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War in Ukraine could affect food and energy prices through 2024, World Bank says

Wheat prices could increase more than 40% and energy more than 50% this year, according to the bank's president, David Malpass.
Commodity prices are rising, and "it’s hitting people in the poorest countries hardest," World Bank President David Malpass says. Stagflation is also a risk.
Louai Beshara/AFP via Getty Images

Rising wheat prices may not yield bounty for U.S. farmers

Mar 28, 2022
The Biden administration is examining the role market consolidation may play in the cost of seeds, fertilizer and other agricultural supplies.
The price of wheat has risen since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but American farmers' business expenses have been increasing.
Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images

Government aims to make federal loans more accessible to Native American farmers

Mar 25, 2022
The plan includes training for federal lenders about working with farmers and ranchers who work inside the borders of tribal nations.
When farmers apply for federal loans, they often put up land as collateral, which can be complicated on tribal lands.
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

In Maine, some wonder if solar panels are starting to cover up too much farmland

Mar 14, 2022
One possibility: finding ways to use land under and around solar panels to grow crops.
Farmer Bussie York stands amidst the large solar array of about 300,000 panels on his farm in Farmington, Maine.
Robbie Feinberg/Maine Public

Farm profits, up last year, may sink again as farmers' costs rise

Feb 21, 2022
Seed and fertilizer are just a few of the products whose costs have risen because of ongoing supply chain problems.
Though farmers' profits rose by nearly 25% last year, surging costs for labor and supplies are cutting into those gains.
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

As prices at the grocery store rise, farmers' costs are up too

Jan 20, 2022
Iowa corn and soybean farmer April Hemmes paid double for nitrogen this year. Consumers shouldn’t blame growers for inflation, she said.
April Hemmes says farmers like her are "running scared" because over half of their soybeans are exported to China.
Ben Hethcoat/Marketplace

Will farmers dig Deere's new autonomous tractor?

Jan 5, 2022
John Deere has unveiled a new autonomous tractor at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Farmers may be slow to adopt the technology.
Front cameras on John Deere's fully autonomous tractor are shown ahead of the Consumer Electronics Show on Jan. 4.
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

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New lender aims to boost access to credit for Native farmers, ranchers

Dec 20, 2021
Indigenous agricultural producers say they've had it with the federal government's loan programs.
The Native American Agriculture Fund’s financial institution will support the tribe-owned community banks that many Indigenous producers use.
Cavan Images via Getty Images

Native agricultural coalition takes up priorities for the next farm bill

Dec 6, 2021
Tribal agricultural leaders say they would like to see more lending to agricultural producers and more autonomous control over federal funds.
Native farmers and ranchers haven’t had equal access to federal support, one expert said. Above, corn and soybeans grow in Iowa.
Scott Olson via Getty Images

The Deere strike will be felt throughout the agriculture industry

Nov 22, 2021
Higher wages for Deere workers will show up slightly in equipment prices —but that's only one of many costs farmers face.
Striking workers picket outside a John Deere facility in Iowa in October. Some have seen the strike as an example of workers' increased negotiating power.
Scott Olson via Getty Images