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.
...
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.
...
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.
...
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.
...
USDA Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis Taylor is optimistic about future trade opportunities with India.
Taylor told reporters during a call Wednesday that the country reduced tariffs on several agricultural products (almonds, apples, chickpeas, lentils, walnuts, blueberries, cranberries, turkeys, and frozen duck) in 2023. “USDA estimates that these tariff reductions could expand trade by approximately $345 million this year alone in additional exports,” he says.
Taylor says India’s population has 634 million people under the age of 24 and a growing middle class, making it is an important market for US agricultural goods.
...
The USDA has issued a Federal Order requiring lactating dairy cattle to test negative for highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza prior to interstate movement.
During a call with reporters Wednesday, Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack said the order was issued to limit the spread of the virus. “The mandatory testing for interstate movement impacts and involves dairy cattle,” he said. “We’re going to initially focus on lactating cows, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the order is limited only to lactating counts, but it means that we’ll start there.”
If a cow tests positive for the virus, it won’t be allowed to move until...
An atmospheric scientist says the transition to the La Nina weather pattern is underway.
Matt Makens tells Brownfield he’s expecting the current southern storm flow to shift to the central and northern crop growing states. “As we go through the next four to six weeks, we’re going to see a favorable transition of getting some water here for the early part of the (growing) season.”
He says this could help improve soil conditions across the Corn Belt.
...
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...
