Farm News & Views: Recent Episodes
Bob Bragg
Beef prices may climb as feeder calf supplies shrink. Today’s report looks at cattle markets, drought impacts, and policy shifts in livestock and nutrition programs.
Amid rising input costs, trade tensions, and extreme weather, U.S. farmers—especially older producers—are facing mounting debt, mental health strain, and record-low incomes.
This week: alarming honeybee losses, weak farm income forecasts, ag export declines, wolf deterrent efforts in Colorado, and sweeping USDA budget cuts under scrutiny.
This week’s Farm News & Views highlights veteran and female leadership in agriculture, the impact of a new federal health report on pesticide use, and growing concerns from farmers.
Tensions over U.S. ag exports continue as the UK rejects hormone-treated beef, trade disputes threaten soybean markets, and wolf management stirs debate in rural California.
USDA halts livestock imports from Mexico due to screwworm outbreak, while U.S.-China tariff adjustments spark hope for U.S. agriculture amid trade tensions.
Over 15,000 USDA employees left after financial incentives, affecting farming agencies. U.S. farm income declines, and economists warn of a recession. Meanwhile, Farm Bureau celebrates dogs with a contest.
U.S. farmers face uncertainty as tariffs disrupt agricultural markets. With global competition growing, experts warn that trade policies may harm the U.S. ag economy.
Farmers face uncertainty amid rising tariffs and the U.S.-China trade war. Issues with agricultural workers, avian flu outbreaks, and solar grazing add to the pressure on the industry.
Trade wars and tariffs put pressure on U.S. farmers and ranchers, affecting both exports and imports. Global market uncertainty leaves producers vulnerable, raising costs and impacting the food system.
This week's Farm News & Views Report covers market declines, budget cuts to agricultural research, and tips for farm business management. Also, time for soil testing in April.
U.S. agricultural economists agree that the trade war's impacts are troubling, while rising challenges in farming, fertilizer, and water allocation add to economic stress.
National Ag Day highlights farming’s role in the U.S. amidst challenges like tariffs, workforce changes, and resource management in agriculture.
Farmers face a tough year as tariffs, fertilizer shortages, and trade wars impact crops, livestock, and costs, with some wary of political interference and government policies.
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins pushes for a 2025 farm bill, while facing challenges like trade deficits, regulations, and financial squeezes impacting farmers and ranchers.
The USDA faces criticism for cuts and delays affecting farmers, including staff reductions and frozen funds. The bird flu crisis also raises concerns over vaccination plans for poultry.
USDA reports show a decline in farm numbers, especially in beef and sheep sectors. Equipment dealers face challenges due to tariffs, while bird flu impacts poultry farming.
The January Ag Economists' Monthly Monitor predicts strong beef and pork production for 2025 but rising prices for consumers. Concerns over trade, tariffs, and immigrant labor continue.
This week’s Farm News & Views report examines how Trump’s tariffs on Canadian, Mexican & Chinese goods shake U.S. ag trade—from fertilizer impacts to export revenue.
Colorado's snowpack is a mixed bag as January ends, with some river basins below normal levels. Meanwhile, tariffs on agricultural goods threaten U.S.-Canada-Mexico trade.
November’s Farm Journal survey shows optimism for U.S. agriculture, with rising corn exports and anticipated beef herd growth by 2026. Wolf reintroduction and high deer populations continue to concern Colorado ranchers, as wildlife can impact both land and livestock.
A pig in Oregon has tested positive for H5N1 bird flu, raising concerns about human infection risk. Meanwhile, droughts hit Mississippi River shipping, and OSU explores seaweed to reduce cattle methane.
Farm income is projected to drop sharply in 2024, raising concerns among producers, while McDonald's lawsuit against beef giants over alleged price-fixing could bring changes to the industry.
On this week's episode of Farm News and Views: Consumer attitudes toward food production are changing, with increased support for animal welfare laws like California's Proposition 12, leading to a surge in cage-free egg production.
This edition of Farm News & Views covers the USDA's plan to lower food prices, and some lawmakers calling for members of Congress to come back to Washington to provide funding for farmers who have been affected by Hurricane Helene.
This week’s Farm News and Views covers the latest Ag Economy Barometer, where farmers express mixed feelings about commodity prices, trade, and the 2024 elections, as well as a heartwarming story of a goat joining a half marathon in Canada.
This week's Farm News & Views with Bob Bragg covers record heat in the West, the impact of Hurricane Helene on southeastern agriculture, and rising egg prices due to bird flu.
Rising food prices spark political debate, but production costs have surged by 28% since 2019. Low water levels hinder grain transport, while drones may soon herd cattle.
This week: U.S. ag trade deficit revised to $212B amid rising import demand and falling exports, with lower projections for major crops. Despite this, horticulture exports rise.
USDA revises ag outlook: profits may not drop as feared due to lower production costs and rising livestock prices, despite headwinds for crop producers. State fairs adapt to H5N1 impacts, and legal battles over animal welfare and alternative meats continue. California's walnut crop forecast drops significantly.
The USDA's recent updates include the expansion of the grasslands Conservation Reserve, a pioneering bird flu vaccine trial, rising oxtail popularity, and a record agricultural trade deficit.
Rising land prices and investment firms' dominance make it harder for young farmers to enter the industry. With U.S. beef cow numbers at a historic low and range conditions mixed, the future of farming faces challenges.
Midwest farmers face lower crop prices and California's grape growers deal with a surplus, while the EPA bans a harmful herbicide. Good news: $2 billion in aid for affected farmers and new Colorado laws to protect pollinators.
In 2023, U.S. farm bankruptcies hit a record low, thanks to high commodity prices and farm incomes. However, with rising costs and decreased revenues, 2024 may see a rise in filings. Meanwhile, farm bill discussions stall in Congress, and potential deportations of undocumented farmworkers could severely impact the agriculture sector.
Political wrangling stalls the new farm bill in Congress, with a proposed bill potentially increasing deficit spending by $33 billion. Amid a weakening farm economy, Amish farms in Lancaster County, PA, offer insights into surviving and thriving on a small scale.
The Rural Mainstreet Index declines for the 11th month amid concerns about weak commodity prices and high interest rates. PepsiCo's Planting Pathways Initiative aims to boost opportunities for young farmers. Research highlights the benefits of regenerative agriculture for soil health, and virtual fencing is aiding in Great Salt Lake wetlands conservation.
Agrivoltaics, combining solar panels with crops or grazing, is gaining traction. The USDA is investing in research, while farmers face economic challenges and await a new Farm Bill.
Over the past few months, the agricultural economy faces challenges with predicted drops in crop receipts and government payments. However, net farm income projections for 2024 have increased by $3 billion. Tractor sales are down, and economists are concerned about retreating crop prices. Meanwhile, demand for beef remains strong, and lower grain prices benefit livestock producers. A Farm Progress Magazine survey shows high demand for graduates in various agricultural majors due to their practical, hands-on education.
On this week's episode of Farm News & Views, Bob Bragg talks about dry weather affecting parts of the U.S. and a report concerning what people in a study think about higher food prices at grocery stores and restaurants.
Cow calf producers saw a significant price increase at the Corn Belt Classic sale, with steers trading up to $35/hundredweight more than in 2023, driven by past drought-induced herd culling.
Farmers and ranchers are concerned about passing a new farm bill this summer, a complex process involving eight legislative steps with only one completed so far. Meanwhile, H5N1 bird flu has spread to poultry and dairy herds, prompting efforts to develop an avian flu vaccine. A recent poll shows that American farmers strongly support conservation funding to address climate change impacts.
Virtual fencing systems for livestock use GPS-enabled collars to define grazing areas without physical fences, transforming how ranchers manage pastures.
The U.S. Drought Monitor Map continues to show fewer areas of the country impacted by drought, ways to reduce skin cancer cases in farmers and ranchers, and why branding cattle is still a common practice on many ranches.
Hay stocks improve across some of the Four Corners states, mental health resources are available for farmers and ranchers who need help, and a new version of the Farm Bill seems destined to fail in Congress.
Farmers in the upper Midwest hit by a solar storm that affected GPS receivers used to plant spring crops, Americans flower-buying habits generate big business, and agriculture is likely to take another direct hit from tariff increases on Chinese imports.
The controversy over the gray wolf appears to be far from over in the West and in western Colorado, solar energy companies are paying farmers to lease their ground for solar energy production, and some insight into the use of water from the Colorado River for irrigating alfalfa.
H5N1 bird flu continues to be in the headlines, a local Weed Management Workshop will help farmers and landowners deal with undesirable plants, the U.S. Interior Department to install solar panels above irrigation canals in California, Oregon, and Utah, and U.S. cheese remains the least expensive in the world.
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza continues to cause problems with dairy cattle in the U.S. as the virus spreads, a virus is attacking cacao trees in the West African countries of Ghana and the Ivory Coast, the world has added 398 million harvested acres of feed grains, food grains, and oil seeds during the 21st century, and the EPA reports that while U.S. greenhouse gas emissions increased from 2021 to 2022 by 1.3%, agricultural emissions dropped 1.8%.
The research into how Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza is being spread to dairy cows shows a link to cats, the House Agriculture Committee Chair indicates that committee members might be close to finalizing a new farm bill, and some online gardening tips for spring planting.
A look into the complexities of water rights, agricultural use, and the continued search for shared solutions in the Colorado River basin as drought conditions continue.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is taking an all-hands-on-deck approach to the cross-species outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza that is now infecting cattle as well as poultry, the CSU Montezuma County Extension has announced their 2024 Land Management Workshop series, and a look at how irrigation water is valued in the Midwest versus the West.
Agriculture in Indian Country generated almost $6.5 billion in 2022, avian influenza has led to infections and depopulation of more than 115 million chickens and turkeys, the collapse of the Baltimore Key Bridge and shut down the Port of Baltimore impacts farm machinery and agricultural exports, low water levels in the Mississippi River continue to affect agricultural transport, and U.S. farm income is falling as low commodity prices, trade headwinds, and higher costs squeeze profits.
The Bureau of Land Management announces a new draft plan to protect the greater sage grouse on sagebrush range lands in several Western states, the U.S. Senate passes a resolution to overturn the USDA’s rule that would allow Paraguayan fresh beef imports,
Agricultural losses from the Smokehouse Creek Fire in the Oklahoma and Texas panhandles, the USDA finalizes the "Product of the U.S.A." labeling rule for meat, poultry, and eggs, researchers develop the first transgenic cow capable of producing human insulin, corn prices are expected to be down this year, and how a calf roping contestant made sure he didn't miss the rodeo.
The impacts from the Smokehouse Fire on farmers and ranchers in Oklahoma and Texas, a new website offers help with livestock and pasture management for small acreage landowners, the Four Corners Region remains abnormally dry, and a recent study finds the pesticide chlormequat in an overwhelming majority of oat-based products.
Wildfires in the panhandle of Texas and south central Oklahoma could impact beef supply, more concerns about getting a new Farm Bill passed in Congress, the EPA announces a new Office of Agriculture and Rural Affairs,and cases of canine respiratory disease in Colorado have dropped significantly.
Cattle prices reach a record high, falling water levels in the Ogallala Aquifer create uncertainty for farmers and municipalities, and a strong El Nino weather pattern has kept winter temperatures warmer this year.
The USDA releases the 2022 Ag Census, revealing that since 2017 the U.S. lost nearly 142,000 farms and more than 20.1 million acres of productive farmland, that just over 26,000 farms account for 50% of all sales for all products, and an overall continued rise in the average age of farmers.
Problems with Dicamba herbicide leaves farmers caught in the middle, a new Farm Bill continues to languish in Congress, and a Livestock Workshop Series will offer local producers educational opportunities.
Increasing resistance in weeds to common herbicides is impacting crop production in the U.S., and farmers may need to start paying closer attention to what’s happening in their fields and not depend on magic seeds or potions.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis announces grants for development of the simultaneous use of land for solar energy production and agriculture, the Colorado Department of Agriculture is inviting agricultural producers to submit listings for this year’s Farm Fresh Directory, the latest Rural Mainstreet Index finds that farmland prices increased over the past month while borrowing costs have increased, and agricultural leaders express concerns about where the U.S farm economy may be headed.
A new Farm Bill from Congress seems to still be a long way off, the Senate Agriculture Committee Chair outlines key farm bill programs, the American Farm Bureau Federation wants a new farm bill to address agriculture's labor challenges, John Deere partners with Elon Musk’s Starlink to provide satellite-based high-speed internet for its machines, and drought continues to hamper the number of ships that can traverse the Panama Canal.
A group of senators is encouraging consideration of a farm bill that provides support for projects that address drought, the Colorado Master Irrigator Program kicks off on January 18th, cattle markets are starting 2024 in a much better position than they were a year ago, and meteorologists predict that we’ve likely reached the peak of the El Nino weather pattern this winter.
Recent winter storms bring much-needed moisture to the Four Corners, environmental data show that December 2023 was the warmest December on record, and the ag economy was down in 2023 compared to 2022 (the worst since 2013) which could indicate the ag economy is heading into another farm debt crisis.
Farm economists note that farm profits weakened in 2023, farmland prices remain strong, Avian Influenza continues to impact both domestic poultry and wild bird populations, and an alternative way to dispose of your live Christmas tree that serves local birds.
The drought that affected much of the country in 2023 is still impacting the beef cattle herd, the U.S. House passes a bill that will allow whole, reduced fat and other milk varieties back into school cafeterias, and the average age of farmworkers in the Great Plains and upper Midwest is rising at a much faster rate than in the rest of the country.
Food producers and retailers team up to fund sustainable agricultural practices, the 1976 Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act may get revised to address new concerns, a possible grey wolf sighting in northwest Colorado, and the USDA announces grants to help livestock producers implement solutions that balance benefits to land, livestock, and wildlife.
Foreign ownership of U.S. agricultural land has been a popular target for state legislators his year, growing seasons are slowly shifting across the United States, agencies will collaborate to manage the reintroduction of gray wolves on Colorado’s Western Slope, and John Deere moves toward digitizing self-repair for its customers.
The USDA is projecting that net farm income will drop sharply in 2023, low water levels in the Mississippi River cause increase in barge shipping rates, and how livestock producers can adapt to a changing climate that may affect those who rely on pasture and rangeland plants.
The complexities of The Farm Bill, low water levels in the Mississippi River once again create concern for agricultural barge traffic, the world’s biggest agribusiness corporations record record profits in the face of widespread food poverty and starvation, and U.S. wheat exports are expected to decrease to levels not seen in over 50 years.
Fallow sugarcane plantation fields may have fueled the devastating fires in Maui, a California law that sets confinement standards for pigs and poultry gets push back amid calls for changes from animal advocates, the 2023 Farm Bill is languishing in Congress, and sales of plant-based meat alternatives are slipping.
Colorado passes a right-to-repair agricultural equipment law, how high inflation is affecting farmers and ranchers, and drought conditions continue to expand in the Four Corners Region and beyond.
The number of farmers markets in the U.S. has more then quadrupled since 1994, U.S. senators announce the creation of the Senate Veterinary Medicine Caucus, a new study suggests that the world could lose half of all farms within 80 years, and global food fraud raises questions about the authenticity of certain high priced food items.
A new cattle inventory report estimates the total inventory is down almost 3% from a year ago, the USDA announces that food price inflation for 2023 will be slightly lower than last year, the U.S. Senate votes to prohibit China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran from purchasing U.S. agricultural land and agricultural businesses, wolf reintroduction in western Colorado concerns neighboring states, and scientists express concerns about neonicotinoids’ environmental harm and effects on human health.
Drought conditions return in the Four Corners Region after weeks of hot, dry weather, beekeepers in the United States lost over 48% of their managed honey bee colonies over the past year, and how native bees and insects play an important role in floral diversity and promote better results for fruiting.
Farm and ranchers receive only a small portion of total food costs, agriculture may be one of the first industries to meet net-zero emissions goals, and how conservationists and ranchers are working together to save grassland bird populations.
Lab-grown meat's carbon footprint, hay harvest yields are looking good in the Four Corners, and breaking down the cost of a 4th of July cookout meal.
New York may become the first state in the country to ban the use of neonicotinoid-treated seeds, Congress takes steps to prevent China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran from buying U.S. farmland, drought conditions are affecting many farmers in the upper Midwest, and the Colorado Department of Agriculture begins its annual monitoring season for agricultural pests.
Record setting drought in the Texas Panhandle is creating challenges for farmers and ranchers there, grain like rice, corn, and wheat are supplying over 50% of the food calories consumed globally, cyber crime is a very real concern for U.S. agriculture, and the USDA reports that $100 million of farm income is lost annually in the U.S. due to soil erosion.
U.S. farm exports are set to decrease by 8% this year, climatologists are suggesting that the U.S. will see a shift from La Nina to El Nino conditions this summer, almost one-third of winter wheat acreage could be abandoned this year, prices for beef for grilling will be higher this summer, and a new business is using mini and micro burros to serve drinks at parties and other events.
Drought in the Southwest sees big improvement, farmland prices remain stagnant, and cattle producers are optimistic about building herds back after recent setbacks.
Farmers in the Great Plains may abandon 85% of their wheat acres, the shift of land from agricultural production to urban uses could impact future food security, and the U.S. Supreme Court rules that a California law banning the sale of pork from pigs that were raised in tightly confined spaces was lawful.
A breakdown of what appropriations will be included in the new Farm Bill, the USDA boosts farm loan relief for producers, and Colorado State University is selected to run one of 12 regional food business centers as part of a new U.S. Department of Agriculture program.
The Southwest is seeing an easing of drought conditions but parts of the country are still dry, farmers taking irrigation water from the Ogallala Aquifer may need a different approach, how the 1930s Dust Bowl affected soil conservation, and a look at the downside of avocado production.
New USDA grant funding is available for meat and poultry producers, Southwest Colorado Meat and Livestock Day scheduled on May 11th, the shifting landscape of farm sizes and subsidies, and solar "farms" innovate to better serve rural communities.
A new Colorado bill could make it easier for farmers to repair their own tractors and other equipment, an explosion and fire at a Texas dairy farm resulted in what may be the largest single-incident livestock death toll in the U.S., and the Secretary of Agriculture Agriculture warns meatpackers and other companies that they need to take steps to ensure that illegal child labor isn't being used in their operations.
The beginning of the 2023 water year is off to a good start, reservoirs in the southwest will see some filling but may still be below average this year, calving season has been rough due to cold and wet spring weather, farm bankruptcies are going down, and census data show that the nation’s rural population grew slightly last year.
The average length of a growing season in the United States is getting longer, a survey of young farmers finds that 93% have never used a USDA program, beef production is decreasing in 2023, changes to livestock grazing on public lands could be on the way, and Congress acts to ban Chinese ownership of U.S. farm ground.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza continues to affect poultry in the U.S., farmers, agriculture groups, and climate advocates ask Congress to do more to address climate change in the next farm bill, Brazil is set to export more corn than the United States in 2023, and ag products with labels stating “Product of the USA", are often misleading.
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in a Brazilian cow leads to concerns about a global outbreak and possible impacts on human health, Argentina's agriculture exports hit hard by the worst drought of the last four decades, and queen bees for colonies used to pollinate crops in the U.S. are in high demand.
Russa-Ukraine conflict may have long term consequences for agricultural production in the country, highly pathogenic avian influenza in wild birds could spread to chickens, and more precipitation may not be a good thing for the saguaro cactus in southern Arizona.
The USDA projects U.S. agricultural exports will decline while imports will increase, egg prices could fall dramatically this year if avian influenza stays in check, urban and agricultural interests bring up questions about Colorado River Basin water management, and a new USDA report shows that overall farmland is declining across the country while large farm consolidation is on the rise.
More bees are needed to help pollinate almond trees in California, the USDA reports that farm outputs have tripled over the past 70 years while labor and land use have fallen, ranch-trained horses remain valuable assets on larger ranches, and tire manufacturer Goodyear begins using soybean oil in some new tires.
Three years of La Niña-driven weather in the southwest could now be changing, the pitfalls of starting your own backyard chicken flock, a new USDA report predicts that net cash farm income will decrease by over 20% in 2023 from last year, and farmers in the midwest are keeping a watchful eye on rain and snowpack in the upper Mississippi and Ohio River drainages.
Controversy over atmospheric methane contribution from cattle continues, consumer groups petitioned the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to stop livestock producers from administering antibiotics, beef cattle producers may see rewards from higher prices this year, and while local farmers and ranchers are happy to see the snow, drought remains a big problem overall.
Farmland sales prices show strong land values, proposed legislation in Iowa over SNAP food allowances could leave pork producers in a bind, and a recent survey shows that Coloradans want to support the state’s agricultural industry.
China remains the largest customer for U.S. agricultural products again in 2023, the shortage of eggs due to avian flu outbreaks has driven up the price to an average of $4.25 a dozen, and southwest Colorado sees it's biggest snow storm in about 10-12 years.
A look at what farmers may expect for their businesses in the coming year, the John Deere Corporation agrees to terms that would help farmers and independent repair shops to work on newer John Deere equipment, recent snow has bolstered the snowpack in western Colorado but much more is needed.
The USDA predicts that food prices will continue to go up with big increases in the price of eggs, China will need 8 million more acres of crop land annually, Maricopa County in Arizona is losing farmland at a faster rate than any other county in the nation due to low density residential development, and the CSU Coperative Extension is hosting an Annie's Project Workshop January 19th to the 21st at the Dolores Community Center.
A look ahead to what consumers may expect to pay for groceries in 2023, how the war in Ukraine is affecting farmers there, and China needs more cropland for its growing consumption of feed grains, oilseeds, and food grains.
A new driver-optional electric tractor company has started production, a new USDA report shows that use of conservation tillage significantly reduces farm fuel consumption, Argentine farmers and stockmen are also suffering from La Niña weather, and foreign ownership of U.S. farmland continues to be a concern.
The USDA Economic Research Service reports that one fifth of U.S. agricultural production was exported during the last fiscal year, about one million loans made for the 2020 Paycheck Protection Program appear to be fraudulent, how the Netherlands became the second largest exporter of agricultural products behind the U.S., and low water levels in Colorado reservoirs continue to be a problem.
Tips on acquiring and keeping your real Christmas tree fresh this year, a U.S. Department of Agriculture survey for farmers, ranchers, and forest managers, and U.S. farm income and ag-related business both increase in 2022.
A look at the average cost of a Thanksgiving meal, what the FDA's 2023 veterinary antimicrobial stewardship plan will mean for producers, an annual report from the USDA shows changing demographics in rural areas, and farmers and their co-ops are having trouble filling thousands of on-farm jobs across the country.
The Trump era trade war impact on the U.S. agricultural economy, what a world population of 8 billion means for food production and distribution, how cattle are being used to create fire breaks to assist in wildfire fighting, and why lettuce growers in the southwest are harvesting lettuce a little early this year.
Low water levels on the Mississippi River continue to be of concern to farmers, water managers in the southwestern U.S. consider the outlook for this winter and next summer, and highly pathogenic avian influenza in turkeys could mean high prices for Thanksgiving dinner.
The 2022-2023 water year seems to be off to a good start, Utah is experiencing exceptional drought conditions, the Interior Department plans to write new rules governing dams along the Colorado River, and cover crops are becoming more popular with farmers.
A ride along with combines harvesting corn in the Midwest shows the sophisticated technology and processes farmers are using, and economists are warning consumers that they can expect to pay record high prices for turkey this upcoming holiday season.
Drought conditions across the Midwest are impacting cattle and the corn harvest, low water levels in the Mississippi River lock up shipping, a Colorado rancher loses cattle to wolves, and the Montezuma County Extension and Pueblo Community College Southwest will offer a Beef Cattle Artificial Insemination Clinic in early November.
Damage from Hurricane Ian is expected to affect food prices from Florida crops, the threat of highly pathogenic avian influenza is rising again in the West, and despite the rumors, this coming winter is unlikely to bring a lot of moisture.
Drought is still persistent in the Four Corners but pasture and range conditions are better than expected, the High Desert Conservation District announces a Master Land Steward class, and the benefits of fallen leaves for soil health.
September 18th to the 24th is National Farm Safety week, the Colorado Water Plan starts to see investment, and how to conduct fall soil sampling.
Inflation Reduction Act aims at agricultural practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from crop and livestock production, U.S. farm incomes and exports are expected lower than 2021, and a study shows interesting findings about the effects on overall health of people who eat grapes.
What renewable energy provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act could mean for agricultural producers and rural communities, NOAA predicts another dry La Niña winter for the Southwest, and livestock rustling appears to be alive and well in Utah.
A survey of bank CEOs in rural areas indicates that rural economies are slowing down, the EPA continues to wrestle with problems related to the Roundup herbicide, and a residential developer in Hawaii is selling expensive land plots that can only be used for agricultural purposes.
A forecast for the Four Corners sees cooler temperatures continuing this fall, the USDA reports the value of the nation’s cropland in 2022 is up an average of 14% over 2021, history may be repeating itself with a possible farmland price bubble, and how to harvest the perfect ripe tomato.
A look at a few projects being proposed as solutions for the low water levels in the lower Colorado River basin, and how the decline in common milkweed threatens the monarch butterfly.
Two pieces of legislation are announced that could impact farmers, ranchers, and rural residents; "Farms Under Threat" looks at threats to agricultural land from expanding commercial, industrial, and residential development; a drop in cattle numbers due to drought is leading to the possibility of higher beef prices; and monsoon rain events have been very patchy in the Four Corners Region this summer.
A look at food price increases over the past year, the factors behind increased retail prices for beef, the Food and Drug Administration will now require a veterinary prescription for injected antibiotics for livestock, and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature adds the monarch butterfly to its “red list” of threatened species.
Entry into farming remains difficult for young want-to-be farmers who are not in line to take over or inherit an established farm or ranch, food price inflation declines slightly in June, some tips for spending less on food, and a look at the schedules for upcoming fairs in the Four Corners.
Monsoon rains bring much needed, albeit inconsistent, rain to the area, a new report contends that 11 million acres of America’s agricultural land were developed or converted to uses that threaten farming, a breakdown of water use by agriculture, and the 2023 Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year Contest is underway.
The Senate Agriculture Committee passed two bills on Wednesday dealing with the regulation of the cattle industry, an activist organization specializing in research about agricultural subsides reports that the government paid a record $41.6 billion in a variety of subsidies to farmers in 2020, double the amount they received in 2018, and reintroduction of wolves in Colorado remains a controversial topic with livestock producers.
Drought persists although the Four Corners Region received a little rain, paleoclimate evidence shows a drought in the Colorado River basin in the 2nd century AD, and a conservation group ranks the Colorado River as No. 1 on its list of the country’s most endangered rivers.
The Gardner Food and Agricultural Policy Survey asks consumers about how food and agricultural issues affect them, inflation is pushing grocery prices up almost 12% in the past year, and while many farmers are concerned that the ag economy is in trouble, other farmers and investors remain bullish on farmland.
Cattle ranchers are getting squeezed by high costs of maintaining their herds while calf prices fall, the government continues to fund a variety of agriculture programs, United Nations officials warn that the war in Ukraine threatens a hunger crisis, and a farm in Ukraine takes in displaced animals.
Farmers in the Conservation Reserve Program will have an opportunity for a one-time voluntary termination in order to expand production, a brief history of government initiatives to encourage farmers to produce more crops, and the USDA is making $200 million available to create a new meat processing capacity expansion program.
A USDA Crop Progress report has rated half of the country's pasture and range conditions as poor, filling a tractor tank daily now costs some farmers $1,000, twice what it was a year ago, and the USDA addresses baby formula shortages and possible milk substitutes.
Fallout from the Russia-Ukraine conflict continues to rattle commodity markets, the USDA cuts yield estimates on U.S. corn, avian influenza continues to impact chickens, turkeys, and other birds, Corn Belt agricultural land values are on the rise, the US Climate Prediction Center reports La Nina conditions are likely again this fall and upcoming winter, and the Russian military has stolen farm equipment from Ukraine that may be useless.
On today’s segment, ag correspondent Bob Bragg is talking about how cities in the southwest are responding to the drought and educational opportunities for farmers and landowners this summer.
Cold, wet conditions delay corn and soybean planting in the Midwest, drought conditions intensify in the Four Corners, the USDA is projecting that food prices will rise up to 6% this year, satellites detect methane emissions from cows, the EPA issues an emergency waiver that allows summertime sales of gasoline blends with 15 percent ethanol, and the Biden administration proposes a $500 million program to encourage farmers to boost production of wheat, soybeans, rice, and other commodities.
The Biden Administration announced that millions of dollars will be given to rural communities in the U.S. over the next year, the FBI is warning agricultural cooperatives that ransomware attacks might be more likely during the current planting and harvest seasons, tire maker Bridgestone begins work developing a domestic supply of natural rubber using a shrub called guayule, and a look at the accuracy of weather forecasts.
Drought continues to challenge farmers and ranchers across the country, hay production in the U.S. may fall to its lowest level in a century, volatility in commodity markets begins to settle, and a new farm business index shows signs for optimism.
High fertilizer prices cause producers to rethink fertilizer requirements, how drought across the U.S. is affecting the cattle industry, and the conflict in the Ukraine is driving up the price of sunflower seeds and leaving thousands of acres of Ukrainian agricultural land without crops.
Snowpack levels in the Four Corners show small signs of improvement over last year, but some areas in the Southwest may face water shortages later this year. Avian influenza is affecting egg production, and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack says "no" to opening reserve croplands.