U.S. Dairy Exports Soar
U.S. dairy exports surged in 2025, driven by strong global demand for cheese and butterfat, competitive pricing, and improved milk production.
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Ag
Corn Yield Crushes Expectations
The USDA stunned markets with its August WASDE report, projecting a record U.S. corn yield of 188.8 bushels per acre—up 7.8 bu. from July and 9.5 bu. from 2024.
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Farmer Sentiment Weakens, but Confidence in U.S. Policy Grows
A survey of 400 farmers and ranchers from across the country shows rising concern about the current state of the ag economy. However, producers remain optimistic President Trump’s tariff policy will benefit U.S. agriculture.
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Rural Mainstreet Economy Expands Again in July
The overall Rural Mainstreet Index (RMI) climbed above the 50.0 growth neutral reading in July, marking the second time since July 2023 that the index has moved above growth neutral for two straight months, according to the monthly survey.
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Farmer Sentiment Declines Due to Trade Uncertainty
Farmer sentiment weakened in June following two months of improvement, as tracked by the Purdue University -CME Group Ag Economy Barometer.
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Monitoring Crops with AI Models
In blueberry fields and cranberry bogs throughout South Jersey, diseases and invasive weeds threaten farmers’ crops and their livelihoods. Hieu Nguyen, Ph.D., professor of mathematics in the College of Science & Mathematics, is using smart drones and artificial intelligence (AI) to help farmers monitor their fields for these and other threats.
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USDA Weekly Crop Report: 70% of U.S. Corn , 66% of Soybeans Good to Excellent
The latest USDA Crop Progress report shows mostly steady field conditions with some week-over-week declines, as summer heat begins to influence regional development.
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Trump Again Considering Immigration Relief for Farm Workers
President Trump said he wants to shield reputable farmers from the impact of immigration crackdowns, shortly after reinstating workplace raids on farms. He suggested allowing these farmers to take responsibility for workers to avoid hurting agriculture or non-criminal migrants.
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Rural Mainstreet Economy Soars to Two-Year High
The overall Rural Mainstreet Index (RMI) climbed above the 50.0 growth neutral reading in June, marking its highest level since July 2023, according to the monthly survey of bank CEOs in rural areas of a 10-state region dependent on agriculture and/or energy.
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Farmer Sentiment Reaches Four-Year High in May
Farmer sentiment improved for the second consecutive month in May, reaching its highest level since May 2021. The sentiment boost was driven by a more optimistic outlook on U.S. agricultural exports and a less negative view of how tariffs will impact farm income in 2025.
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Midwest Farmland Values Slightly Up in First Quarter
A policy advisor at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago says land values in the Seventh District were up slightly from a year ago in the first quarter of 2025.
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Cost of Producing Corn & Soybeans in Illinois
In 2024, total economic costs per acre for growing corn in Illinois averaged between $1,154 in the southern section and $1,251 in central areas with high-rated soils. Soybean costs ranged from $863 to $931 per acre.
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Apply by June 9 for Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge
The American Farm Bureau Federation is seeking entrepreneurs to apply for the 2026 Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge. The overall winner of the competition will receive $100,000 in startup funds, the runner-up will be awarded $25,000 and two additional business owners who advance to the final four round will receive $10,000.
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Planting Progress Shows Strong Early Season Gains
The USDA released its eighth Crop Progress Report of the 2025 growing season on May 5. Here’s a look at the most recent corn, soy, wheat, and oat numbers.
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Rural Mainstreet Index Reflects Weak Rural Economy
The Rural Mainstreet Index (RMI), which covers 10 regional states across 200 rural communities, reports that in April, the overall index fell below growth neutral 50.0 for the 19th time in the past 20 months.
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Farmer Sentiment Improves as Long-Term Optimism Outweighs Tariff Concerns
Farmer sentiment improved in April as the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer climbed 8 points to a reading of 148. Somewhat surprisingly, this month’s improvement in farmer sentiment occurred despite ongoing trade disputes with many of U.S. agriculture’s largest trading partners, including Mexico, Canada and China.
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Producer Sentiment Slips Due to Rising Policy Uncertainty
Farmer sentiment declined in March as concerns over agricultural trade and farm policy weighed on producers’ outlook for the future
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Scenes from the 2025 Commodity Classic
Attendees from across North America, including many ¹û¶³´«Ã½ (FEMA) member companies, gathered to explore the latest advancements and connect with industry leaders at Commodity Classic.
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Rural Mainstreet Economy Falls Again in February
For the 17th time in the past 18 months, the overall Rural Mainstreet Index (RMI) sank below the 50.0 reading in February, according to the monthly survey of bank CEOs in rural areas of a 10-state region dependent on agriculture and/or energy.
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Farmer Sentiment Improves in January
Farmer sentiment remained strong at the start of the new year, rising modestly from December to January. Farmers reported an improvement in current conditions on their farms due in part to increases in crop prices from early December to mid-January.
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Rural Mainstreet Economy Faces Continued Downturn
Despite another one-year extension of the farm bill, and $20.8 billion in farm disaster relief, the farm (grain) economic outlook remained weak for the first half of 2025.
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Farmer Sentiment Drifted Lower in December
Farmer sentiment drifted lower in December as the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer fell 9 points to 136. Although the barometer weakened somewhat in December compared to November, producers still retained much of their post-election optimism about the future.
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Farmer Sentiment Reaches May 2021 High After U.S. Election
Farmer sentiment jumped again in November as the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer climbed 30 points to 145. Both the Current Conditions and Future Expectations indices increased in November, with the biggest improvement taking place in future expectations.
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Rural Mainstreet Economy Soars to Highest Level in 15 Months
For the first time since July 2023, the overall Rural Mainstreet Index (RMI) rose above growth neutral, according to the November survey of bank CEOs in rural areas of a 10-state region dependent on agriculture and/or energy.
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Congress Eyes One-Year Farm Bill Extension with Disaster Relief
As Congress enters the post-election, lame duck session, it is becoming increasingly clear that a one-year extension of the 2018 Farm Bill is likely.
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Farmer Sentiment Rebounds in October as Outlook Brightens
October provided a surprising pre-election bounce in farmer sentiment as the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer index climbed to 115, 27 points higher than in September.
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Farm Bill Stalled: Decision Pushed Beyond Election Day
The latest deadline for the farm bill passed unceremoniously at midnight on Sept. 30, without a push from lawmakers to pass a new farm bill or an extension.
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Hurricane Helene Causes Billions in Ag Damage
Hurricane Helene has caused significant agricultural and property damage across the southern U.S., halting chicken processing plants, damaging flocks, and devastating pecan trees and cotton crops.
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Farmer Sentiment Reaches Lowest Levels Since 2016
The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer recorded its lowest readings since March 2016 in September.
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Rural Mainstreet Economy Falls to Early Pandemic Low
The Rural Mainstreet Index plummeted to its lowest level since the beginning of the pandemic and fell below growth neutral for the 13th straight month.
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Farmer Sentiment Plummets in August as Crop Prices Decline
In a sharp turnaround from July, farmer sentiment nose-dived in August. The August Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer fell 13 points. Weakening farm income prospects weighed on farmer sentiment as the outlook for a bountiful fall harvest were more than offset by declining crop prices.
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Safety Net Issues Stall Farm Bill
A Senate Appropriates Committee met to discuss the passage of the Farm Bill and the importance in providing a safety net for farmers through reference prices.
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Farm Bill Prospects Nearly Nonexistent This Year
The already-slim chances of Farm Bill reauthorization in 2024 are waning in the summer heat, facing a legislative calendar almost out of days.
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Rural Mainstreet Economy Down Again for July
For an 11th straight month, the overall Rural Mainstreet Index (RMI) sank below growth neutral, according to the July survey of bank CEOs in rural areas of a 10-state region dependent on agriculture and/or energy.
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Farmer Sentiment Lowers Amidst Weaker Future Expectations
Farmer sentiment drifted lower in June as the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer reading of 105 was three points lower than a month earlier.
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Farmers Want Climate-Smart Ag Protection in Farm Bill
A new Farm Journal poll conducted on behalf of Invest in Our Land across 10 leading agricultural states shows that American farmers and ranchers overwhelmingly believe conservation funding has an important role to play in building their operations’ resilience to increasingly extreme weather and addressing the effects of climate change.
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U.S. Farmers Hold onto Unsold Corn Amid Slumping Prices
After stockpiling crops for much of this season due to low prices, many farmers in the world’s largest corn-producing nation continue to shun buyers despite few signs that prices will improve.
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Texas Faces Extreme Drought Amid Corn Growing Season
As of June 9, nearly all corn in the top 18 corn-growing states has emerged, with minimal drought conditions affecting most states. Texas is the sole state experiencing extreme drought.
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Report Shows 75% of Corn Crop in Good/Excellent Condition
USDA released its 10th Crop Progress report of the 2024 growing season on June 3. Here’s a look at the most recent corn, soy, wheat, and oat numbers.
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Ag Retailers Are Optimistic for 2024 Growing Season
Fifty-three percent of the nation’s top ag retailers said the 2024 growing season rates between a five and seven on their 10-point scale.
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USDA Crop Progress Report
U.S. corn and soybean planting both remain ahead of average. That’s despite last week’s heavy rainfall in some areas, including flooding, severe storms, and the loss of human life, with most forecasts showing a good near-term planting window for much of the region this week.
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House Ag Committee Completes Farm Bill Markup
The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture completed its markup of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024 (Farm Bill) on May 24, 2024, passing the proposed legislation 33-21
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Farmer Sentiment Recovers in May
Farmer sentiment recovered somewhat in May following a sharp drop-off in April. The May reading of the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer came in at 108, up 9 points compared to April.
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Farm bill Advances from U.S. House Panel
Republicans moved their long-awaited new farm bill through the U.S. House Agriculture Committee last week, despite opposition from most Democrats.
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House Unveils $1.5 Trillion Farm Bill Draft
The U.S. House Agriculture Committee Friday released the draft bill text of the long-awaited $1.5 trillion farm bill, which is likely to face opposition in the Senate from Democrats due to disagreements over federal anti-hunger programs and climate change requirements.
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Planting Progress Leaps Forward, But Behind Average
The USDA released its eighth Crop Progress Report of the 2024 growing season. Here’s a look at the most recent corn, soy, wheat, and oat numbers.
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Farmer Sentiment Reaches Lowest Point Since June 2022
Farmer sentiment declined sharply in April, as indicated by the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer, which fell 15 points from March to a reading of 99.
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Aviation Fuel Tax Credits Give Agriculture a Lift
The Treasury Department will allow U.S.-made ethanol and other biofuels to qualify for a sustainable aviation fuel tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act.
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U.S. Soybean Share in China to Fall as Argentina Gains Ground
U.S. soybean exports to China are set to decline further in 2024 as Argentina and Brazil increase their share in the world’s largest soybean market.
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House Pushes Ahead on Farm Bill
House Ag Chair Thompson is ramping up to release the House farm bill draft ahead of the planned May 23 markup.
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