Budget reconciliation has begun in the House of Representatives, with multiple committees releasing text and holding business meetings to mark-up the legislation. As part of that process the House Agriculture…

The USDA NASS recently released 2024 county yield estimates for corn and soybeans, with yields highest in the Midwest Corn Belt region and south into the Mississippi Delta. While NASS yields are not the primary source used to determine ARC-CO payments, they can be used with current MYA price projections to estimate potential ARC-CO payments for 2024. ARC-CO payments could be triggered in a number of areas where yields are below the county’s benchmark yield.

The recent growth in non-real estate agricultural loan volumes made to farmers by commercial banks coincides with increased production costs and a deterioration in farm sector liquidity. Additionally, although the number of loans originated in the first quarter has trended downward over the past decade, the average size of loans made has increased. Looking ahead, despite the financial headwinds faced by farmers in 2025, payments from the American Relief Act are expected to provide some support.

If successful cover cropping requires a systems change, then it is vital for farmers, as well as researchers and policymakers, to look beyond the adoption decision. Systems changes require longer time horizons and more complex adaptive management. Research into the cover crop learning curve discussed in this article helps further highlight the more-complete perspective on the practice.

Over the past two decades, China has become Brazil’s largest agricultural trading partner. With the latest tariff escalations, Brazil is expected to strengthen its trade ties with China. This deepening relationship raises questions about long-term risks for Brazil having relied heavily on Chinese trade, particularly considering forecasts for slower Chinese economic growth in the coming years. This article examines the role of Chinese demand in driving the expansion of Brazil’s ag sector.

While corn and soybean yields have increased over time, corn-to-soybean yield ratios generally have not trended up or down at the national or state levels in the 21st Century. However, there does exist variation in relative yields across states. States in the central Corn Belt region (Illinois, Iowa, Indiana) tend to have higher corn and soybean yields than states in the western Corn Belt and Great Plains (Kansas, North Dakota).