Inside D.C: New farm aid coming; trade signals ‘messy’

The co-director of Texas A&M’s Ag and Food Policy Center says it’s going to be more challenging for the Trump administration to estimate trade damages for new farmer ad-hoc relief. Bart Fischer says the trade conversation is constantly changing. “The market is reacting to signals right now, China’s buying signals. There’s just still so much…Continue Reading

Midday cash livestock markets

Midday cash livestock markets

Direct cash cattle trade activity was quiet again on Tuesday.  Bids haven’t surfaced, but asking prices were floated in parts of Texas at $225 live.  Showlists are mixed, higher in Kansas, nearly steady in Nebraska/Colorado, but lower in Texas.  Significant trade volume isn’t expected until sometime Thursday or Friday. At the Oklahoma National Stockyards, feeder…Continue Reading

MFU delegates sound alarm on farm economy, demand new farm bill

Minnesota Farmers Union developed resolutions around what members describe as a farm crisis during their annual convention in late November. MFU president Gary Wertish says long-term reforms are necessary to stabilize the ag economy. “We’re still dealing with a 2018 Farm Bill that we keep kicking down the road, so we need to make some…Continue Reading

Grassley says farmer assistance talks have gone quiet

The status of financial assistance for farmers from the Trump administration remains unclear. U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley was asked by Brownfield Tuesday morning what he’s hearing on potential payments. “Not enough. And hearing less than we did a few weeks ago on the $10 to $14 billion that they were planning to do.” The Iowa…Continue Reading

Economist says long-term tariff impacts won’t be clear for several years

A long-time agricultural economist says the full effect of the Trump administration’s use of tariffs won’t be felt for a few years. Dr. David Kohl, professor emeritus at Virginia Tech University, tells Brownfield, “These tariffs aren’t agreements, and I’m being very blunt about it, they’re just temporary subscriptions, and they can be changed on a…Continue Reading

Nationwide, year-round E15 seen as key demand driver for sorghum

The chairwoman of the National Sorghum Producers says year-round, nationwide E15 could provide much-needed price support for the industry.   Amy France says sorghum is an important feedstock for biofuels that can be overlooked. “Often times people don’t know that sorghum can be used in ethanol production. We have ethanol plants that are using 80…Continue Reading

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