Members in The News: November 27, 2023

 

Andrew Stevens, University of Wisconsin-Madison

• "Your Thanksgiving Turkey Will Likely Be Cheaper This Year"
  By: WDJT – November 18, 2023
• Not Too Late To Shop: Thanksgiving Chefs To Find Lower Turkey Prices This Year"
  By: WMTV - November 20, 2023

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Joseph Balagtas, Purdue University

• "Thanksgiving Dinner Price Down This Year But Still Well Above Pre-COVID Level"
  By: Daily Herald – November 17, 2023
• Consumer Food Insights Report: Thanksgiving Dinner Tradition Continues
  By: AgriNews - November 20, 2023

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Brian Whitacre, Oklahoma State University

"Every State Is About To Dole Out Federal Funding For Broadband Internet – Not Every State Is Ready For The Task"

By: The Conversation - November 20, 2023

"When the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act was signed in late 2021, it included US$42.5 billion for broadband internet access as part of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program. The program aims to ensure that broadband access is available throughout the country. This effort differs from previous federal broadband programs because it promised to allocate the funding to individual states and allow them to figure out the best way to distribute it."

(Continued...)
Read more on: The Conversation

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Trey Malone, University of Arkansas

"Why Does Oat Milk Cost More Than Dairy Milk?"

By: Marketplace– November 17, 2023

“It’s an exceptionally efficient supply chain. The dairy farms in the United States have been around for a long time. They’ve been working on breeding cows in ways that actually can reduce the cost of production quite a bit. They have very well-established bottling plants, processing plants, etc."

(Continued...)
Read more on: Marketplace

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Robin Goldstein, University of California, Davis

"Best Bites: Laissez les bon temps rouler: Gombo’s Creole and Cajun Cuisine Greatly Improves The Flavor of Downtown Northampton"

By: Daily Hampshire Gazette – November 17, 2023

"In New Orleans — the sultriest, eeriest, prettiest and drunkest city in America — filigree balconies dangle from creaky old mansions painted in blazing colors. Inside, on every block, their kitchens burst with the blazing flavors of the Gulf Coast."

(Continued...)
Read More On: Daily Hampshire Gazette

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David Ortega, Michigan State University

“The Real Cost of Thanksgiving Dinner In 2023”
By: The Hustle – November 21, 2023

“Tips To Save Your Wallet As You Shop For Thanksgiving”
By: NBC News Grand Rapids – November 20

“Talking Turkey: Why The Cost Of The Holiday Dinner Has Risen So Much in Recent Years”
By: Washington Examiner – November 20, 2023

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Roderick Rejesus, North Carolina State University

“Scientists Look For Crops That Help Amid Saltwater Intrusion”

By: NPR Charlotte - November 17, 2023

We found that there's essentially a sweet spot for salt-tolerant varieties. Of course the cost of these types of seeds is a little bit higher. But I think the important take-home message from our studies is that it's not a panacea for extreme saltwater intrusion."

(Continued...)
Read More On: NPR Charlotte

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Robert Craven, University of Minnesota

“Local Farmer — And U of M Ag Economist — Lands Prestigious Honor”

By: Jackson County Pilot – November 27, 2023

“I’m surprised, honored and humbled to receive this award. Educators that have won this in the past have all been folks I’ve looked up to during my career.”

(Continued...)
Read More On: Jackson County Pilot

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Dawn Thilmany, Colorado State University

“Turkey Is Cheaper, But Inflation Raised Prices Of Other Thanksgiving Fixings”

By: Denver Post – November 21, 2023

“Even though turkey’s down, the overall food price inflation is up this year. You’re going to see people probably spend a little less this year than last year. Turkey and eggs are about the only products I can think of that are lower than last year.”

(Continued...)
Read More On: Denver Post Or Colorado News Weekly

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Jada Thompson, University of Arkansas

“Arkansas Ranks Third in U.S. For Turkey Production”

By: KARK – November 23, 2023

“They are kind of the sibling, the quieter, the introvert of the poultry world. The chickens get a little more splash, and the turkeys are just doing their thing and moving on.”

(Continued...)
Read More On: KARK or FOX24

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Glynn Tonsor, Kansas State University
Michael Langemeier, Purdue University

“Feedlots Show Increase in Cattle Inventory”

By: High Plains Journal – November 24, 2023

“This report was largely in line with pre-report expectations. I also think several operations have tried to procure animals when they could have been hedged at a positive margin.”

“These two phenomena represent the good news. Now for the not so good news. Feeder steer prices have increased substantially from their levels earlier this year.”

(Continued...)
Read More On: High Plains Journal

USDA Webinar: Farm Income and Financial Forecasts, November 2023 Update

 

Webinar Details

 

Date: Thursday, November 30, 2023

Time: 1:00 PM ET 

Duration: 1 hour

Host: Carrie Litkowski, Economic Research Service, USDA

 

Description:

 

USDA's Economic Research Service (ERS) releases farm income statement and balance sheet estimates and forecasts three times a year. These core statistical indicators provide guidance to policymakers, lenders, commodity organizations, farmers, and others interested in the financial status of the farm economy. ERS' farm income statistics also inform the computation of agriculture's contribution to the U.S. economy's gross domestic product.

 

During this webinar, ERS Economist Carrie Litkowski will present the November 2023 update to the farm sector income and wealth forecasts for calendar year 2023.

 

See the latest Farm Income Forecast.

 

Register now: https://globalmeet.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1644313&tp_key=d3a117b55b

Members in the News: November 20, 2023

 *Disclaimer - This email is to acknowledge citations of current AAEA members and/or their research in any public media channel. AAEA does not agree nor disagree with the views or attitudes of cited outside publications.

Amit Batabyal, Rochester Institute of Technology “Tax Competition Between Cities to Attract the Creative Class: Which Way Now?” By: Medium – November 11, 2023 “Recent research shows that geographically proximate cities such as Minneapolis and Saint Paul in Minnesota or Buffalo and Rochester in New York can engage in tax competition among themselves to attract members of the creative class by providing something that this class values, namely, local public goods such as a good public transport system and crime-free neighborhoods.” (Continued...) Read More On: Medium Jonathan Coppess, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign “Farmers Want More Money For Crop Support Programs Included in Farm Bill” By: NPR – November 9, 2023 “You had this catastrophe on top of the economic catastrophe, which was driving farmers into bankruptcy and out of business.” (Continued...) Read More On: NPR Andrew Stevens, University of Wisconsin–Madison “Food Prices Up This Thanksgiving, But Some Bargains Exist” By: Channel 3000 – November 15, 2023 “Andrew Stevens, an assistant professor of agricultural and applied economics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, joins Live at Four to talk turkey about food prices. (Seen at 46:30) “ (Continued...) Read More On: Channel 3000 Todd Kuethe, Purdue University “22 Investigates: US Farmland At Risk” By: NBC15 – November 9, 2023 “As much land as we’ve lost in the U.S., we’ve made up for it in yields, or the amount of crop harvested per acre. As we increase scarcity, there becomes a premium. You have to bid against other uses of the land. So, if you want to keep it in agriculture production, you have to forego those gains you would get in some other use.” (Continued...) Read More On: NBC15 Joseph Balagtas, Purdue University “Thanksgiving Survey Says …” By: Agri Pulse – November 10, 2023 “We found that 79 percent of consumers plan on celebrating the holiday with a Thanksgiving meal while 13 percent do not and 9 percent are unsure.” (Continued...) Read More On: Agri Pulse or The Delmarva Farmer Michael Adjemian, University of Georgia “UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences Rreports Second Record-Setting Year of State Economic Impact” By: Cleburn Times Review – November 11, 2023 “The University of Georgia’s three-part functional mission benefits the citizens of Georgia by improving their quality of life. While fulfilling this mission, UGA creates positive net economic impacts that benefit Georgians by raising incomes.” (Continued...) Read More On: Cleburn Times Review or Albany Herald Carl Zulauf, The Ohio State University “Ag Economists Report Grain And Oilseed Profitability” By: Agri Marketing – November 13, 2023 “Yields no longer increase fast enough to meet the growth in use. This yield gap provides a rationale for why profitability may continue in the near future, although it is not a given. The profit transformation implies commodity program payments should be temporary, not continuous. It also raises the question, "Is crop insurance insuring too much risk?" (Continued...) Read More On: Agri Marketing Glynn Tonsor, Kansas State University “Consumers Adapting To Keep Meat in Their Diets” By: National Hog Farmer – November 14, 2023 “Since the MDM survey began, there has not been a persistent change in the self-declared diet away from regularly consuming animal products. To me this indicates that while financial sentiment matters, and price is of elevated importance for many, the typical U.S. resident still seeks to keep meat in their diet.” (Continued...) Read More On: National Hog Farmer Jada Thompson, University of Arkansas “Arkansas Turkey Production Numbers Better Than U.S. Average” By: Talk Business – November 14, 2023 “The supplies are looking good, and prices are looking a lot better for the consumer than last year. We had highly pathogenic avian influenza last year. That took away a lot of our supplies and drove up the price, so consumers were pinched a little at the store along with some inflationary effects.” (Continued...) Read More On: Talk Business or Action News 5 Daniel Sumner, University of California, Davis “Could Dry-Farming Wheat in San Diego Seed a Local Grain Economy?” By: Civil Eats – November 14, 2023 “Dryland wheat is likely to expand in California as scarcer water resources go to profitable crops. It makes sense instead of leaving unused fields unplanted. In good rain years, it can yield a harvest; in dryer years, it can be used for forage.” (Continued...) Read More On: Civil Eats Brady Brewer, Purdue University “Five Strategies of Profitability, Delivering Feedback and Cost of Production” By: Dairy Business – November 14, 2023 “Economic factors outside of agriculture impact agricultural profitability every year. Currently, there are many uncertainties that farmers face: inflation, interest rates, trade disruptions, technology innovations. These factors all have long term implications to the five strategic levers of profitability a farmer can pull to increase profitability for their farm.” (Continued...) Read More On: Dairy Business James Mintert, Purdue University “Tight Supplies and Pause on Cowherd Expansion Supports Higher Prices in the Future” By: Oklahoma Farm Report – November 16, 2023 “We have got a big database of farmers we tap into, in fact, if you get a call from us, you shouldn’t get a call again for at least a year. The demographics are held constant. On the crop side, we talk to corn, soybean, wheat, and cotton producers, and on the livestock side, we talk to beef, pork, and dairy producers.” (Continued...) Read More On: Oklahoma Farm Report

Members in the News: November 13, 2023

 *Disclaimer - This email is to acknowledge citations of current AAEA members and/or their research in any public media channel. AAEA does not agree nor disagree with the views or attitudes of cited outside publications.

Amit Batabyal, Rochester Institute of Technology “When We Make Choices, Do We Habitually Make Mistakes?” By: Medium – November 4, 2023 “Resources To Save ‘Every Creeping Thing of The Earth’ Are Limited. What Would Noah Do?” By: The Conversation – November 8, 2023 Joe Janzen, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign “How U.S. Soybeans Influence Global Economics” By: CNBC – October 12, 2023 “Over 30 or 40 years, Brazil has dramatically increased soybean acreage and production. Brazil is a relatively low-cost place to produce corn and soybeans. The export market is very competitive and we need to be cost competitive with Brazil and Argentina if we want to capture market share.” (Continued...) Read More On: CNBC Rabail Chandio, Iowa State University Bruce Sherrick, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Nick Paulson, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign “Several Factors Go Into Farmland Buying Decisions” By: Missouri Farmers Today – November 4, 2023 “Survey results show the majority of Iowa’s farmland is bought by people who plan to farm it themselves. Most of the people who are buying farmland in Iowa are existing farmers.” “As with every asset, land is what you can make off it. Of course, other factors can change the value to a particular farmer, such as location. A farm that borders you is worth more to you.” “Location is one of the most important things for farmers. Location, location, location’ couldn’t be more fitting. Obviously you can’t move farmland. It has to fit with the operation if the intent is to buy it to use in production.” (Continued...) Read More On: Missouri Farmers Today Grace Melo, Texas A&M University Andrea Leschewski, South Dakota State University “Letting low-Income Americans Buy Groceries Online in 2020 With SNAP Benefits Decreased The Share of People Without Enough Food – New Research” By: The Conversation – November 10, 2023 “The share of low-income U.S. families experiencing food insufficiency – sometimes or often not having enough food to eat – fell from 24.5% to 22.5% at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, we found in a new study published in the November 2023 issue of Food Policy.” “This 2 percentage-point decline coincided with the rapid expansion of a pilot program that allows the purchase of groceries online with benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP.” (Continued...) Read More On: The Conversation Michael Boland, University of Minnesota “Turkey Prices Declining Despite Bird Flu Outbreak” By: ESeuro – November 3, 2023 “As of November 3rd, it doesn’t look like the price of turkeys will be affected by the Avian flu outbreak. If something were to happen devastating it clearly might happen but at this late date it probably isn’t going to have an impact.” (Continued...) Read More On: ESeuro Thomas Hertel, Purdue University “Ag economist Tom Hertel receives Spirit of Land-Grant Mission Award” By: Indiana Ag Connection – November 3, 2023 It’s the most important award I’ll ever receive. A lot of places, you bring up a new idea and the administration’s first inclination is to find ways to kill it, It was the opposite at Purdue. They cleared the decks of administrative hurdles. That’s something I’ve always appreciated.” (Continued...) Read More On: Indiana Ag Connection Marin Skidmore, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign “Soy Farming May Be Causing Child Cancer Deaths in Brazil: Study” By: Eurasia Review – October 31, 2023 “Over the past decades, Brazil's Amazon region has moved from cattle production to the cultivation of soy in response to a high global demand for soybeans. Brazil is currently the world's largest producer of the crop. The expansion has happened really quickly.” (Continued...) Read More On: Ground Report Jonathan Coppess, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign “Farm Bill Faces Battle as GOP Pushes To Strip Climate, SNAP Funding For Subsidies” By: The Hill – November 6, 2023 “These critics note that for virtually all U.S. commodities — such as corn, soybeans or barley — ARC/PLC payments will increase no matter what Congress does with this Farm Bill. And the reason they won’t automatically increase for the three crops Republicans are targeting is because reference prices for those commodities are already so high." (Continued...) Read More On: The Hill James Mintert, Purdue University “Farmer Sentiment Rises as Producers Report Improved Financial Conditions on Their Farms” By: Morning Ag Clips – November 7, 2023 “Farmers in this month’s survey were slightly less concerned about the risk of lower prices for crops and livestock and felt somewhat better about their farms’ financial situation than a month earlier. Reports of higher-than-expected corn and soybean yields in some Corn Belt locations, along with a modest rally in corn prices, likely contributed to this month’s rise in the financial conditions and the barometer indices.” (Continued...) Read More On: Morning Ag Clips

USDA Webinar: Rural America at a Glance, 2023 Edition

 Date: Thursday, November 16, 2023
Time: 1:00 PM ET 
Duration: 1 hour
Host: James C. Davis

Description
In this webinar, ERS Research Agricultural Economist James C. Davis highlights the most recent indicators of social and economic conditions in rural areas, focusing on rural population and migration trends, poverty, housing insecurity, unemployment, and clean energy jobs.

The USDA's Economic Research Service releases the Rural America at a Glance report annually, which summarizes the status of conditions and trends in rural areas. 

Read last year's edition of the report: Rural America at a Glance, 2022 Edition.

Register now: https://www.ers.usda.gov/conferences/webinar-rural-america-at-a-glance-2023-edition/

Members in the News: November 6, 2023

 

*Disclaimer - This email is to acknowledge citations of current AAEA members and/or their research in any public media channel. AAEA does not agree nor disagree with the views or attitudes of cited outside publications. Chad Hart, Iowa State University “More Fall Fertilizer Use in Iowa Could Harm Water Quality” By: The Gazette – October 21, 2023 “Farmers have been worried we've seen some wetter springs delaying chances for spring field work. If they are worried about that, they'll make that move (fertilizer application) in the fall.” (Continued...) Read More On: The Gazette Andrew Stevens, University of Wisconsin–Madison “Thanksgiving Food May Cost You Less in 2023” By: ABC 12 – October 31, 2023 “Turkey prices were really high last year due to a bird flu outbreak, this year we have gotten over that and wholesale prices for frozen turkeys are 25% lower on average.” (Continued...) Read More On: ABC 12 Christopher Barrett, Cornell University John Hoddinott, Cornell University Seungmin Lee, Cornell University “New Measuring Tool Tracks Food Security Over Time” By: PHYS.org – October 26, 2023 "In the United States, there has been much less work on food insecurity dynamics than in many low-income countries, but it's no less salient here.  “While the U.S. is very wealthy on average, there is a significant fraction of the population who are really poor and do not have the resources to acquire an adequate and healthy diet." "How many households are just briefly food insecure and need a food pantry to tide them over, versus one that needs SNAP benefits, or Social Security for those who have disabilities? That's where you need to study dynamics, you need to study what happens to people over time." (Continued...) Read More On: PHYS.org or Morning Ag Clips Sandro Steinbach, North Dakota State University “War in Ukraine Creating 'Toxic Mix' For Farmers There and in North Dakota” By: The Bismarck Tribune – October 29, 2023 “Wheatflation” is not a recognized word, but it is real, with potentially dire consequences felt in North Dakota because of Russia’s continued invasion of Ukraine. For some, there is money to be made, but farmers in North Dakota are feeling the sting. Grocery shoppers are also facing a more than 60% jump in the price of bread.” (Continued...) Read More On: The Bismarck Tribune Eric Belasco, Montana State University “What Montana’s Independent Ranchers Need To Survive: Customers” By: High Country News – October 31, 2023 “The cause of that consolidation: economies of scale. As larger processors have demonstrated lower costs of production, it’s just been harder for a smaller processing facility to compete.” (Continued...) Read More On: High Country News or Montana Free Press Marin Skidmore, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign “Soy Farming May Be Causing Child Cancer Deaths in Brazil: Study” By: Eurasia Review – October 31, 2023 “Over the past decades, Brazil's Amazon region has moved from cattle production to the cultivation of soy in response to a high global demand for soybeans. Brazil is currently the world's largest producer of the crop. The expansion has happened really quickly.” (Continued...) Read More On: Eurasia Review Joe Janzen, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign “How U.S. Soybeans Influence Global Economics” By: CNBC – October 12, 2023 “Does Grain Storage Pay in 2023?” By: Farm Progress – October 20, 2023 Amit Batabyal, Rochester Institute of Technology “Why Small Firms’ R&D Efforts Deserve More Public Support” By: Rochester Beacon – October 31, 2023 “Despite the fact that our three erstwhile giants—Bausch + Lomb, Eastman Kodak, and Xerox—are mere shadows of their former enviable selves, Rochester is anything but a dying city. Leslie Eaton and many others have pointed out that even though Rochester was a company town, it is now, and has been for a while, a town of tiny companies.” (Continued...) Read More On: Rochester Beacon Jada Thompson, University of Arkansas “Resilient Turkey Industry Rebounds From HPAI, Arkansas Production Up 6 Percent” By: Magnolia Reporter – October 30, 2023 “The supplies are looking good, and prices are looking a lot better for the consumer than last year. We had highly pathogenic avian influenza last year. That took away a lot of our supplies and drove up the price, so consumers were pinched a little at the store along with some inflationary effects.” (Continued...) Read More On: Magnolia Reporter Zachariah Rutledge, Michigan State University “Michigan Dairy Labor Supply Pressures” By: Edairy News – November 1, 2023 “While labor-saving technology has increased productivity, people are still an integral part of cow care. In this article we’ll provide context and highlight strategies to help address labor challenges.” (Continued...) Read More On: Edairy News Carl Zulauf, The Ohio State University “The Post 1990 New Normal: Stable Real US Crop Prices” By: AgFax – November 1, 2023 “Inflation-adjusted real US crop prices declined over much of the 20th Century.  The decline ended around 1990.  Over the subsequent 30 years, real crop prices have exhibited no trend.” (Continued...) Read More On: AgFax  Know another AAEA Member who has made statewide, national, or international news? Send a link of the article to Austin Sparbel at asparbel@aaea.org. What research and topics are you working on? Want to be an expert source for journalists working on a story? Contact Allison Ware at aware@aaea.org.