The past few months have been a challenge for Virginia’s farmers, the agriculture industry, and our society as a whole. We have been asked to self-isolate, to make sacrifices for the greater good, and above all else, continue farming and providing the food, fiber, and resources our country relies on. Farmers are known for their self-reliance, but this pandemic has stressed even the most resilient facets of our industry, and we have looked to the government for their assistance in the form of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) and the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP).

Continue reading →

Check out this week’s Merchandiser Minute!

The story of how the U.S. copes with the coronavirus pandemic is in its early chapters, as Virginia’s agricultural producers hold out for a happier ending.

A recently released report from the Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics provides an overview of the coronavirus pandemic’s disruptions to the national food supply chain and Virginia agriculture. The overall analysis is ominous, with a few bright spots.

Continue reading →

Virginia farmers expect to harvest 11.7 million bushels of winter wheat during 2020 according to the Virginia Field Office of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. The expected crop for 2020 would be up 80% from the previous year. Farmers seeded 260,000 acres last fall with 180,000 acres to be harvested for grain. Based on crop conditions as of May 1 and assuming a normal growing season, farmers expect a yield of 65.0 bushels per acre, up 3.0 bushels from 2019. Acres for other uses totaled 80,000 acres and will be used as cover crop or cut as silage or hay.

As of May 10, winter wheat overall was in mostly good condition with farmers currently planting crops and cutting hay. Eighty-six percent of the crop was headed compared to 69% at this time last year and 68% for the five-year average.

Continue reading →

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) and Farm Service Agency (FSA) will host a webinar on Thursday, May 14, 2020, at 1 p.m. ET, for farmers, ranchers and other producers interested in applying for direct payments through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP).

This webinar is an opportunity for producers to learn about the general application process and required documentation prior to the official beginning of signup. Producers interested in participating may register in advance for webinar at https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_SPWI7yOFSqaGG1JKzhEbjA.

USDA is hosting this webinar to share what information is needed to apply for direct payments through CFAP, once the application period begins. Producers who are new to participating in FSA programs are especially encouraged to join the webinar. More details about CFAP direct payments will be announced soon. Participants are encouraged to submit questions through the Q&A box or by emailing CFAP.webinars@usda.gov. Answers will be posted after the webinar atfarmers.gov/CFAP.

A recording of the webinar, the answers to its questions, and other CFAP information can be found at farmers.gov/CFAP.

The American Farm Bureau Federation, in partnership with Farm Credit, has opened online applications for the 2021 Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge. This national business competition showcases U.S. startup companies that are addressing challenges faced by America’s farmers, ranchers and rural communities. Farm Bureau will award $145,000 in startup funds provided by sponsors Farm Credit, John Deere, Bayer Crop Science, Country Financial, Farm Bureau Financial Services and Farm Bureau Bank.

Continue reading →

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the availability of $3 million for grants through its new Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production. The competitive grants will support the development of urban agriculture and innovative production projects through two categories, Planning Projects and Implementation Projects. USDA will accept applications on Grants.gov until midnight July 6, 2020.

Continue reading →

Check out this week’s Merchandiser Minute. Topics include weather influences price, China conference call next week, and good export sales this week.

Year-to-year farm bankruptcies increased 23 percent, according to recently released data from U.S. Courts. An American Farm Bureau Federation Market Intel report shows a total of 627 filings during the 12-month period ending March 2020, marking five consecutive years of Chapter 12 bankruptcy increases, including an accelerated rate since January.

Wisconsin was the hardest hit with 78 filings in the 12-month period, followed by Nebraska with 41 Chapter 12 filings and Iowa at 37. More than 50 percent of the Chapter 12 filings were in the 13-state Midwest region, followed by 19 percent in the Southeast.

Continue reading →