Posts in American Farm Bureau
Farmers Ask for Stability in Milk Prices

The American Farm Bureau Federation and National Farmers Union sent a letter today requesting that USDA bring stability to Class I milk prices. The letter, sent jointly by AFBF President Zippy Duvall and NFU President Rob Larew, asks Secretary Tom Vilsack to issue an interim final decision to return the Class I mover formula to the “higher of” the Class III or IV calculations, as it was before the 2018 farm bill.

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Record Drop in Farm Income Expected in 2024

Farmers can expect the largest recorded year-to-year dollar drop in net farm income in 2024. Income is estimated to be nearly $40 billion lower this year compared to 2023, down more than 25%. American Farm Bureau Federation economists analyzed the latest USDA data in a Market Intel.

Net farm income is the profit farmers see after paying for operating expenses. Two major factors are impacting income forecasts – lower prices paid to farmers for crops and livestock, and increased costs for supplies.

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Are Record High Beef Prices On The Horizon?

America’s families might soon see record-high beef prices at the grocery store, thanks to the lowest cattle inventory in more than 70 years. American Farm Bureau Federation economists analyzed the USDA inventory report in the latest Market Intel.

There were 87.2 million cattle and calves in the United States as of Jan. 2, 2024, 2% lower than the same time in 2023. It’s the lowest inventory since 1951. Just four years ago, there were almost 95 million cattle in the U.S.

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U.S. Cattle Inventory Smallest in 73 years

USDA’s January and July Cattle Inventory reports, released toward the end of each respective month, provide the total inventory of beef cows, milk cows, bulls, replacement heifers, other steers and heifers, and the calf crop for the current year. With drought and high input costs compelling farmers to market a higher-than-normal percentage of female cattle, the most recent cattle inventory dropped to lows not seen in decades.

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AFBF Urges USDA To Use Emergency Authority To Ensure Fair Pricing For Dairy Farmers

The American Farm Bureau Federation sent a letter today to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack urging the agency to issue a final decision on an emergency basis to speed the implementation of the “higher-of” Class I mover formula to buffer dairy farmers from further losses during the forthcoming Federal Milk Marketing Order rulemaking process.

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AFBF Policy Change on Guest-Worker Caps

If an immigration-labor deal develops in Congress, the American Farm Bureau Federation might be willing to accept caps on the number of visas for a year-round agricultural worker program.

Delegates at the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) convention in Salt Lake City on Tuesday voted for changes in the group's policy book used to lobby Congress for legislation.

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Newly Appointed Farm Bureau Members To Lead National Program Committees

Farm Bureau farmer and rancher members play an important role in our communities and our organization by serving on governing boards and committees at local, state and national levels. Several newly appointed volunteers will provide leadership beginning in 2024 as members of the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Young Farmers & Ranchers and Promotion & Education committees.

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