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  • Off Base, Part 2: The View from the CBO Baseline
    Release of the CBO Baseline is an annual ritual required by federal budget policy, pursuant to which the Congressional Budget Office projects spending on certain programs ten years into the unknowable future. CBO released its February 2026 baseline ahead of schedule, providing a new look at agricultural policy after enactment of major changes in the […]
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    Projections in the latest Illinois Crop Budgets suggest negative returns on cash rented farmland for the 2026 crop year (see farmdoc daily article from January 13, 2026).  This article compares…

Agriculture News

SENATOR SEEKS INCREASE IN AGRICULTURE RESEARCH FUNDING

August 9, 2019

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, Thursday unveiled new legislation that would authorize a 5 percent annual funding increase over the next five years at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. With most domestic agriculture research on the decline, the America Grows Act would restore the United States’ commitment to publicly funded agriculture research at USDA. Durbin announced the bill while visiting the Peoria County Farm Bureau Thursday. (NewsTribune)

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ANALYSTS PREDICT LOWEST U.S. CORN YIELD IN 7 YEARS

August 9, 2019

This year’s crops will see the lowest corn yield in seven years and the lowest soybean yield in six years, according to AccuWeather’s latest analysis of crop production. AccuWeather analysts predict this year’s corn yield will be 13.07 billion bushels, a decline of 9.8 percent from last year’s yield and 5.8 percent lower than the USDA’s latest estimate for corn yields. That would be the lowest since 2012, when significant drought pushed corn yield down to 10.76 billion bushels. (Jacksonville Journal Courier)

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FARMERS ADVISED TO ORDER COVER CROP SEED NOW

August 9, 2019

Farmers are finding a go-to alternative for this growing season is in short supply with rising prices and the peak season ahead. Experts recommend farmers place orders now if they haven’t secured cover crop seed for post-harvest planting. When excessive rain and flooding caused prevented planting, farmers scrambled for cover crop seed ahead of the traditional peak season of post-harvest seeding. The tight cover crop seed supply “is reflective of the many prevented plant acres,” said Illinois Agriculture Director John Sullivan. (FarmWeekNow)

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FARMERS ARE PLANNING FOR ILLINOIS RIVER SHUTDOWN NEXT YEAR

August 9, 2019

It’s not uncommon for many Illinois farmers to ship much, or even all, of their commodities along the Illinois River. “They’re going to need to re-route, predetermine and plan to not be able to use the river for up to 4 months,” said Illinois Farm Bureau’s Kirby Wagner. The Illinois Army Corps of Engineers has released a schedule that has closures of six locks next year. Wagner added that the work will be done during lower shipping times, starting after what is traditionally flood season and ending before post-harvest shipping. (NPR Illinois)

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TRUMP PROMISES MORE AID FOR FARMERS IN 2020 ‘IF NECESSARY’

August 8, 2019

President Trump promised farmers that China’s increasing aggression against U.S. agriculture in the trade war “will not be able to hurt them” – and vowed that “if necessary” he will give them more aid in 2020. Keeping farmers on his side is a crucial political goal for Trump, who is up for reelection next year and has shown no indication that he is willing to back off his fight with China. Reports show 9 out of 10 counties that supported Trump in the 2016 election have received subsidies related to the trade war. (CNBC)

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PERDUE: US FARMERS WILL REGAIN MARKETS LOST IN TRADE WAR

August 8, 2019

U.S. Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue told nervous Midwestern farmers on Wednesday that he’s confident that they’ll eventually regain the markets they’ve lost in the Trump administration’s trade war with China. Perdue appeared at Farmfest, an annual Minnesota trade show, during a listening session with farmers. “The markets are fungible. China is going to buy from where they see the best value,” Perdue said. He added that the U.S. government is working to develop alternate markets — including in India, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia. Perdue is confirmed to appear at Illinois’ Farm Progress Show in Decatur near the end of the

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