By S. Patricia Batres-Marquez, Senior Research Analyst Based on the latest data published by USDA-FAS, U.S. pork exports from January to April 2025 reached a volume of 809,612 metric tons (MT), down 3.1% from the same period during 2024 (see Figure 1). The export value was down 2.6% to $2.38 billion from the previous year...…
By Alex Robinson, Research Analyst Iowa State University publishes monthly estimates of cost returns on hogs that provides a general outlook on the margins that many producers are experiencing. Total returns for farrow-to-finish producers stay positive in our most recent update, with estimates showing that, on average, producers saw a profit of $13.48 per head...…
The cattle market is hitting historic price highs as inventories continue to dwindle, while demand remains near record levels. The U.S. cattle herd has been shrinking for decades, with current inventory levels marking the lowest in half a century. A combination of persistent beef demand, rising input costs for producers, and prolonged droughts spanning over...…
The most current U.S. Drought Monitor shows nearly 37% of the contiguous U.S. is experiencing moderate to exceptional drought as of April 29—a 7% decrease from April 1. Figure 1 shows that the area of the U.S. experiencing some level of drought is up 20% compared to the same time last year. Recent storms and...…
With Iowa’s winter in the rearview (I think!) and 2025 already more than ¼ over, I thought now would be a good time to update our friends, clients, and others on what our team has been up to so far in 2025. Industry Events and Conferences There are three primary reasons for members of the...…
While not as widely grown as corn, soybeans, or wheat, dry beans (such as kidney, navy, pinto, and black beans) are an essential crop grown throughout the United States. Twenty-six states reported some level of dry bean production in the 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture, with six more states having production of an undisclosed amount.
In the first farm income projections for 2025, the USDA reported an increase of $41.0 billion in U.S. net farm income to $180.1 billion (nominal terms), up by $139.1 billion, which is the current forecast for 2024. The inflation-adjusted net farm income is expected to increase by $37.7 billion in 2025 compared with 2024. This…
The Mississippi River is the largest watershed in the United States, spanning over 40% of the continental US. The Mississippi River and its 29 locks and dams are essential to US agriculture, especially for corn and soybean farmers, with nearly 60% of grain exports being shipped by barge on the river.
Egg prices are a trending headline nationwide. Some grocery stores are responding by limiting the number of cartons customers can buy, while other retailers are displaying near-empty refrigerated shelves.
The latest IMPLAN dataset, based on 2023 data, was released at the tail end of 2024. Thanks to several updates to the data used to build IMPLAN’s models, this year’s data is much more than just an annual refresh. The 2023 dataset may be one of the most impactful upgrades to economic input-output modeling in…
