During most weeks, the AgEconMT crew reads a lot of news, interacts with lots of people, and learns a lot. While we’re not able to report on and provide analyses on all of those things, we want to share at least a few items that we found to be particularly interesting and useful for the northern Great Plains agricultural sector during the past week.
USDA makes it easier to transfer land to the next generation of farmers and ranchers (USDA FSA): Agriculture Deputy Under Secretary Lanon Baccam today announced that beginning Jan. 9, 2017, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will offer an early termination opportunity for certain Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts, making it easier to transfer property to the next generation of farmers and ranchers, including family members. The land that is eligible for the early termination is among the least environmentally sensitive land enrolled in CRP.
Survival Rates of Rural Businesses: What the Evidence Tells Us (Choices Magazine): New businesses in rural America have higher five-year survival rates than their urban counterparts. This is likely due to lower opportunity costs in rural communities along with different perceptions of risk. If rural communities are to have vibrant economies they must reenergize their efforts aimed at supporting entrepreneurship.
Can live cattle prices stage a turnaround in 2017? (AgriMoney): Prices have come under pressure from a collection of factors, including a long period of ample pasture and high feeder cattle availability, with fed cattle now working their way off feedlots and to meat packers. But can prices change direction in the coming year? Analysts give their views.
Notice anything we’ve missed and that could be interesting to others like you? Let us know and we’ll add it!
(Photo by NS Newsflash is licensed under CC BY 4.0)
