The Creighton University Rural Mainstreet Index declined slightly in January from December’s weak reading, remaining below growth neutral. However, organizers say the monthly survey of rural bank CEO’s in the…
Second Snow Survey Yields Concerning Measurements
…showed very little snowpack after a significantly dry December and measured only three percent of the average. The weather forecast for much of California also shows warmer than average temperatures…
California Avocado Crop Forecast Almost Double 2017 Harvest
…counties. The Thomas fire, which began on December 4 and burned more than 280,000 acres over than a month, was the largest wildfire in recorded California history. Wind and mudslides…
Agri View: Banner Pecan Nut Year
…production in the west. In December, the estimate of the final harvest in the western states was expected to be a new record. New Mexico’s crop alone was pegged at…
Census of Agriculture – Deadline Coming Fast
…US producers in December 2017. So far, 21.75 percent of California producers have responded, close to the national return rate of 23.34 percent. The findings of the Census of Agriculture–conducted…
Red Meat Production Sets December Record
…slightly over the previous December. Beef production in December reached 2.15 billion pounds, down one percent from 2016. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.58 million head, down one percent from December of…
Organics Encourage Support for Livestock Rule
…Tuesday, asking Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to reinstate the rule that was issued in January of last year. USDA continually delayed the rule, and announced in December intent to withdraw…
Senator Ernst Suggests Trump is Softening on NAFTA Threats
…meeting with the President, following a meeting between Trump and a group of farm-state Senators in December. She says the goal is to make sure the President understands that NAFTA…
Latest WASDE Report from USDA
The latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates Report (WASDE) was released recently. During December, raging wildfires in southern California and a late-month cold wave east of the Rockies highlighted…
Global Avian Influenza Surge
…time. Meat industry publication Meatingplace reports that since December, the H5N6 strain of avian influenza has been reported in Hong Kong, the Netherlands, South Korea and Taiwan, in addition to…
2017 Farm Equipment Sales Up
…tractors in the U.S. in December 2017, were up 18 percent compared to the same month last year. For the twelve months in 2017, a total of 220,500 tractors were…
Farmers Are Becoming Less Optimistic About the Future
For the second-straight month, the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer dipped lower, coming in with an index of 126 in December. That number was the lowest since March of…
Winter Wheat Growers Holding on Through Cold Snap
The nation’s winter wheat growers have learned through experience to be prepared for more trouble ahead. Much of the nation has been in a deep freeze for the past several…
Arrest Made in $1.5 Million Cattle Theft
…cattle back out of a field, you know, you have to pour through thousands of pages of digital evidence.” The fugitive task force apprehended Greer in Texas on December 27….