CoBank

Since the 2018 Farm Bill removed industrial hemp from the Controlled Substances Act, agriculture has never been more interested in adding hemp to its crop rotations.  A lot of available information says there’s a large financial upside to the industry.  Producer...

Uncertainty over trade policy, weather and disease concerns dominated agricultural markets last quarter, causing greater volatility.  A report released this week by CoBank says issues in the market are affecting producers, supply chains and end users.  Tr...

According to a recent report by CoBank, American farmers are taking the brunt of retaliatory tariffs.  The report confirms what the industry has pointed out over the course of the trade war, that China is targeting U.S. farm products in retaliation.  ...

A new report from CoBank says the farm economy, business efficiency, and even retiring employees are contributing to agricultural cooperative consolidations.  Cooperatives are seeking business efficiencies amid tough economic conditions in the farm sector, as CoBank researchers said depressed farm incomes and tight margins can affect cooperative viability and make mergers attractive.  ... Read Mor

CoBank says the world’s economy is continuing to slow down, and the ongoing U.S.-China trade dispute is one of the reasons.  While there are hopes that the two countries will continue talks, CoBank says optimism for the trade dispute ending in 2019 is fading.  In addit...

Beef, chicken, and pork supplies are expected to continue their expansion from 2018 levels. However, CoBank said domestic and international demand bring a lot more uncertainty this year. A new report from CoBank said overall U.S. animal protein production climbed by 2...

The U.S. economy is still performing well by most key measures. However, Global and U.S. economic prospects are weakening, and the agricultural economy shows few signs of an imminent comeback, according to a comprehensive 2019 outlook report from CoBank's Knowledge Exchange Division...

Industry experts say the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement could lead to modest export gains for U.S. poultry, pork, and beef.  A new report from CoBank says the agreement is expected to keep tariffs on food and agriculture between the three countries at zero.   ...

Strong growth in both the U.S. and global economies will support increased demand in domestic and export markets through the end of the year.  However, U.S. competitiveness is currently constrained by trade uncertainties and the high value of the U.S. d...

According to CoBank, the overhauled NAFTA, now known as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, will accomplish important objectives for U.S. agriculture.  However, a report by CoBank says what was not accomplished in the agreement is just as important.  The rep...