CoBank

A new report from CoBank says rapidly worsening expectations about everything from inflation to personal income to business conditions and labor supplies are elevating economic concerns in farm country.  The question of whether the declining expectations will translate into slower spending and tightening profit margins will likely come into view by late June.  ...

The U.S. continues benefiting from solid economic growth, low unemployment, and moderating inflation, and the overall economy will likely continue on that trajectory next year.  However, the rural economic outlook is more uncertain.    ...

Sustainable aviation fuel could emerge as the next big opportunity for substantial growth in U.S. biofuel production with proper market and regulatory incentives.  Agricultural feedstocks could play a leading role in the supply chain for domestic SAF production.  However...

Dairy demand has slowly picked up throughout 2024.  Cory Geiger, lead dairy economist at CoBank, said lower supplies have resulted in higher prices.   “A lot of dynamics moving around the market right now," he noted.  "Early in the year...

The outlook for agricultural retailers is generally favorable for 2023, following a year of record profits in 2022.  However, the sector faces emerging risks that could depress profit margins and challenge traditional business models in the years ahead.  Lower l...

The U.S. economy will progressively slow through the first half of this year, and recession fears are still high, and warranted.  That assessment from CoBank, adding inflation is starting to loosen its grip on farm country.  While a slowing economy does mean that impact of inflation is expected to diminish, that also means the crop prices, and lesser extent livestock prices producers receive in 20

America’s dairy producers and processors are closely watching discussions about the next Farm Bill and looking for reforms to Federal Milk Marketing Orders.  CoBank said the industry feels that current FMMOs don’t reflect today’s market environment, and the consequences could be drastic.   Make allowances ar...

The U.S. economy still has considerable momentum and is not currently on the verge of recession, that according to CoBank's 2023 Year Ahead report.  Despite that, economists have never been more pessimistic, and there are legitimate reasons for concern.  Over th...

A new analysis from CoBank suggests consumers will see smaller turkeys and higher-priced bird this Thanksgiving season.  After grappling with staff shortages, plant closures, and supply issues, the turkey industry has been hit by yet another problem in 2022: the worst Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza outbreak in U.S. histor...

According to a recent study by the University of Missouri, American farmers and ranchers are becoming more and more dependent on off-farm employment and income to make end meet, which means rural communities are more and more connected to surrounding cities...