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Crop Insurance Decision Tool
This program calculates premiums, evaluates insurance payments, and provides historical data useful when making crop insurance decisions for multiple crops. Estimates are for crops in midwest and southeast states. Learn…
Crop Insurance Summary of Business Tool
This program calculates crop insurance historical use and performance back to 1996.
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Innovations in Research and Extension: The DIRECT4AG Project, Part 1; An Introduction
A hotter and (mostly) drier fall is capping off a strong growing season helping speed the harvest of an expected bumper crop. In the cab, many farmers are also likely planning for next year; like scientists, they use data, observations, and experience to tweak the formulas for optimal outcomes. To those ends, this article introduces a series discussing innovations in research and extension by the DIRECT4AG project (USDA-REEIS).
Shifting Dynamics in Soybean Farm Funding in Brazil
The financing structure of soybean production costs in Mato Grosso, Brazil’s largest agricultural state, has changed significantly over the past two decades. Funds for operational costs for soybean farmers in…
Conservation Tradeoff: EQIP in the Inflation Reduction Act and the House Farm Bill
“For FY2025 — which began Oct. 1 — USDA announced that the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) would make $7.7 billion available to assist with conservation practices, $5.7 billion from the additional funding in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. With Congress in recess for the upcoming November election, the Farm Bill remains stalled, though IRA and Farm Bill conservation funding continue through the uncertainties. This article reviews potential tradeoffs between the two.
Pasture, Rangeland and Forage Rainfall Index Insurance: An Insurance Product for Illinois Livestock and Forage Producers
The Pasture, Rangeland and Forage Rainfall Index (PRF-RI) is a crop insurance product underutilized by Illinois livestock and forage producers. Only 6% of the eligible acres in Illinois were insured in 2024, much lower than use west of the Mississippi. Like other Federal crop insurance programs, PRF-RI is heavily subsidized. Over time, PRF-RI has returned $1.29 in payments for each $1.00 in producer-paid premium.
Perspectives and Strategies for Dealing with Low Farm Incomes in 2024 and Beyond
Net incomes on many Midwest grain farms will be negative in 2024, some of the lowest in the past thirty years. Low incomes could continue into future years. Herein, we present eight strategies for dealing with low incomes. Also, prospects for ad hoc Federal payments are discussed. Ad hoc disaster payments could present issues regarding slowing necessary economic adjustments within the agricultural sector.
A Breath of Optimism for Corn in a Down Market
Recent corn price increases have come despite general pessimism about the overall state of the corn market. This article reviews data points supporting the recent rally, including grain stocks and export sales information, and considers what they mean for corn prices dynamics in the current marketing year.
Latest Farm Policy News Articles
Mississippi River Falls During Record Harvest Season
Progressive Farmer’s Mary Kennedy reported Monday that “as fall harvest of record corn and soybean crops is in full swing, river conditions continue to worsen, stalling barges trying to move…
Florida Citrus Hit by Hurricane Milton
Bloomberg’s Ilena Peng reported that “oranges and some citrus trees are lying useless on the ground in Florida’s groves after Hurricane Milton tore through the state, setting back growers just…
Bird Flu Spread Continues in Humans, Slowing in Cattle?
Successful Farming’s Chuck Abbott reported that “on the same day the CDC confirmed the third human case of bird flu in California, state officials said Wednesday that they had identified…
Hurricane Milton To Disrupt Phosphate Production
Argus Media’s Taylor Zavala reported that “the US phosphate market anticipates Hurricane Milton’s Florida landfall … will cause further disruptions to regional production as the Tampa area continues to recover…
McDonald’s Sues Big 4 Meat Packers for Price Fixing
Reuters’ Mike Scarcella reported Monday that “McDonald’s has sued JBS, Tyson Foods and other leading meat processing and packing companies for allegedly conspiring for years to limit beef supplies, boosting…
Ukraine Ag Sector War Losses Could Top $80 Billion
Reuters reported at the beginning of October that “indirect losses in Ukraine’s key agricultural sector caused by the Russian invasion could reach $83 billion by the end of 2025, mainly…