Kansas City Fed: Outlook for Ag Economy in 2021 Remains Strong
In an update late last week from the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City ("Interest Rates for Operating Loans Rise Slightly From All-Time Lows"), Nathan Kauffman and Ty Kreitman pointed…
China Pork Production Balloons in Second Quarter, While Meat Inflation in the U.S. Climbs
Reuters writers Emily Chow and Dominique Patton reported this week that, "China’s second-quarter pork production surged to its highest in at least seven years, official data showed on Thursday, after producers…
Federal Reserve: Observations on the Ag Economy- July 2021
On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve Board released its July 2021 Beige Book update, a summary of commentary on current economic conditions by Federal Reserve District. The report included several observations pertaining…
By Reducing Red Tape, China Lures Small Pig Farmers Into Production
Reuters News reported this week that, "China will no longer require small pig farms to get environmental approval from the government before breeding pigs as the country seeks to rebuild…
African Swine Fever Persists in Parts of China
Reuters writer Dominique Patton reported on Friday that, "Large numbers of pigs are dying from African swine fever in China's top hog-producing province, say farmers and analysts, raising concerns it…
Global Food Prices Fall For the First Time in 12 Months
Reuters News reported this week that, "World food prices fell in June for the first time in 12 months, pushed lower by declines in vegetable oils, cereals and dairy products,…
Farm Debt Declines, Loan Performance Improves- Kansas City Fed
Last week, Nathan Kauffman and Ty Kreitman, of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, penned an update titled, "Farm Debt Declines Further and Credit Stress Eases," which noted that,…
Farm Lending Remains Strong in 2020- American Bankers Association Report
A news release this week from the American Bankers Association (ABA) stated that, "Despite the global economic slowdown in 2020 due to COVID-19, total agricultural lending by U.S. farm banks…
Drought Expands in Iowa, Stressing Crops- as Soybean and Corn Prices Tumble
Donnelle Eller reported on the front page of Friday's Des Moines Register that, "Last week, Mark Mueller watched from the porch of his northeast Iowa farm as lightning flashed and…
Cargill’s Sanfeliu Sees “Mini-Supercycle” for Crop Markets, as China’s Pig Herd Expands
Bloomberg writers Andy Hoffman and Vanessa Dezem reported this week that, "Two of the world’s top agricultural traders said crop markets are in a 'mini-supercycle' that could last half a…
As Commodity Prices Surge, Biden Administration Invests in the Supply Chain and Food System
Wall Street Journal writers Tom Fairless, Alistair MacDonald and Jesse Newman reported on the front page of Tuesday's paper that, "The run-up in commodity prices is casting a cloud over…
China Demand Fuels U.S. Farm Economy, as Federal Support Subsides
Financial Times writer Aime Williams reported on Monday that, "Donald Trump’s trade war with China left American farmers dependent on government handouts to survive. But China is now at the…
A Spike in Chinese Milk Demand
Late last week, Reuters writer Dominique Patton reported that, "China has come to crave milk. Demand that had been steadily growing has spiked further after doctors touted its health benefits…
Global Food Prices Soar in May- Highest Value Since September 2011
Financial Times writer Emiko Terazono reported this week that, "Global food prices surged by the biggest margin in a decade in May as one closely watched index jumped 40 per…
Federal Reserve: Observations on the Ag Economy- May 2021
On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve Board released its May 2021 Beige Book update, a summary of commentary on current economic conditions by Federal Reserve District. The report included several observations pertaining…
JBS Systems Coming Back Online After Ransomware Attack
Jacob Bunge reported on the front page of Wednesday's Wall Street Journal that, "Meatpacker JBS SA was hit by a ransomware attack that took a big chunk of U.S. beef-and-pork…
Surging Costs of Breakfast Staples Stirs Food Price Concerns, as the U.S. and China Talk Trade
Financial Times writers Chelsea Bruce-Lockhart and Emiko Terazono reported this week that, "The cost of raw materials that go into making breakfast staples have roared higher since the pandemic began…
Hog Prices Climb to Seven Year High, as Food Inflation Variables Impact Protein Prices
Bloomberg writer Michael Hirtzer reported on Friday that, "America’s insatiable appetite for ribs and hot dogs pushed hog prices to the highest in nearly seven years as the summer grilling…
Strains in Food Supply Chains- Higher Costs Curb Expansion Plans, as Food Prices Climb
Wall Street Journal writers Jennifer Smith and Paul Page reported on Friday that, "Americans are returning to restaurants, bars and other dining places as Covid-19 restrictions come down, adding new…
Supply Chain Bottlenecks Add to Inflation Concerns, as Chinese Demand for Corn Garners Attention
Bloomberg writers Brendan Murray, Enda Curran, and Kim Chipman reported this week that, "A year ago, as the pandemic ravaged country after country and economies shuddered, consumers were the ones panic-buying…