agricultural economy

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

Bloomberg writer Dominic Carey reported earlier this month that, "U.S. red-meat production surged to a record in October, months after the coronavirus disrupted slaughterhouses."

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…

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,…

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…

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