Diverse crop rotations can benefit the performance of individual crops and the total performance of the rotation when growing conditions are difficult, says a new study from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. However, the study also found it takes a long time to see the benefits of crop diversity, and significant barriers prevent farmers from […] Read more
Tag Archives USDA — page 4
U.S. farmers’ testing refusal skews bird flu count
Dairy producers fear economic losses from positive tests, but health officials call testing key to limiting human spread
WASHINGTON/CHICAGO (Reuters) — The U.S. avian flu outbreak in dairy cattle is much larger than official figures suggest due to farmers’ reluctance to test their animals and risk the economic consequences of a positive result, according to interviews with dairy experts, veterinarians and farmers in six states with known cases. The U.S. Department of Agriculture […] Read more
Big U.S. soybean crop weighs on canola prices
SASKATOON — Analysts say Canadian canola prices are being weighed down by a massive soybean crop in the United States, but there is a glimmer of hope south of the border. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates U.S. soybean production will reach a record 124.9 million tonnes in 2024-25. That has pushed prices 18 per […] Read more
Crop carryout high this year
SASKATOON — Carryouts for the 2024-25 crop year are expected to be on the rise for the main grains and oilseeds grown in the United States, and that means falling prices, says an analyst. That was one of the main takeaways from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 100th annual Agricultural Outlook Forum. Related stories: Grain […] Read more
Grain market outlook looks grim
SASKATOON — Grain growers should prepare for a year of falling prices and tight margins, says the chief economist of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Seth Meyer told delegates attending the USDA’s 100th Agricultural Outlook Forum to expect a continuation of the downward trend in commodity prices in 2024-25. Corn prices are forecast to fall […] Read more
Russian wheat estimates can be tough to make
A limited U.S. diplomatic presence in Russia following that country's invasion of Ukraine can make forecasting difficult
SASKATOON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture says strained diplomatic relations with Russia are hampering its ability to properly forecast the country’s wheat production. The USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) has been way off the mark the past couple of years with its early estimates for the Black Sea country. It initially pegged the 2023-24 […] Read more
Brazil moves into top spot in world corn export market
Corn growers in the United States are not relinquishing their crown just yet. Brazil is taking over as the world’s top corn exporter in 2022-23, for only the second time in history. The previous year was 2012-13 when there was a severe drought in the U.S. Brazil’s exports in 2022-23 are estimated at 56 million […] Read more
U.S. corn yield estimate questioned
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s latest U.S. corn yield estimate does not reflect reality, says an analyst. The USDA dropped its national average corn yield for 2023-24 to 177.5 bushels per acre, down from its forecast of 181.5 bu. a month ago. DTN lead analyst Todd Hultman thinks that is still too high and expects […] Read more
USDA increases corn, drops soy estimates
The November soybean futures contract jumped US$74.25 per tonne on June 30, the day the report was released, while the December corn futures contract fell $33.75.
Republicans once more take aim at food assistance program
The soon-to-be-anointed ag boss, as previously noted in this space, “believes SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, needs ‘work and job training’ requirements ‘for certain beneficiaries.’
