supply chain

Over 180 projects nationwide are recipients of new USDA grants designed to expand and strengthen local and regional food systems.   “The funding that we've announced is $64 million for a total of 185 projects around the country," said Under Secretary for marketing and regulatory programs Jenny Moffitt.  "These projec...

Despite COVID, supply chain issues, and the war in Ukraine, the United States in fiscal year 2022 still managed to set a new record for exports of agricultural products at $196.4 billion.  There were several factors pushing that figure higher over the past year.  Head of...

Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced a $73 million investment through the first round of the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program.  According to the USDA, the funding supports 21 grant projects to expand meat and poultry processing capacity, increasing competition, supporting producer income, and strengthening the food supply chain to lower costs.   ...

Agricultural manufacturers are still struggling to get enough parts to continue to put together their products.  Dr. Kanlaya Barr, director of corporate economics with John Deere, said there are parts they are missing or short on a regular basis.   “...

Statistics Canada has released its latest economic indicators report. In September the country’s overall inflation rate was just under 7%, a near repeat of the August report. But Canadian food costs continue to rise. Prices in grocery stores rose to about 11.5%, a...

Farming is a multi-billion-dollar industry for the state of Washington, but Dan Newhouse says more ag business can be done in the Evergreen state.  The central Washington representative said there’s a lot of potential for growth and future development, such as the recent ground breaking of Darigold’s million-dollar facility outside of Pasco.  Newhouse says to en...

Much like it has been all year, input costs remain one of, if not the top concern for cattle producers across Idaho.  Cameron Mulrony, Executive Vice President of Idaho Cattle, said feed costs are high, fuel prices have returned to some of the highest levels we’ve seen this year, and it’s all dragging the bottom-line of ranchers.     He added i...

2022 has been a challenge for ag retailers and their customers due to supply shortages and high prices.  Crop Life magazine says global uncertainty has affected key fertilizer sources like Russia, China, and Ukraine, adding even more stress to the marketplace last spring.  Looking...

Consumers are shifting the blame for inflation from the pandemic to supply chain issues, according to a recent poll by the Consumer Brands Association.  The poll also showed that most Americans say inflation is hitting their household budgets and that tackling supply chain problems will positively affect inflation. The p...

House lawmakers Abigail Spanberger, a Virginia Democrat, and Anthony Gonzalez, An Ohio Republican, introduced the American Food Supply Chain Resiliency Act this week. The bipartisan legislation seeks to strengthen supply chains across the agriculture industry and lower food costs for consumers ...