The Relationship Between Farmland Values, Interest Rates, and Inflation

The U.S. Farmland Real Estate Market in 2022  Despite rising interest rates and input costs, the 2022 farm economy is experiencing positive growth due to strong net farm income, liquidity, and higher cash rents. However, higher cash rents are ti

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A Farmer’s Guide to the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act 

The Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act aims to address critical issues for agriculture, including lowering the cost of farming while promoting competition in the industry.   Skyrocketing inflation and supply chain bottlenecks have been challenging A

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What Farmers Should Know About the Ocean Shipping Reform Act 

The Ocean Shipping Reform Act was signed into law on June 16, 2022, in an effort to address shipping bottlenecks for U.S. exports.  Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. agriculture industry has faced shipping bottlenecks and increa

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What to Expect for the 2023 Farm Bill

The 2023 Farm Bill comes at a time when farmers are facing inflated input costs, supply bottlenecks and shortages, and an increasing number of severe weather events. The historic trend of zero-base budgeting in past Farm Bills suggests that the allo

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Second Quarter Report Highlights: The 2022 U.S. Agricultural Trade Outlook 

Despite economic volatility, the 2022 agricultural trade outlook continues to rise due to strong prices and demand.   The USDA’s second quarter trade forecast for 2022 indicates a positive global trade position for U.S. agriculture, with a pr

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National Beef Month: Celebrating American Cattle Ranchers

Cattle ranchers in the U.S. work hard 365 days a year—contributing to both our economy and ecosystems.  The economic and cultural impacts of the American cattle industry are extensive. With over 700,000 cattle and calf operations across the na

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How the America COMPETES Act of 2022 Could Impact U.S. Farmers 

The America COMPETES Act of 2022 includes measures to increase American competition in the global marketplace—and agriculture plays a role. While the America COMPETES Act is a multifaceted bill that focuses on the U.S. economy as a whole, it in

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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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