Three Ways Immigration Reform Could Help U.S. Farmers

U.S. farmers have been burdened by ongoing labor shortages for years. The U.S. agriculture industry has dealt with a widespread farmworker shortage as a result of many factors, including immigration laws and a declining interest in agricultural e

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New Economic Report: A Glimpse into the 2022 Agricultural Economy

Learn more about the seven most influential factors impacting agricultural economics in 2022.  From supply chain shortages to spiking input costs, farmers were faced with challenges in 2021 that required dedication and ingenuity to overcome. In

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First Quarter Report Highlights: The 2022 U.S. Agriculture Trade Outlook 

Strong global demand is leading to a record-breaking forecast for U.S. agriculture export and import outlooks are anticipating record-breaking highs with increases in nearly all major U.S. agriculture commodities. Economic recovery is evident fro

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Farm Income Outlook for 2022

Net farm income in 2022 is showing a slightly softer forecast than 2021—but still 26 percent higher than the 10-year average.  According to the latest USDA farm sector income forecast report, production expenses and a drop in direct government

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Addressing Consolidation in the U.S. Meat Industry

The consolidation of the meat industry in the U.S. is something ranchers have been facing for decades. Is legislative change the answer?  When the pandemic first swept through meatpacking plants across the nation in 2020, it was a wake-up ca

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What Would Build Back Better Mean for U.S. Agriculture?

Passing the Build Back Better Plan could mean a historic investment in our nation’s farmers and ranchers—but could it do more harm than good? The Build Back Better Act has come a long way from the original $3.5 trillion reconc

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Farm Income in 2021

According to the latest USDA Farm Sector Income Forecast, farm income is expected to reach its highest level since 2013—even in the face of higher production costs.   The USDA released the last of three farm income data reports in

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Fourth Quarter Update: 2022 Trade Outlook for U.S. Agriculture

Despite slight softening, the outlook for U.S. agricultural exports in fiscal year (FY) 2022 remains at historic highs.  The USDA released its last quarterly report in 2021 on the outlook for U.S. agricultural trade on November 23, 2021. 

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New Report: Impact of U.S. Agriculture on Global Food Production

Learn more about the rise of our global food system and the role U.S. agriculture has in it.  Our international food system is a delicate balancing act of optimizing natural resources to produce food, fuel, and fiber for a growing number o

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Understanding Ag Trade-Weighted Foreign Exchange Rates

Exchange rates are often said to be the single most important price for any economy with significant trade, but few understand why. The economic lessons of the past underscore the influential role trade-weighted foreign exchange rates play in int

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U.S. and China: What’s Next for ‘Phase One’?

Read the latest news on the U.S.-China trade relationship and what that means for American farmers. In a conversation forum with the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) on Monday, October 4, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine T

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Five Ways the Infrastructure Bill Could Impact U.S. Agriculture

Although the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is light on direct farm aid, it aims to revitalize rural communities across the nation. The $1.2 trillion infrastructure package was approved in the Senate on August 10th, 2021, in a

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Elaine Trevino: Meet the New Chief Ag Trade Negotiator Nominee

Ag groups showed unanimous support for the newest Chief Ag Trade Negotiator nominee. Here’s a few reasons why. On September 13, 2021, President Biden announced several intended nominations for key economic and trade representatives. One candida

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Key Trends Impacting Farm Income in 2021

The September 2021 USDA Farm Income Forecast yields an overall positive outlook for American farmers and ranchers.  Despite continued challenges ranging from pandemic-induced supply chain bottlenecks, Western drought, and widespread labor sh

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Florida Agriculture Sounds the Alarm on Mexican Import Trade

A new report exposes the $4 billion impact of Mexican imports on the Florida economy. On August 30, 2021, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried released a report prepared by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDAC

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Redefining WOTUS: What Farmers Should Know

On June 9th, The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) determined that the Navigable Waters Protection Rule was significantly reducing clean water safeguards.  As a result, the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a motion that requested a remand

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Third Quarter Update: 2021-2022 Trade Outlook for U.S. Agriculture

The third quarter USDA ERS Trade Forecast Report was filled with record-breaking forecasts and (mostly) good news for U.S. ag export trade. The third quarter USDA trade outlook compounded on good news from the second quarter trade report by forec

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EPA Chlorpyrifos Ban: The Good and Bad

What does the 'zero tolerance’ ruling for chlorpyrifos insecticide residual mean for food crop production? On August 18, 2021, the EPA evoked all tolerances of chlorpyrifos pesticide on food crops after a Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals order di

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