AgClips
Recent AgClips
Monetary Policy and Agricultural Commodity Prices: It’s All Relative
Choices magazine | Posted onMarch 8, 2018 in NewsHistorically, agricultural commodity prices tend to rise during periods of low real interest rates. For example, from 1940 to 1951, the producer price index for farm products rose 200% when real interest rates on 3-month treasuries were negative (Figure 1). A similar pattern emerged in the 1970s and more recently from 2005 to 2014. In fact, analyzing data from 1950 to 2005, Frankel (2006) found strong correlations between changes in real interest rates and agricultural commodity prices. The strongest relationships were in crop markets.
Will Rising Interest Rates Lead to Intensifying Risks for Agriculture?
Choices magazine | Posted onMarch 8, 2018 in Agriculture NewsTo encourage economic recovery, the Federal Reserve responded to the Great Recession by slashing interest rates and engaging in monetary easing. Short-term interest rates were pulled down and held near zero for several years. Due to these historically low interest rates, borrowing has been inexpensive for farmers. Along with lower income, the availability of cheap debt encouraged farmers to take on more credit. According to the most recent official USDA Farm Income and Wealth Statistics data (2018), farm sector debt has grown by more than 50% since the Great Recession began.
Dean Foods to terminate more than 100 dairy contracts
https://brownfieldagnews.com/news/dean-foods-terminate-100-dairy-contracts/ | Posted onMarch 8, 2018 in Agriculture NewsMore than 100 dairy farmers in eight states need to find a new home for their milk. Dean Foods issued a written statement saying they made the difficult decision to end milk procurement contracts with selected farmers on May 31st. The farms are in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, New York, North Carolina and South Carolina. Dean foods says the surplus of raw milk at a time when the public already is consuming less fluid milk is one factor in the decision. They also say companies expanding their presence in the milk processing business have exacerbated the situation.
World's Largest Cheese Contest Returns To Wisconsin
Wisconsin Public Radio | Posted onMarch 8, 2018 in Agriculture NewsJudges in Madison this week will sample 3,402 types of cheese, butter, and yogurt — all in the name of crowning the winner of this year’s World Championship Cheese Contest. The competition first took place in 1957, as a panel of judges tried about 50 different cheddars in the back of a creamery warehouse.Now, it’s the largest competition in the world. And this year, it has a record number of entries.
Trump’s Justice Department sues California over immigration enforcement
NBC News | Posted onMarch 8, 2018 in Rural NewsThe Justice Department sued California late Tuesday, escalating the battle between the Trump administration and local governments over the issue of providing sanctuaries from a crackdown on immigration enforcement. The lawsuit, which also names Gov. Jerry Brown and California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, challenges three recently passed state laws that the Trump administration says hinder enforcement of federal immigration law and endanger federal agents. In signing the bills into law last October, Gov.
One State Forces Opioid Abusers to Get Help.
Pew Charitable Trust | Posted onMarch 8, 2018 in Rural NewsIn Tampa, police, health care professionals and families have a powerful legal tool not available in many other places: the 1993 Marchman Act. Families and health care professionals can use the state law to “marchman,” or involuntarily commit people into substance abuse treatment when they are deemed a danger to themselves or others. Although the statute applies to all jurisdictions in the state, court records show that it has been employed in Tampa and surrounding Hillsborough County far more than anywhere else.
Washington state passes net neutrality law as states push back against the FCC
NBC News | Posted onMarch 8, 2018 in Rural, SARL Members and Alumni NewsWashington became the first state to pass a law making it illegal for internet service providers to manipulate their networks for money. Dozens of other states are considering similar measures through legislation and lawsuits. Governors in Montana, Hawaii, New York, New Jersey and Vermont have all signed executive orders on the issue. There's just one problem: The new rules passed by the Federal Communications Commission in December, in a 3-2 vote along party lines, pre-empt states from making their own net neutrality laws.
Commissioner Sid Miller prevails in three-way GOP race
The Texas Tribune | Posted onMarch 8, 2018 in Agriculture, SARL Members and Alumni NewsSid Miller maintained about 56 percent of the vote in a three-way race to lead a department whose wide-ranging responsibilities include inspecting lottery balls and running the federal school lunch program.
Resolution introduced into the Illinois House admonishes the Humane Society
Illinois General Assembly | Posted onMarch 7, 2018 in SARL Members and Alumni NewsAccording to the tax documents of the Humane Society of the United States, as well as other independent analyses, the national organization renowned for animal rights donated less than one percent of their $132 million budget to help care for actual animals in 2016; and members of this chamber should be encouraging the residents of Illinois to research other local humane societies that are completely unaffiliated with the National organization; residents of Illinois will find that these independent humane societies do not receive many donations and rely primarily on dedicated volunteers to
Idaho, 10 other states back Washington in culvert appeal
Capital Press | Posted onMarch 7, 2018 in Federal, SARL Members and Alumni NewsStates across the country argue that if Washington loses Supreme Court case, land uses from coast-to-coast will be vulnerable to lawsuits. Eleven states from around the U.S. argue that if Washington loses its case in the U.S. Supreme Court over culverts, land-use rules across the country will be at risk of being subordinate to tribal treaty rights. The states, led by Idaho, filed a brief with the high court March 2 supporting Washington’s appeal of a court order to replace more than 800 fish-blocking culverts.