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Planting Decision Model
With this program, the user can: 1) estimate the costs of planting corn and soybeans by planting date, 2) estimate the net returns from replanting, 3) prevented planting payments, and…
Farm Projection Tool
This program calculates per-acre budgets for different crops and a whole farm budget and includes breakevens. Projected financial statements and return sensitivities are available. The effects of farm level crop…
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Latest farmdoc Daily Articles
The Liquidity of Illinois Grain Farms: Working Capital to Gross Farm Returns Ratio
Our analysis of Illinois grain farms’ working capital to gross farm returns ratios reveals substantial improvements in farm liquidity over the past two decades. Despite experiencing a decline between 2014 and 2019, the median ratio has shown resilience, progressing from a cautionary level of 0.2212 in 2003 to a strong level of 0.7134 in 2023. Overall, this trend reflects both structural changes in farm balance sheets and the impact of market conditions on the liquidity of Illinois grain farms.
Prospects for Swine Feed Costs in 2025
Average swine feed costs in 2024 were substantially lower than feed costs in 2022 and 2023. Moreover, a further reduction in feed costs is expected for the upcoming year. Current projections use corn prices ranging from $4.00 to $4.25 per bushel, and soybean meal prices ranging from $275 to $325 per ton. Each $0.10 per bushel change in corn price, changes feed cost by $0.43 per cwt. Similarly, each $10 per ton change in soybean meal price, changes feed cost by $0.37 per cwt.
The Importance of Food Prices in 2024 Election: Results from the Gardner Food & Agricultural Policy Survey
Using results from the eleventh wave of the GFAPS, we find that when asked what issue area was most important to them during the election, about 60% of participants who voted for Trump selected either cost of living/inflation (33.0%) or the economy more generally (27.8%). These two areas were also important for participants who voted for other candidates, but at lower rates. Our results underscore the importance of high prices, especially food prices, in the 2024 presidential election.
1,000 Days of Ukraine-Russia’s War: Projections vs. Reality
As Ukraine is entering another winter season in this war, any additional loss of cropland will be detrimental to its grain production capacity, and any further declines in yields (weather or input-related) can significantly jeopardize the country’s grain production. Despite significant losses in production and infrastructure, efforts to secure export routes, improve yields, and adapt to market conditions have enabled the country to maintain a presence in the global corn and wheat markets.
The 2025 Crop Insurance Decision Tool: Lower ECO Farmer-Paid Premium
The 2025 Crop Insurance Decision Tool has been released to aid in crop insurance decisions. It provides farmer-paid premiums for different federally regulated policies administered through the Risk Management Agency. Using 2024 projected prices and volatilities, farmer-paid premiums for most policies would be similar to last year, except those related to the Enhanced Coverage Option (ECO). ECO’s premiums will be lower because of an increase in premium support.
The Evolving Nature of Precision Ag: The Confluence of Societal Interests and Precision Agriculture
This is the third of three articles exploring precision agriculture and its current and future impacts. The first article reviewed the path of precision agriculture over the last three decades…
Latest Farm Policy News Articles
Bird Flu Uptick as USDA Orders National Milk Testing
Reuters’ Leah Douglas reported at the end of this past week that “the U.S. issued a federal order on Friday mandating that the national milk supply be tested for bird…
John Deere Adds 112 More Iowa Layoffs
The Des Moines Register’s Kevin Baskins reported this past week that “the layoffs continue at John Deere as the agricultural and construction equipment giant announced another round Tuesday at its…
Trump Picks Pesticide Critic Makary as FDA Commissioner
Agri-Pulse’s Steve Davies reported at the end of November that “Marty Makary, a highly acclaimed surgeon who is an outspoken critic of the U.S. food system, the use of pesticides,…
Biden Admin Expects to Finalize 45Z Tax Credit
Progressive Farmer’s Todd Neeley reported Tuesday afternoon that “the Biden administration is set to finalize guidance on the 45Z Clean Fuel Production tax credit before President Joe Biden leaves office…
Cargill, Tyson Announce Significant Midwest Layoffs
Reuters’ Tom Polansek reported Tuesday that “global trading house Cargill plans to permanently terminate about 475 employees in Minnesota, home to its corporate headquarters, starting on Feb. 5, according to…
Farm Bill Extension a Priority as Congress Returns
Progressive Farmer’s Chris Clayton reported Monday that “Congress returns this week facing a Dec. 20 deadline to approve a new funding resolution to keep the government operating, as well as…