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Crop Insurance, Premium Subsidies, and Soybean-Corn Disparity
Relative to total premium, soybeans and corn receive smaller payments from the US crop insurance program than other large acreage US field crops. A new approach is needed, specifically, new products that reduce the total insurance premium, especially for soybeans and corn. Joint soybean-corn insurance is one such product. It is estimated that joint soybean-corn insurance has the potential to increase net indemnities paid to soybeans and corn by 13% with no increase in Federal premium subsidies.
Q1 2025: The Profitability of U.S. Commercial Banks Participating in Agricultural Lending
Total production and farm real estate loan balances declined by 6.28% and 3.44%, respectively, at agricultural banks during the first quarter of 2025. In contrast, non-agricultural banks reported a smaller decline in production loan balances (down 1.70%) while farm real estate loan balances increased by 2.00% from the previous quarter. In terms of profitability, agricultural banks reported a lower average net interest margin of 3.62% compared to 3.77% for non-agricultural banks.
The House Reconciliation Bill Proposal for SCO: Income Support for High-Risk Farmland
The House Reconciliation Bill includes provisions to modify the Supplemental Coverage Option, a crop insurance product providing county coverage above Revenue Protection and other farm-level products. This article examines what the payments would have been from 2015 to 2023 under the proposed structure and finds that the proposed SCO product would have limited benefits to corn and soybean production in many Midwest states. More benefits, however, would have flowed to riskier production regions.
Brazil’s 2024–25 Corn Harvest Grows, But Exports Projected to Decrease
Brazil’s 2024–25 corn harvest is expected to be the second largest in the country’s history, with a projected 5 billion bushels, according to Conab, the country’s food supply and statistics agency. The volume is higher than last year and above previous projections due to favorable rainfall in April and May. Despite the large harvest, Brazilian corn exports in 2025 are projected to decline due to rising domestic demand from animal feed producers and the expanding corn ethanol industry.
Decomposition of Statement of Cash Flows
During the 2007 to 2024 period, net cash farm income and borrowed funds were used to purchase assets. Average net asset purchases were approximately $153,000 per year. In relatively strong net income years, average net asset purchases exceeded $200,000. In contrast, in relatively weak net incomes years, average net asset purchases dropped below $100,000. Given the relatively weak net income prospects for 2025, we would expect net asset purchases to be below their average since 2007 this year.
Mastering the Early Years: Lessons on the Cover Crop Learning Curve, Part 3
Stepping back from specific tactics or methods, the big picture serves up reminders about the complexities, risks, and challenges involved with implementing cover crops. Flexibility is critical because no single piece of advice will be the right one for all of the scenarios Mother Nature can bring to a season. Adapting to the weather conditions of the growing season is key to a successful harvest in any agricultural system, and cover cropping systems are no different.
Latest Farm Policy News Articles
Immigration Raids Targeting Ag Businesses Increase
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are starting to more aggressively target agriculture and food processing facilities around the country as reports over the past week from (Nebraska), New Mexico and…
Deere Must Face FTC Right-to-Repair Lawsuit, Judge Rules
Agriculture equipment giant Deere must face a lawsuit by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission accusing the company of forcing farmers to use its authorized dealer network and driving up their…
Integrity of USDA Data Questioned After Trade Report Redaction
Analysts voiced concerns this week about the integrity of U.S. Department of Agriculture reports after the agency delayed a report and excluded findings that point to tariffs as a reason…
DOGE Cuts USDA Office Closure List in Half
USDA agencies will close fewer than half the number of offices originally listed by the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) as cost-saving measures, with at least 61 USDA…
US Trade Deficit Narrows by 55% in April
The U.S. deficit with its global trading partners tumbled by the largest amount on record in April as companies and consumers no longer rushed to get imports ahead of President…
Chinese Nationals Arrested for Smuggling Crop Pathogen Into US
Two Chinese nationals were arrested for allegedly smuggling a pathogen into the U.S. that is known to be destructive to corn, wheat, rice and barley crops.