Columbus, OH

In July, all three broad-based measures of farmer sentiment saw improvement. The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer index rose by 8 points to 113, the Index of Current Conditions increased by 10 points to 100, and the Index of Future Expectations climbed 7 points to 119. This boost in...

Farmer sentiment rises in July despite falling crop prices

The last several years, August has been very volatile. A lot of information comes at you. What should you do with it all?. In late June, I got a good question from a customer at one of my seminars in Iowa: “Should I buy some calls and puts every year during the last few days of July?” he asked. “The corn and soybean markets have been so volatile in August. It’s either straight up when the weather is bad, or straight down when the USDA comes out with its usual bearish reports.”

USDA reports to watch in August

Soybean and grain futures were lower in overnight trading amid lofty crop conditions and favorable weather in much of the Midwest. About 68% of the U.S. soybean crop was in good or excellent condition at the start of the week, up a percentage point from the previous week, the Department of Agriculture said in a report late yesterday. A year ago, only 54% of soybeans earned top ratings.

3 Big Things Today, August 6, 2024

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?

Corn futures were bouncing from the early weakness into Tuesday’s midday, but the closing action saw futures call 1 to 2 cents in the front months. June corn exports out of the US totaled 5.496 MMT (216.38 mbu), which was a 3-year high but down 7.89% from the May shipment total. The official Census data has exports at 47.81 MMT, or 1.88 bbu, through June, leaving 342 mbu needed to reach USDA’s projection in the last 2 months of the marketing year.

Corn Strength Rejected on Tuesday

WASHINGTON, Aug. 7, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announces changes to the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Farm Loan Programs, effective Sept. 25, 2024 — changes that are intended to increase opportunities for farmers and ranchers to be financially viable. These improvements, part of the Enhancing Program Access and Delivery for Farm Loans rule, demonstrate USDA’s commitment to improving farm profitability through farm loans designed to provide important financing options used by producers to cover operating expenses and purchase land and equipment.

Changes coming to USDA’s FSA Farm Loan Programs

Missouri State

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CJ Coombs

Denny's was once a staple of the American diner landscape. In recent years, it has had its ups and downs, especially post-pandemic. The dining habits of people also change. Some customers have a more discerning taste.

Denny's: a legacy of serving customers for over 65 years including 27 locations in Missouri

Lean hogs settled with losses of 55 cents to $1.05 in the nearbys on Monday. Weaker equity market trade added pressure to the market. The USDA National Base Hog price was reported at 76.91 in the Monday PM print, down $7.16 from the previous day. The CME Lean Hog Index was $93.64 on August 1, up another 11 cents from the previous day.

Hogs Drop Out of the Gates on Monday

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

The Lens

This year’s area of low oxygen in the Gulf of Mexico is larger than average, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced on Thursday. The “dead zone” is approximately 6,705 square miles , as measured last week. Within NOAA’s 38 years of measuring the dead zone, this year’s assessment marks the 12th-largest area of low to no oxygen, which can kill fish and marine life.

Gulf ‘dead zone’ larger than average, larger than expected for 2024, scientists announce

Denver, CO

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David Heitz

In addition to collecting more than 8,000 used needles in the past year from Denver drug users, the Harm Reduction Action Center passed out 10,000 meth pipes and “snort kits,” according to a newsletter sent to its supporters Thursday. They also connected about 1,700 people to medical, mental health and substance abuse treatment.

Denver group hands out 10K meth pipes, ‘snort kits,’ connects 1,700 to treatment annually

Colorado State

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

In this episode, I sit down with Leah Peterson. She is a fifth-generation farmer and rancher from Custer County, Nebraska, but is better known to her social media following as Clear Creek Ranch Mom. We talk about managing a multi-generational operation, educating the public about agriculture through social media, working...

15 Minutes With a Farmer podcast: Clear Creek Ranch Mom Leah Peterson

Kentucky State

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

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

More dangerous substances are entering the Denver drug supply, Harm Reduction Action Center warned in a newsletter this week. “The Iron Law of Prohibition posits that as law enforcement becomes more intense, the potency of prohibited substances increases,” HRAC Executive Director Lisa Raville wrote in the newsletter. That is exactly what is happening, she said.

Dangerous substances entering Denver drug supply

Coming into 2024, the beef cow herd is at a 63-year low – the smallest beef cow inventory since 1961. This has pushed cattle prices to record levels through 2023 and 2024. And yet, there are no indications that any beef herd rebuilding is underway. The question of rebuilding the beef cow inventory is fundamental for cattle markets in the next few years.

Two scenarios for beef herd expansion: Slow; and even slower

New Jersey State

Collingswood, NJ

Morristown Minute

CAMDEN, N.J. – Ralston Boswell, 34, of Collingswood, New Jersey, has admitted to participating in schemes to fraudulently obtain Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and unemployment insurance benefits. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger.

Plea: Man's PPP & Unemployment Fraud - $209K Scam

Kansas State

Wheat futures reversed the early weakness, similar to the rest of the grains, as the winter wheat contracts closed higher. Chicago SRW futures were up fractionally to a penny at the close. Kansas City HRW contracts posted fractional gains in the front months. MPLS spring wheat finished the day with nearby contracts down 6 to 7 ½ cents.

Wheat Comes Back to Close Mixed as Harvest Slows

Gov. Andy Beshear sent a letter to Anne Milgram, administrator for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on Wednesday, expressing his support of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ recommendation that the DEA ease restrictions on marijuana.

Gov. Andy Beshear pens letter to DEA in support of easing federal restrictions on marijuana

NewsBreak

Corn down slightly | Thursday, August 8, 2024

December corn has been on both sides of unchanged so far this morning and is currently down less than a penny. November soybeans are down 10¼¢....

Corn down slightly | Thursday, August 8, 2024

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