Minding Ag's Business

In a keynote address to the Kansas City Federal Reserve's annual Agricultural Symposium, the bank's president, Esther George, outlined the factors she'll be watching to determine whether post-pandemic inflation is here to stay or if it'll work itself out.

Bankers see higher incomes, crop prices driving an improved economic outlook for the agricultural sector, and as a result, farmland values and cash rental rates are on the rise.

According to a report that tracks equity investments in startup companies, the pandemic accelerated investment in the agtech industry with the value of new deals doubling from 2019 to 2020. The largest upticks were in the animal technology, supply chain, sustainability and...

USDA's farm income forecast for 2021 calls for lower net farm incomes, but that hardly tells the story.

By allowing individual investors to buy shares in a farming operation, several new financial technology startups are breaking down barriers to farmland ownership.

Higher crop insurance revenue guarantees for corn, soybeans and wheat will translate into higher premiums, but Purdue University experts recommend farmers don't skimp on coverage in order to save on premium.

Read the full text of the letter 35 agriculture organizations wrote to Congress this week, which urges Congress to work with the Small Business Administration on its interpretation of a new calculation for farmers and ranchers who apply for forgivable loans through the...

Three Federal Reserve districts have released new data showing a strong uptick in farmland values for a large swath of the country and stronger credit conditions for farmers as well.

As farmers look ahead to a new growing season, stronger crop prices are expected to boost farm finances, and in turn, farmers indicate they're looking at increased capital outlays.

Lending activity declined in the fourth quarter of 2020 as farmers used proceeds from higher crop prices and government payments to cover their non-real estate expenses, according to a recent survey by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.

Coronavirus-generated demand for land, whether it's to find a stable investment or a place to go when the city feels too crowded, lends firm tone to farmland market at start of 2021.

A recent UDSA study finds midsize to large corn and soybean farms are the most likely to use futures and options, although cash contracts with local buyers are by far farmers' favorite tool to sell their grain.

As satellite data become more ubiquitous, frequent and cheap, yield models like the ones DTN relies on for its Digital Yield Tour are expected to become more accurate, giving farmers and other market participants a better understanding of yield potential before USDA's counts...

China may be hard-pressed to make up ground to fulfill its $36.5-billion commitment to the United States in phase one of a trade deal.

While the National Grain and Feed Association largely supports the CFTC's fifth attempt to create a position limits rule, its official statement on the rule offers a number of suggestions, including adding another strategy to its list of bona fide hedges.

Cash is king right now, and if your business is feeling the pinch of the coronavirus pandemic, it's worth talking to your lenders to see if they can help you weather these uncertain times.

Even experienced investors and traders can fall victim to fraud, especially amid times of market turmoil and uncertainty. The CFTC shared a good reminder of how to spot fraud and identify when something is too good to be true.

The CFTC's latest attempt to establish speculative position limits aims to limit potential squeezes and corners in the markets while maintaining users' ability to hedge, and it's getting good reviews for its bona fide efforts to strike the right balance.

The Farm Credit Administration issues guidance for its member institutions that are considering financing hemp operations, the latest salvo from regulators attempting to shape the future of hemp production. But for bankers, regulatory guidance doesn't negate all of the...

Despite the challenging economic environment, there are farms that are thriving.