Risk Management
Profit Tracker: Producer margins hold steady
A slowdown in the feed-grain price rally kept pork producer profit margins close to the previous week’s mark. Packer margins actually strengthened for the week ending Aug. 17.
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Top executives of MF Global avoiding felony charges
Speculation from New York and Washington, D.C., is that no high-level officials of MF Global will be criminally prosecuted for the $1 billion in customer money, including a large amount of farmer money, used to try and stave off MF Global’s bankruptcy that occurred anyway.
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Commentary: Drought recovery will be long and slow
Okay it’s official, not that anyone who’s driven even a few miles in corn-country had any doubt, but USDA cut its 2012 corn production forecast by 13 percent. There are serious supply concerns and the corn and soybean crops will need rationing.
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Aug. 30 drought webinar includes USDA initiatives, crop insurance
The effects of drought resonate beyond burnt pastures and failed crops. How they affect legal and policy realms will be the subject of an Aug. 30 webinar.
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Don’t delay farm estate planning
Changes to the federal wealth transfer tax system are looming large for U.S. farmers, says estate planning attorney Eido Walny. Yet, many farmers are not aware of the full implications of these possible changes– including losing their farms.
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FCA: Drought will not shake Farm Credit System
Although some borrowers may face significant challenges as a result of this year’s drought, the Farm Credit Administration (FCA) does not believe the drought will affect the Farm Credit System's (FCS) overall safety and soundness or its ability to serve farmers and ranchers.
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USDA, Executive Branch working to provide drought relief
The USDA this week announced several new actions to provide relief to drought-stricken farmers and ranchers, and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack spoke with AgriTalk Radio’s Mike Adams on Wednesday to outline the administration’s efforts.
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Profit Tracker: Producer margins slip nearly $4
The drought continues to pressure livestock producers’ margins. Farrow-to-finish producer margins for the week ending Aug. 3, on average were $22.89 per head, according to the Sterling Pork Profit Tracker.
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2012 drought surprises and reminds people of past
The 2012 drought and its timing during the Great Recession surprised people, while reminding others of the "Dirty Thirties" and other significant U.S. droughts, says a Purdue University agricultural historian.
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USDA releases 2012 cash rents data report
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) published the 2012 Cash Rents estimates for farmland across the United States.
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Profit Tracker: Producer margins recover $5
Even though record-high feed prices continue and the outlook remains uncertain, farrow-to-finish producer margins averaged a $26.69-per-head profit for the week ending July 27, up from $21.94 per head for the week before.
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- Corn market reacted poorly to the Crop Progress data
- Pork producer margins remain positive, packers better
- Oil ends higher on weaker dollar, supplies weigh
- Corn planting pace turns from record slow to record fast
- Ag markets seemed to follow gold higher Monday afternoon
- Commentary: GMOs: How do I hate thee?
- Corn and soybean prices continue to retrace 2012 drought rally
- Premium Standard Farms Founder Dies Unexpectedly
- USDA says has detected virus in Iowa hog population
- Weather report: Rain spreads across the Corn Belt
- Commentary: GMOs: How do I hate thee?
- Tyson selects panel to monitor animal welfare program
