Farm Policy News

In an update last week from the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, “Smaller Loans Limit Agricultural Lending,” Nathan Kauffman and Ty Kreitman stated that, “Smaller sized loans limited agricultural lending activity at the end of 2021.”

Late last week, Bloomberg writers Elizabeth Elkin and Allison Smith reported that, “North American farmers could be looking at less expensive crop nutrients this year, potentially easing the pressure on food costs that have pushed up consumer prices.”

On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve Board released its January 2022 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.”

Wall Street Journal writer Gwynn Guilford reported in today’s paper that, “U.S. inflation hit its fastest pace in nearly four decades last year as pandemic-related supply and demand imbalances, along with stimulus intended to shore up the economy, pushed prices up at a 7% annual rate.”

DTN writer Russ Quinn reported on Wednesday that, “It’s a new year, but the same story of fertilizer prices moving higher.”

Bloomberg News reported on Monday that, “China’s urea plants are getting caught up in Beijing’s drive to ensure blue skies for the Winter Olympics, which includes ordering factory shutdowns to curb air pollution.”

Bloomberg writer Elizabeth Elkin reported on Friday that, “Soaring fertilizer prices that have helped drive up food inflation finally tumbled this week, but the reprieve may be short-lived.”

Bloomberg writers Leslie Patton, Elizabeth Elkin, and Deena Shanker reported last week that, “The highly contagious omicron virus variant is disrupting already stressed food supply chains, sickening so many workers that more shortages at grocery stores are all but certain.”

DTN writer Russ Quinn reported on Wednesday that, “Retail fertilizer prices continue to rise but at smaller percentages, according to prices for the last week of December 2021.”

Bloomberg writer Megan Durisin reported on Thursday that, “Global food prices declined from near a record high at the end of last year, offering some respite to consumers and governments facing a wave of inflationary pressures.”

Earlier this week, the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas released its Agricultural Survey for the fourth quarter of 2021.

Reuters writer Leah Douglas reported this week that, “The United States will issue new rules and $1 billion in funding this year to support independent meat processors and ranchers as part of a plan to address a lack of ‘meaningful competition’ in the meat sector, President Joe Biden said on Monday.”

Wall Street Journal writer Kirk Maltais reported in today’s paper that, “A banner year for grain prices has U.S. farmers aiming to plant even more corn, wheat and soybeans than they did in a record 2021. But high fertilizer prices, forecasts of more wild weather and the threat that China slows its buying loom over the year ahead.”

Reuters writer Tom Polansek reported last week that, “Seaboard Foods, the nation’s second-biggest pig producer, said on Friday it will limit sales of certain pork products in California due to a measure requiring farmers to provide more space for animals raised for food sold in the state.”