After reaching recent highs in 2021 and 2022, the average net cash income of U.S. farm businesses is expected to decline by 18% in 2023 compared with 2022. According to the USDA’s Economic Research Service, farm businesses across the country are forecast to see higher production expenses, lower cash receipts, and lower Government payments in…… MORE
Category Archives: Agriculture News
Smaller Cattle Herd Squeezing Meatpacker Profits
America’s beef cow herd hasn’t been this small since 1962. Drought and the high cost of feed forced producers to cut their herd sizes instead of keeping animals for breeding. Livestock producers who fatten cattle suddenly have leverage over meatpackers as they negotiate cattle prices with organizations like Tyson Foods, JBS, and Cargill. U.S. News…… MORE
Farm Sector Chapter 12 Bankruptcies Drop For Most Of The Nation
New data from USDA’s Economic Research Service confirms a decline in the farm Chapter 12 bankruptcy rate for much of the nation. In 2022, the Chapter 12 bankruptcy rate reached the lowest level in nearly two decades, with 0.78 bankruptcies per 10,000 farms. But in California and Nevada which are counted together as a region,…… MORE
Proposed Updates For Federal Milk Marketing Order
The National Milk Producers Federation submitted to USDA its comprehensive proposal for modernizing the Federal Milk Marketing Order system. The proposal follows two years of examination and more than 150 meetings to build consensus behind updates to a program that last saw significant changes in 2000. The NMPF proposal calls for updating the so-called “make…… MORE
Raw Milk Recall From Fresno County Dairy
The California Department of Food and Agriculture is announcing the recall of raw whole cow milk produced and packaged by Raw Farm of Fresno County. State Veterinarian Dr. Annette Jones is also issuing a quarantine order. The quarantine order came following confirmation of the bacteria Campylobacter jejuni in the farm’s packaged raw whole milk sampled…… MORE
Almond Acreage Falls in California
The Almond Board of California is reporting that the state’s almond acreage decreased last year. That’s the first time in more than 25 years this has happened. And the announcement comes even though there is a slight increase in bearing acres. Industry leaders are projecting that thousands of additional almond acres are being taken out…… MORE
WATER For California Act Advances
The House Committee on Natural Resources advanced Congressman David Valadao’s bill HR 215, WATER for California Act. This bill, according to a news release from Valadao’s office will streamline operations, expanding water storage infrastructure, and increasing accountability. Valadao says “If we don’t take action to fix the complex and contradictory laws and regulations that control…… MORE
Meat And Dairy Production Lead Food Sector Sales
New data from USDA’s Economic Research Service shows meat processing and dairy product manufacturing are the largest components of food sector sales. Food and beverage manufacturing plants transform raw food commodities into products for intermediate or final consumption by using labor, machinery, energy, and scientific knowledge. These plants accounted for nearly $267 billion or 16.8%…… MORE
Number of Farms Continues to Decline
New data released by USDA’s Economic Research Service shows the number of farms in California and across the country continues to decline. After peaking at 6.8 million farms in 1935, the number of U.S. farms and ranches fell sharply through the early 1970s. Researchers say the rapidly falling farm numbers in the mid-20th century reflect…… MORE
Lawmakers Request Disaster Relief for Farmers
A coalition of California lawmakers is requesting a disaster recovery package to aid California farms and ranches devastated by historic storms earlier this year. The coalition, which includes Representatives Jim Costa, Jimmy Panetta and Zoe Lofgren, made the request in a letter to House leadership. The letter states, “We, therefore, request a disaster recovery package…… MORE
