24 Crop Year
Earlier this week, Reuters writer Julie Ingwersen reported that, "The USDA on Monday released unofficial annual 'baseline' forecasts projecting that U.S. farmers are likely to expand plantings of corn and wheat…
Interest Rates in Focus, Ukraine Grain Exports, and Rail Strike Concerns
In a recent update from the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, "Steady Growth in Farm Lending," Nate Kauffman and Ty Kreitman indicated that, "Larger sized operating loans continued to boost…
Drought Impact on Mississippi May Persist, China Soybean Imports Down From Last Year, as U.S. Sets Fiscal Year Agricultural Trade Record
Ag Meteorologist Bryce Anderson reported on Friday at DTN that, "October was dry in many primary U.S. crop areas, including the Eastern Midwest and specifically the Ohio River valley. Precipitation…
FAO Food Price Index Steady in October, While Fertilizer Prices in Focus
Bloomberg writer Megan Durisin reported today that, "Global food prices steadied in October, as supply disruptions wrought by the war in Ukraine were partly offset by slowing demand for staples."
Mississippi River “Strangled” by Dry Weather, as Percent of U.S. Winter Wheat in Drought Highest Since 2000
Brady Dennis, Laris Karklis, Scott Dance and Tim Meko reported on the front page of today's Washington Post that, "The nation’s mightiest, most mythic waterway has been strangled by months…
“Relative Optimism” on Black Sea Grain Export Deal, While Some Mississippi River Grain Terminals “Halt” Deliveries
Reuters writer Michelle Nichols reported yesterday that, "United Nations aid chief Martin Griffiths said on Wednesday that he was 'relatively optimistic' that a U.N.-brokered deal that allowed a resumption of…
Mississippi River Barge Traffic “Continued to Struggle,” as “Active and Intensive” Discussions Occur on Black Sea Export Deal
Cameron McWhirter reported in Saturday's Wall Street Journal that, "Barge traffic continued to struggle along the Mississippi River and its tributaries as low water caused boats and barges to run…
Low Mississippi River Levels “Likely to Persist,” Black Sea Grain Deal in Focus, While Turkey Prices Rise
Reuters writer Karl Plume reported yesterday that, "Low water levels on the Mississippi River are likely to persist this winter as drier-than-normal weather is expected across the southern United States…
Federal Reserve: Observations on the Ag Economy- October 2022
On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve Board released its October 2022 Beige Book update, a summary of commentary on current economic conditions by Federal Reserve District. The report included several observations…
“Fertilizer Prices Are Falling,” Black Sea Export Deal in Focus, While Mississippi River Flow Draws Attention
Bloomberg writers Elizabeth Elkin and Tarso Veloso Ribeiro reported yesterday that, "Fertilizer prices are falling as farmers balking at the high costs of nutrients hold off on purchases, driving down…
Drought Closes Portion of Mississippi River- Soybean, Corn Exports Lagging, While Black Sea Export Discussions Continue
Bloomberg writers Michael Hirtzer and Diego Lasarte reported yesterday that, "Drought has again closed a portion of the Mississippi River -- and this time shrunk a part of the major…
Mississippi River Flow a Continuing Concern, as Rising Dollar Impacts Food Importers
Cameron McWhirter reported in Saturday's Wall Street Journal that, "Sections of the Mississippi River are approaching low water levels not seen in more than three decades, disrupting a vital supply…
Food Costs Up 11.2% Over Past Year, While Mississippi Water Level Worries Persist, and Russia Concerned About Black Sea Export Deal
Don Lee reported on the front page of today's Los Angeles Times that, "That turkey you’re planning for the big family get-together is going to give you a nasty peck…
Lower Water Levels on Mississippi Tributaries a Concern, as U.S. Wheat Exports at 50 Year Low
Bloomberg's Brian K Sullivan, Joe Deaux, and Michael Hirtzer reported earlier this week that, "The Mississippi River isn’t out of the woods as falling water levels along its major tributaries…