A Roadmap to Better Decision Making

USDA’s latest update to its 2024 farm income forecast provides a slightly better outlook than its previous estimate, though not by much. Net farm income, a broad measure of profits, is pegged at $140.7 billion in 2024, up from $140.0 billion forecast in September. The new forecast represents a -4.1% decline from 2023 net farm income of $146.7 billion and ...
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Agriculture is one of Kentucky’s leading and most vital industries, contributing about $45.6 billion to the state’s economy each year. Of Kentucky’s 25.4 million acres, just under 50% is considered farmland. The state is an important contributor to U.S. corn and soybean production, as well as poultry, eggs, and cattle. However, the state’s farmers dedicate more acreage to hay than ...
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Soil is arguably one of the most important parts of our planet's ecosystem and critical for human survival. Without it, there would be no farmers as there would literally be no ground to sow. In order to raise awareness about the significance of soil as a vital resource, the United Nations in 2013 designated December 5th as "World Soil Day." ...
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Argentina’s corn production is expected to decrease sharply in the 2024/25 crop season; at least, that's the early story we are hearing. Personally, I'm not entirely sold on the headlines, but time will tell. In case you haven't heard, the Rosario Board of Trade estimates a -25% decrease in corn planted area, the largest relative drop in 17 years. According ...
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Most Americans are very familiar with the Pillsbury Company, which has given us a host of iconic products, including the company's Classic Yellow Cake Mix, every flavor of pre-made frosting, and those addictive Crescent Rolls. Pillsbury's marketing efforts for its various brands also generated iconic characters like the Doughboy and Jolly Green Giant. The company itself is no longer around ...
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The USDA’s latest Farm Labor Report reveals that the national wage rate for field and livestock workers is now $18.12 an hour, a +3.2% increase from last year. According to Samantha Ayoub, Farm Bureau Associate Economist, “no one realistically pays the national wage, so regionally, there was an average about a +4.5% increase in regional wages.” The Farm Labor Survey ...
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Thanksgiving is probably going to look different for a lot of folks this year, for obvious reasons. One thing that probably won't change for a lot of families in America is the menu. Some people are planning to scale things back to serve fewer people this year, but most I've talked to are dead set on keeping with their long-standing ...
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***LIMITED SERVICE - The staff and I will be taking off for the Thanksgiving holiday. There will be no report on either Thursday or Friday. Full-coverage will resume Monday morning. From our families to yours, we wish you a safe and happy Thanksgiving! ...
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Dunkin Donuts is an American institution that has spawned an untold number of copycats over the years. Since its creation in 1948, the company has grown from one shop in Massachusetts to over 11,000 locations across 37 countries. It was all the brainchild of an 8th-grade dropout named William Rosenberg who noticed that Americans really liked donuts with their coffee ...
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Grind up rocks, throw them on your farmland, and you’ll boost yields while also saving the planet. At least, that’s the message being sold by proponents of “enhanced rock weathering” (ERW), who claim that adding rock dust to soils enhances fertility and removes CO2 from the air. But what exactly is it and what are the potential downsides? Enhanced rock ...
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