Minnesota State

Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) painted a depressing picture in his opening remarks. “Declining prices and cash receipts, escalating natural disasters, and increasing input costs have created a perfect storm that will compromise the foundation of our agricultural economy. We are living through the largest two-year decline in farm income in history,” said Thompson. “At the end of 2024, total farm sector debt will be the highest the U.S. has seen since at least 1970. Most farmers and ranchers, including those here with us today, are likely to be worse off financially by years’ end.”

Farm Financial Conditions are Rough

Illinois State

Current levels of futures contracts suggest that appropriate budgeting prices for 2024 crops production are $4.00 per bushel for corn and $10.50 per bushel for soybeans. Those prices would result in low returns in 2024, far lower than the last low-price period from 2014 to 2019. Much higher costs cause lower 2024 returns. Those budget price forecasts could change with unforeseen events, as does occur in agriculture. Over the next several months, estimates for returns and incomes will solidify. Still, it seems prudent to plan for much lower prices.

Increasing pessimism about 2024 and 2025 corn and soybean returns

With the USDA cancelling its regularly scheduled July cattle inventory report due to budget cuts, a question that many would like to have answered is: How big is the U.S. cattle herd?. Fortunately, historical relationships between changes in prior and subsequent inventories and levels of cow slaughter in between or...

How big is the U.S. cattle herd?

Tennessee State

Lawrence County, TN

Despite recent rains, the corn crop in some parts of Tennessee is in bad shape after a dry summer. Ernie Jones, a fifth-generation farmer in Lawrence County, Tennessee, says that during the last week of July his farm received several good rains. However, those rains came too little, too late for his corn crop.

Tennessee corn farmer reports ‘total devastation’ despite recent rains

Kentucky State

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Northern Kentucky Tribune

Kentucky’s Community Actions Partnerships have announced the starts date for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Summer Subsidy, aimed at helping Kentucky households offset summer cooling costs.

LIHEAP Summer Subsidy program to help with summer cooling costs to begin enrollment July 16

South Carolina State

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Colleton County, SC

Explore Beaufort SC

Some beachgoers were in for a surprise this week when a bizarre looking prehistoric fish washed ashore in Colleton County along Edisto Beach at Edisto Beach State Park. It turned out to be an atlantic sturgeon.

Rare Atlantic sturgeon washes ashore on South Carolina beach

Chicago, IL

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Foodie in Chicago

Shortly before 3 AM, people in the Chicago area may have felt their houses shake as a 3.4-magnitude earthquake occurred about 60 miles west of the city. (CHICAGO) The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported a 3.4-magnitude earthquake around Somonauk, IL. Somonauk is in DeKalb and LaSalle Counties, 64 miles west of Chicago.

Did You Feel the Earthquake?

December corn ended the day up 3¾¢. November soybeans were up 13½¢ at the close. September wheat contracts closed mixed, with CBOT and KC wheat up less than a penny and Minneapolis wheat down 7½¢. Karl Setzer, partner at Consus Ag Consulting, says commodity...

Corn and soybeans end day with gains | Monday, August 5, 2024

Iowa State

U.S. cropland is worth an average of $5,570 an acre, an increase of $1,510, or 37 percent, since 2020, said the USDA’s annual Land Values report. The surge in land values accompanied the four highest years of net farm income, a gauge of profitability, for American farmers. The USDA...

Cropland values soar 37% in four years

Port Richey, FL

Akeena

Florida’s buffet lovers are in for a shocker as the popular Royal Sushi Buffet & Hibachi in Port Richey has been temporarily shut down following a state inspection. This isn’t the first time the eatery has faced such trouble, but the recent closure has sparked quite a buzz among its loyal patrons and food enthusiasts alike.

Live roaches, flying objects in the kitchen and soiled shelves- Buffet closed again in Florida

Colorado State

David Heitz

A bill quietly introduced this spring in the Colorado legislature to decriminalize the possession of drug paraphernalia obtained by harm reductionists has become law. As low-key as the legislation was introduced, the bill was signed into law without fanfare June 6. It garnered little to no media attention.

Colorado legalizes needles, pipes for meth and crack if obtained by harm reduction group

Saint Petersburg, FL

In the heart of St. Petersburg, where the allure of fresh seafood is as vibrant as the Gulf Coast sunsets, Rocking Crab Seafood & Bar finds itself in hot water again. Known for its Southern seafood specialties like seafood boils and fried platters, this local eatery has faced a temporary shutdown after a recent state inspection—marking its third closure in recent years.

Roaches, rodent droppings, and storage issues- Seafood eatery closed for 3rd time in Florida

Prices for U.S. replacement dairy cows reached an all-time high in July, according to latest quarterly estimates from the USDA. Meanwhile, average cull cow prices increased in June, setting a new record high for a second consecutive month. U.S. replacement dairy cow prices averaged $2,360 per head in July 2024,...

Replacement cow prices reach all-time high

The good news is that China has finally made a purchase of 2024 U.S. soybeans, but that news is tempered by the fact that it's their first and only purchase thus far. In a more typical year, the U.S. has counted on China to make several purchases by this time. Other than that, there’s been little in the way of good news for soybeans.

China finally enters 2024 soybean market

As predicted, the low-oxygen “dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico is larger than average this year, said the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Thursday. At 6,705 square miles — or roughly the size of New Jersey — this year’s dead zone is more than three times the size of the target set for 2035.

Gulf of Mexico ‘dead zone’ is larger than average

The US jobs market cooled much more than expected in July with unemployment reaching its highest rate since 2021, government data showed Friday, fueling calls for interest rate cuts as high levels bite. The jobless rate rose to 4.3 percent, the highest since October 2021, according to government data.

US hiring slows markedly while unemployment highest since 2021

Oregon State

Eighteen water districts in the arid U.S. West will receive a share of $400 million from the USDA for local projects that pay farmers to reduce water consumption while keeping land in production, said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Thursday. Irrigation use could drop by 50,000 acre-feet on 250,000 acres in 12 states, from Texas to California and Oregon.

Projects will pay farmers to reduce water use in the West

MOD Pizza has over 500 locations across the country with 22 restaurants in Illinois. The Washington-based chain offers fast-casual fare known for its customized, artisan-style pizzas. Customers can choose from over 40 toppings and 8 sauces to create their own masterpiece.

Bankruptcy Looms for Major Pizza Chain With Chicago Suburban Locations

M Henderson

Here's another recipe for fudge that's very easy to make. You can double it, or quadruple it, for more servings. 4 tablespoons cocoa or cacao powder (I like 2 tablespoons of each)

3-Ingredient Fudge

NewsBreak

Corn crop condition down week-over-week

Today the USDA released the 19th Crop Progress report of the 2024 growing season. As of Aug. 4, 88% of the 2024 corn crop in the...

Corn crop condition down week-over-week

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