economy

The 1980 farm crash featured multiple farm closures and financial crises, and many people in the industry are worried that this will happen again during this current downturn.   USDA Chief Economist Rob Johannson said there is one major indicator showing we can make it through the current challenges in better shape.  ...

Lending activity at agricultural banks across the country continued to decline in the first quarter of 2017.  A report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City says economic conditions in the farm sector are still weak, so borrowers and lenders have worked together to make adjustments in financing agricultural production across America.  Ag...

As more cattle producers look to find new ways to drive revenue, particularly for smaller operations, many are looking to value-added and direct marketing.   University of Tennessee’s Rob Holland Jr. said some of the producers he’s seen try to cut out the middle man.   “More f...

According to the Association of Washington Business and state Representative Joel Kretz, the rural economy to not keeping up with the growth enjoyed in the I-5 corridor for the past two years.  As Kretz put it, there is very little to be excited about.  Kr...

Check out any sort of national coverage of agriculture and you’re bound to see stories on the imminent demise of the industry with poor crop prices, vanishing farmland and a lack of the next generation of farmers.   Washington Policy Center’s Madi Clark said the Northwest is in a unique position to better weather the storm due to our large diversity of crops.   “That i...

Dairy production in 2017 will increase about 2.5 percent in the U.S., but that won’t negatively impact prices according to the USDA.   Analyst Jerry Cessna said producers should still see improved returns with the average price around $18 per hundredweight.   “...

A recent USDA report shows that there were fewer farms and less farmland in the U.S. in 2016 than there was in 2015.   But it’s not universal amongst all farms with Joe Parsons from USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service saying, “We picked up farms in the sort of medium-sized category between $250,000 and $500,000 in sales.”   Parsons say...

A Texas A&M survey of 64 farms in 20 states showed only one made money on the 2016 crop.   Economist Dr. Joe Outlaw testified in front of the House Ag Committee this week on the state of the farm economy.   “Corn farmers from North Dakota and Iowa, as well as cotton farmers from West Texas indicated the only reason they broke even in 2016 were record yields. Generally all the ...

Farmland values, particularly in the Midwest are continuing to decline as is farm real estate values according to the USDA.   Analyst Dan Bigelow said that could be a good thing for cash rents and bring up profits for those are renting their farmland.  ...

Despite an increase in net cash income for producers, the USDA is forecasting a nearly nine percent decline in net farm income which is a broader look at profits and other pieces of the ag economy.   USDA Chief Economist Rob Johannson said that likely means farm profits will be flat or decline in 2017.  ...