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Terrain analysts dissect news topics important to agriculture and weigh their significance for the sectors relevant to our Farm Credit customers. In this issue, our analysts
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Ag Insights
Set in Theme Settings
California’s Regulations Play a Role in Agriculture’s Export Gap
Key points: Representing more than 20% of U.S. agricultural exports, California stands to benefit from efforts to narrow the trade gap. The rising cost of regulations
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The Changing Funding Structure of Rural America
Key points: Bank deposits have grown at lower levels in areas with declining populations. In partnership with traditional agricultural lenders, alternative capital pools and consolidated lending
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Ag Cycles in Opposite Ends of the Spectrum
Key points: Cattle producers, on the upswing in profitability, have taken a conservative approach, so far, to herd expansion and other investment in their operations. Crop
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When in Doubt, Zoom Out
In This Issue: High regulatory costs limit California farmers’ ability to expand specialty crop production. Financial stress continues to build for Midwestern field crop and hog
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May 2025 WASDE Sets the Stage for Markets
Current Conditions & Pre-Report Expectations Planting season across the United States remains ahead of schedule for both corn and soybeans. As of May 11, 2025, U.S.
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Tailwinds Needed: An Early Look At 2026 Farm Income
Temporary Sense of Relief for Crop Farmers It’s no secret that row crop producers have faced stiff economic headwinds in recent years. After rising sharply in
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Inspired by Ancient Vines – Cline Family Cellars
Fred Cline is a winemaker who hails from a family of innovative thinkers. When he and his wife, Nancy, started Cline Family Cellars in 1982, they…
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How Will Agriculture Navigate the Baby Bust?
Situation Since 2017, the United Nations has revised its global fertility and population projections downward. Initially, in 2017, the organization projected that the global population would
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American AgCredit releases rural mental health documentary
Santa Rosa, C.A. (May 1, 2025) – In support of May’s Mental Health Awareness Month, agriculture lender American AgCredit, a member of the Farm Credit System,…
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Demographics Drive an Export Evolution
Situation: The U.S. dairy export industry is experiencing a shift in product demands by key export destinations, with aging populations, slowing population growth and maturing economies.
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Economic Sustainability of Dairy Digesters
Situation: Digester construction has boomed thanks to lucrative credits and tax incentives for converting biomethane into renewable natural gas. Now some of those tax incentives are
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The Buzz on 2025 Almond Bloom
Situation Opinions on bloom have been varied, with some noting mostly dry conditions while others are focusing on the sporadic rain and hail the Central Valley
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Cattle Market Continues to Hold Firm
After a quarter with all-time record-high prices for all weight classes of cattle and the annual Cattle Inventory report confirming that liquidation continued in all classes
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Will the Bull Send the Corn Bear Back Into Hibernation?
Farmers should stay patient and disciplined. Patient for old crop: I expect continued price rallies for old-crop corn driven by export sales strength and tight global
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Cheese Demand and Trade Uncertainty May Move Markets in 2025
Milk production maintained a sideways trajectory in 2024, finishing the year slightly below 2023. Dairy markets are starting 2025 in reasonably good shape, well positioned for
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Will Trade Issues Dissuade Expansion?
Sow Slaughter Trends Change With the Calendar Sow slaughter trends since the December USDA Hogs and Pigs report changed dramatically. Slaughter was 7% larger than a
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A Sad Sorghum Soliloquy
Background: The market has been unkind to sorghum. Crop year to date through February, exports to China are 70% behind the five-year average pace. And while
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Know When to Hold ’Em
Headed into the 2025 growing season, there are two big, unanswered questions for the soybean market: How many acres will be planted? How many U.S. soybeans
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Why There Will Be Fewer Processing Tomato Acres in 2025
High interest rates make the prospect of holding more inventory more costly, leading to lower contracted tonnage. Situation The first report released each year for California’s
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