Latest News From Farm Business - General

Unrelenting inflation continues to weigh down the U.S. economy and agriculture. Still, CoBank says it believes the Fed will stick with its decision to cut interest rates three times in 2024.

The Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor is a gauge of economists’ views on the ag economy. While outlooks have grown weaker, it’s the erosion in the future outlook that is sprouting fresh concerns.

Kyle Scheele shares six ways constraints can be a good thing to your operation.

Mike Steenhoek, executive director at the Soy Transportation Coalition, shares what the collapse could mean for the supply chain.

Farm attorney Matt Folz shares the pros and cons of creating a charitable remainder trust.

U.S. pork exports to Mexico hit the second-highest on record in January, while another major meat processor says it's shutting the doors on another pork processing plant as consolidation concerns continue to grow.

Alan Hoskins, president of American Farm Mortgage, shares his expectations for the economy and how it changes the buying process.

According to two sources, in recent days the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York has interviewed former ADM employees, ramping up pressure on the global commodities giant.

Ag economists’ views on the ag economy took a dive in the first Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor of 2024; however, relatively strong balance sheets and working capital could provide a cushion for 2024. 

This month’s Rural Mainstreet Index marks the fifth-straight month where the index has been below the growth neutral mark.

Vikram Luthar’s leave is pending an ongoing investigation being conducted by outside counsel for ADM and the Board’s Audit Committee.

AgriTalk has extended an invitation to all the 2024 presidential hopefuls to join Host Chip Flory and answer five standard questions about what they would focus on once in office.

To create a safe and comfortable work environment for your farm employees, it’s important to address the specific challenges posed by cold weather on the farm.

Farmers routinely handle high-dollar transactions — and the nature of the payments, often through unsecure methods, leaves them susceptible to foul play.

From the election to world trade, as well as geopolitical factors that have the potential to shape agriculture in 2024, the December Ag Economists' Monthly Monitor shows the possibility of several economic surprises.

These 10 steps can help keep your employees from walking away.

Analysts say an initial cut could be made as early as first quarter 2024. One of the key factors the central banking system will consider is whether its inflation rate target of 2% has been achieved.

How well prepared is your operation to manage risk? Here’s a list of the top 5 risks and ways to mitigate the challenges.

The Last Acre Act would help expand high-speed internet access across eligible farmland, ranchland and farm sites. At least 15% of farms and ranches have no access to the internet today. 

Though inflation is currently high, Indiana ag lender Joe Kessie doesn’t expect a repeat of what he experienced in his early career for three main reasons.

When Max Miller opened the Pig Motel and charged 2 cents for room and board, the venture was about more than math.

At 22 years old, Emma decided the college life wasn't for her. She dropped out and decided to become a farmhand. With each adventure comes lessons she shares on her "Ag With Emma" social media accounts.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2024, you will be required to report online to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FINCen) any entity that is required to be filed with your state.

Farmers are opting to tap into their savings from recent prosperous years instead of taking out loans at the highest interest rates since 2007, according to surveys conducted by regional Federal Reserve banks.

Work by the House or Senate Agriculture Committee on a new farm bill is essentially stalled, Randy Russell tells AgriTalk's Chip Flory. Russell says that could be the case until government funding issues are resolved.

Less than 5% of new grads choose rural food animal practice. That needs to change to protect the U.S. food supply and public health. Contacting legislators is one way farmers and ranchers can weigh in and help.

Positive feedback is 1200x more effective than ignoring problems.

There is a chance we might see new tax legislation before year-end. However, I wouldn't count on getting what you want.

Three recent headlines from the financial world have farmers asking how those events could affect their lending situation.

In early 2022, a possible trucker shortage grabbed headlines, but John Phipps says even today, there isn't much hard data to substantiate that alarm.

For 2024, USDA projects that food price inflation will be lower than that seen in 2023 and significantly lower than the rise seen in 2022.

Farm Bill discussions and debates don't pack as much drama for producers. According to JohnPhipps, there's an unspoken realization that the Farm Bill doesn’t have the same influence on the farm economy it once did.

“Most farms don’t have the time, capabilities, perspectives, resources or desire to do all the tasks it takes to run an operation," says Steve Kluemper, AgriStrategies LLC founder. "A lot of growers hire to fill gaps."

Meanwhile, service prices and the core index (which excludes food and energy) remain high, with the core CPI descending to 4.8%.

With all the talk about artificial intelligence, there's a new debate: is AI actually real or just a combination of Siri and other search databases? John Phipps addresses a U.S. Farm Report viewer's skepticism.

National enrollment in ag and related science majors at two-year institutions grew 41% in Fall 2021. The Community College Ag Advancement Act aims to give these students more industry opportunities.

There are three areas producers need to focus on to earn the title of “good farm manager,” according to Purdue University researchers.

The rapid runup in land values caused farmland values to hit historic levels over the past two years. The dynamics are starting to shift, as input prices, interest rates and commodity prices are eating into outlooks.

More than 50% of farmers intend to grow their operation, based on responses in Purdue’s February 2023 Ag Economy Barometer. If you’re thinking about scaling your farm, it’s important to first ask these questions.

Lenders In the hearing seemed to agree on a boost to lending limits in USDA guaranteed loans as lawmakers ready for the next farm bill.

The food system is being reimagined today and farmers can benefit by thinking about how to improve their ability to take advantage of opportunities in the process, says Rob Dongoski with Ernst and Young.

If you’re ready to meet with an alternative lender, here are some points to keep in mind.

The Top Producer Women in Agriculture Award will be given to a female producer who is a shining example for her peers.

Follow this strategy to reduce turnover and increase morale on your farm team.

Entrants are judged on entrepreneurial originality, financial and business progress and industry or community leadership.

According to USDA, this funding was made available to help struggling rural communities “recover economically” and offer more market opportunities, improve infrastructure and protect farmland.

The Top Producer of the Year Award identifies and honors agricultural producers from whom our readers can learn business concepts, ranging from value-added ventures to succession plans to overcoming adversity.

The rural economy seems to be set on cruise in neutral gear. That’s according to the Rural Mainstreet Index (RMI) from Creighton University. 

Could agriculture face a Southwest-type meltdown?

As farm shows and meetings portray a crowd that seems to be aging, is there a shortage of young farmers threatening the future of ag? John Phipps explains why an abundance of young farmers may not be on the farm today.