Rabobank

With the rise of fast fashion, U.S. cotton faces tough competition — and it’s not just from synthetic fibers but from other countries, too.

Rabobank says food inflation continues to outpace overall inflation, and restaurants feel the pressure of nine straight quarters of declining traffic, but some chains are bucking the trend and growing in visits and spending.

Rabobank says milk production grew modestly across the Big Seven exporting regions in the U.S. during Q1, expanding by 0.5% year-over-year.  In total, RaboResearch forecasts 2025 milk production from the Big Seven at 326.7 million metric tons, an increase of 1%, or 3.2 million...

One of the few bright spots in production agriculture right now is livestock, with beef herd contraction and high demand combining to keep farm gate receipts steady for cattle ranchers.   But how long will it last?   Lance Zimmerman, senior beef analyst with Rabobank, said he see a change in production moving forward.   “...

The prospect of new tariff disputes when Donald Trump returns to the White House has the global economy in an uncertain position in early 2025.  Farm Policy News said ongoing geopolitical tensions and continuing climate challenges will significantly impact agricultural trade and producer profitability during the year.  The glo...

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.   ...

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’...

Fertilizer consumption suffered in 2022 due to market volatility and record-high prices.  However, a new Rabobank report says a recovery in consumption is possible in some regions next year, with fertilizer prices lowering and commodity prices at historically high levels.   “...

The blueberry industry is no longer a multi-regional market but has become a global market amidst supply-chain issues.  Senior Analyst in Horticulture David Magaña is one of the key researchers in a recent Rabobank study tracking the progression of the blueberry industry over the past decade.   In shor...

Wheat prices continue to climb as the Russian invasion of Ukraine is ongoing. A Rabobank analyst said the world’s biggest wheat buyers may need to reconsider whether they’ll continue buying grain from the Black Sea regions. “Russia and Ukraine have moved a lot of wheat into the market already, so things should be pretty good for this year,” says Stephen Nicholson of Rabobank. “However, the bigger