commodity prices

The USDA’s latest Agricultural Prices Report shows growers, overall, are receiving more for their commodities from a price perspective.

America’s farmers and ranchers await an overdue, updated Farm Bill.  What are some of the key things farmers want include in that new bill?   “I think there has been a lot of push to increase reference prices in Title I, and making some modifications to crop insurance," said Andrew Harker, principal of the Russell Group.  "You know, as we think a...

According to the USDA’s latest agricultural prices report, producers nationwide received less for their commodities, on the whole in March.  The price index was lowered just over 3% from the prior month, a reflection of reductions in both production indexes month over month.   The L...

According to the latest Agricultural Prices Report, producers saw a rise in prices received for commodities in February.  The 14% increase in the total prices received index was a combination of a 2 ½% month over month rise in the Livestock Production Index and an 8 ½% increase in the crop production index from the previous month.   A 7% increase in fee...

Prior to the President's Day weekend on the patio at USDA Headquarters, Texas’ Brooke Rollins, welcomed by USDA officials, staff and dignitaries, one day after taking the oath of office as the Nation’s 33rd Agriculture Secretary.  She joins...

The USDA released new farm income forecast numbers, and while they're not drastically different from previous reports this year, they seem to take on more meaning the closer we get to the end of the calendar year.  Carrie Litkowski, senior economist with USDA Economic Research Service, said farm income is on the decline.  ...

This has been a challenging year for the farming community, at least on the national scene.  Is that the same here in the Northwest?   Pat Hatzenbuehler, Ag economist at the University of Idaho says the latest Ag economy barometer shows farmers are pessimistic about the way things look now, and where the farm economy is headed into the future.  And he said ...

Earlier this year, Colby Field joined the University of Idaho’s Extension program as a risk manager.  Filed will be based in Moscow, but will help food producers across the entire gem state.  He said his goal in this new role is to try and develop either processes or government programs or private programs that allow to minimize risk.   “Because most fa...

Surviving a down economy is challenging, but for the farming community it can be even more difficult.  Todd Stencel, a farm business management professor at South Central College in Minnesota, has a few Tips for Surviving in a Down Economy.  He said...

It’s hard to find a lot of optimism in the grain markets these days.  Stephen Nicholson, global sector strategist for grains and oilseeds at Rabobank, said it’s unfortunate that the gloom may stay in the markets for a while.   “I think we’...