The latest Rural Mainstreet Index has slumped below growth neutral for an eighth straight month.
Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says, “The ag sector or farm sector is just not doing well right now. That’s being reflected in our survey.”
The index is a monthly survey of ag bankers in 10 states including Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and South Dakota.
Goss tells Brownfield the April report did have a surprise.
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The USDA is awarding more than $40 million to improve local food financing partnerships and expand food access across the country.
Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small tells Brownfield the Healthy Food Financing Initiative will help more farmers bring products to market through additional funding and technical assistance.
“To studies or capacity evaluations to help identify what the specific solution is for the farmers on the ground or for the entity in the food supply chain that can answer those specific challenges, she says.
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A new program from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is increasing access to fresh food to areas in need.
Jason Horwitz, senior economic advisor, says grants will be offered through the “New Stores in Food Deserts” initiative…
“To organizations, businesses, even local units of government, are eligible to apply to start a new grocery store in an area that’s been designated a food desert, both in rural areas and in urban areas,” he says.
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A new initiative in Kansas will help support health care in the state’s farming and rural communities.
Kansas State University recently announced a partnership with The University of Kansas Health System to work with the statewide K-State Research and Extension network to address healthcare challenges.
The initiative, called K-State 105, will focus on strategies to keep care local, caregiver support for patients with dementia, increasing access to digital and telehealth resources, programming focused on behavioral health needs, addressing OB-GYN/high-risk pregnancy provider shortages, and grant writing and facilitation resources.
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The president of the Midwest Food Products Association says the U.S. has become a net importer of food, and it’s hurting processors and farmers.
Jason Culotta tells Brownfield the recent announcements of ConAgra’s Bird’s Eye frozen foods plant in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin and the Del Monte canning plant in Markesan, Wisconsin are not the only planned shutdowns. “We have another canning plant that’s being closed in Washington state. A large ooperation in Delaware as well.”
Culotta says the industry is seeing some slower times, and on the canning side, the real issue has been the cost of the metal can...
Farmers made corn and soybean planting progress over the past week, despite cooler, wetter weather in some key growing areas.
The USDA says 12% of corn has been planted as of Sunday, compared to 12% a year ago and the five-year average of 10%, with 3% emerged, compared to 2% on average.
8% of soybeans are planted, compared to 8% last year and 4% on average.
50% of winter wheat is rated good to excellent, a drop of 5% from the previous week, but still significantly better than a year ago, with 17% headed, compared to the normal rate of 13%.
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Cattle placements came in below pre-report expectations in the USDA’s latest On Feed report.
University of Missouri’s Scott Brown says it was a matter of time. “January and February were both tough,” he says. “January was cold. We ended up below what we would have maybe thought placements were. We made up for that in February. Now, March gives us a better feel of where that placement number is heading going forward.”
He tells Brownfield the placements number will be critical in the coming months.
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The Environmental Protection Agency is issuing an emergency waiver to allow E15 to be sold this summer.
The waiver will go into effect May 1 so retail stations can start selling E15 on June 1.
EPA Administrator Michael Regan says allowing E15 sales during the summer driving season increases fuel supplies, supports American farmers and strengthens the nation’s energy security.
Biofuel groups are responding positively. The American Coalition for Ethanol says it’s grateful the EPA has responded to their requests for the emergency waiver.
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