farm economy

Registration is now open for the 2024 Idaho Ag Outlook Seminar.  This year’s event will take place at the Hilton Garden Inn Boise, starting at 9 a.m. on Wednesday December 18th.  Brett Wilder, UI Extension agricultural economist says this year’s Seminar will be very interesting for a variety of reasons.  One, he noted, the oddity of ...

With so many struggles and challenges before growers and packhouse operators, Trevor Cox provides some much needed optimism about the Ag sector.     If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@to...

The Washington Legislative Session starts January 13th, and already the farming community is preparing for a host of issues that will have major impacts now and well into the future.  Bre Elsey, Director of Governmental Affairs at the Washington Farm Bureau, said when looking at the data, labor will be one of the most pressing topics.  She not...

A company letter released this week said Cargill will permanently terminate almost 500 employees in Minnesota, home to the company’s corporate headquarters.  The terminations will begin on February 5th.  Cargill recently announced it would cut approximately 5% of its overall staff after revenue took a hit in its most recent fiscal year thanks to a big slump in crop prices.   In ad...

Net farm income, a broad measure of profits, is forecast at $149.7 billion in calendar year 2024, down by $6 billion, or 4.1%, relative to 2023.  Inflation-adjusted farm income is forecast to drop by $9.5 billion, which comes out to 6.3%.  Desp...

Across Washington, farmers, commodity groups, economists have discussed what a trying year 2024 has been for the agriculture community.   Add to that list the voice of Derek Sandison.    The Director of the Washington State Department of Agriculture says across the board, farming is very challenging right now.  Sandison not...

There are several considerations farmers need to take into account when they are looking to expand their land assets.   “There are some instances where, hey, it's right next door. It makes sense," Matt Gunderson is with Farmers National Company noted.  "It's a ...

A new report says banks could be more hesitant to lend to the farm sector just as the agricultural industry is expected to enter a major credit crunch.  And Rabobank said that could disproportionately hurt smaller producers in the process.   ...

To say 2024 has been challenging for farmers and the agricultural sector may be an understatement.   “It has been interesting, lots of unexpected turns and uncertainty, and it's going to set us up for even more uncertainty and surprises into 2025," noted Dave Widmar, economist and managing partner with Agricultural Economic Insights.  "It's a ...

American farmers struggling with slumping incomes and depressed grain prices have been switching to cheaper generic pesticides and fungicides as they plan for spring planting next year, which market analysts said could hit the bottom lines of agrichemical companies...