Seth Meyer

Registration is now underway for next year's USDA Agricultural Outlook Forum.   “The theme of the event is meeting tomorrow's challenges today," noted World Agricultural Outlook Board chair Mark Jekanowski.  He added the 101st edition of the Forum is scheduled for February 27th through 28th at Crystal City, VA.  Like in past years, the...

Navigating a softer Ag economy and no new Farm Bill were the chief topics at the Tenth Annual Ag Outlook Forum on September 16th in Kansas City.  Hosted by Agri-Pulse and the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City, the Forum is a critical information exchange between national leaders in ag policy, economics, and business during harvest season.  In an o...

While tight margins are currently experienced by many farm producers, as reflected in USDA September farm income forecast, Agriculture Department chief economist Seth Meyer told an audience at the recent Agri-Pulse Ag Outlook Forum at Kansas City market shocks could lead to price spikes, however...

Last week's farm income forecast from USDA reflects what chief economist Seth Meyer calls a cost price squeeze and part of the cyclical nature of farm economics.   “We go through these periods where we have a shock in the market, prices, jump input prices, follow them as farmers do what they do best, which is produce their way through it. Those pri...

Fiscal year 2025 could be one of belt tightening, especially for farmers who depend on exports.  USDA is projecting 2025 exports at $169.5 billion; down $4 billion from this current year, and down $26 .5 billion from two years ago.   “...

The price of eggs is projected to fall dramatically after reaching record-high levels over several months.  The USDA said those prices should fall back to typical levels this year, provided the U.S. doesn’t see a rebound in highly pathogenic avian influenza cases in 2023.  The Bureau of...

Will the nation's farm sector generate yet another record amount of net income in 2023 as it's done the last two years?   “No, but the expectation is it will still be an above average year.”   USDA chief economist Seth Meyer told the USDA Outlook Forum last week that he expects net cash farm income this year to be $150.5 billion, which, if ...

The USDA’s new farm income forecast for 2023 says the farm sector as a whole will see net cash income down from last year's record high by almost 21% but many analysts are quick to point out.   “Almost any year in connection to 2022 is going to look less favorable," USDA chief economist Seth Meyer said farm country can’t look at new forecast as a farm income disaster.   “Yes, it is declin...

There are several reasons behind the USDA forecasting a 21% drop in net cash income for farmers this year, but one of the more obvious reasons is the roughly 34% drop in government payments.  USDA chief economist Seth Meyer said 2023 will mark a couple of years in a row of direct government payments declining.  Meyer s...

After earning record high incomes last year, even while dealing with an 11% hike in production expenses, the nation's farmers this year could see another increase in those expenses.  ERS head Spiro Stefanou said they expect a more modest increase of as much as 4% this year.  He adde...