…those exports. When commodity prices fall, that’s when we significantly saw the bifurcation of imports versus exports when it comes to value. But then Kiefer says there’s at least one…
American Agriculture History Minute: Railroads Part in Agriculture Expansion
…tracts for very cheap prices to about 400,000 families who settled new lands under the Homestead Act of 1862. And even larger numbers purchased lands at very low interest from…
Diverse Drivers of Farm Income
…of those things filter into farm income, but, commodity prices are obviously a key factor in determining a chunk of farm income,” he explained. “And we’ve seen commodity prices come…
American Agriculture History Minute: Radio Introduced to Rural America
…the air so he could provide his customers five minutes of grain prices from USDA. And just a year later, 35 radio stations had been approved to broadcast USDA markets….
Almond Update: Almond Acreage in California Declines for Third Straight Year
…2023, bringing the total to 1.52 million acres. Almond Board of California CEO Clarice Turner attributed this trend to several economic pressures facing growers. “High interest rates, lower almond prices,…
Ag Industry Praised for Emission Efforts, Faces New Challenges
…supports farmers in replacing older equipment with cleaner alternatives. He also spoke about the challenges facing agriculture, including low commodity prices, difficult export markets, and increasingly strict regulations. Despite these…
USDA Grant Fuels Automation Research for Nursery Growers
…profitability and sustainability,” Marble said. The project will study automation technologies’ economic feasibility and usability, focusing on herbicide, pesticide, and fertilizer applications. Led by North Carolina State University, the five-year…
American Agriculture History Minute: Crop Adjustments After the Civil War
DepositPhotos image I’m Mark Oppold with an American Agriculture History Minute. During the Civil War, wheat prices were higher. Many producers planted more wheat. With the end of the war,…
Farmers’ Optimism Rose Ahead of U.S. Election, Purdue Ag Economy Barometer Shows
…up from September, reflecting producers’ hopeful outlook for 2025. Concerns over politics, input costs, and output prices, however, remain prevalent among respondents. Farmer Sentiment in October Rebounded Ahead of the…
New Funding to Protect California Strawberries from Harmful Pathogen
…growth and reduce yields, affecting both growers’ profits and consumer prices. Led by Dr. Mitchell Feldmann, researchers are focusing on two areas: enhancing genetic resistance in strawberries and investigating the…
American Agriculture History Minute: Early Export Trade
…farming was stimulated by the international demand for wheat. A massive population explosion in Europe drove wheat prices up and by 1770, a bushel of wheat cost twice as much…
Wine Industry Faces Challenges Over Tariffs and Distribution Rules
…international wineries, restricting access and driving up prices. This structure keeps most profits from imported wine sales within U.S. businesses, but some argue that it limits flexibility and increases vulnerability…
Decline in California Farmland Values Raises Economic Concerns
…compounded by challenges like low crop prices, high operational costs, and increasing SGMA enforcement. These financial pressures make it difficult for farmers to secure necessary loans, pushing some to consider…
California Agriculture Faces Challenges but Promises Innovation, Says Secretary Ross
…recognized the difficult situation for farmers, particularly due to low commodity prices and increasing production costs. “It’s unusual to have so many crops struggling at the same time,” she said…