Alabama Cattle Numbers Down 1% and Int'l Food Prices Highest Since 2011
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with your Agribusiness Update.’
**Alabama has 10,000 fewer cows and calves than it did 2020, but with 1.3 million bovines in the state, National Ag Statistics Service numbers show the drop represents only a 1% decrease.
www.alfafarmers.org reports, cattle and calves are the second largest agricultural commodity in Alabama, directly behind poultry and eggs.
Alabama ranks 23rd in the U.S. for cattle production. Texas is number one with over 12.9 million head.
www.alfafarmers.org/cattle-numbers-in-alabama-remain-consistent/
**Farmers who insured their crops this year and then planted cover crops will now be eligible for a financial bonus from USDA.
According to www.agweb.com, USDA's Risk Management Agency announced the Pandemic Cover Crop Program, which allows certain farmers who planted cover crops to be eligible for
a $5 dollar per acre crop insurance premium discount.
Farmers have until June 15th to report cover crop acreage to your Farm Service Agency office.
www.agweb.com/news/policy/politics/usda-says-farmers-who-planted-cover-crops-now-eligible-5-acre-premium?mkt
**After rising for 12 months during the pandemic, international food prices are their highest since September 2011, according to the monthly FOOD PRICE INDEX.
Maintained by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, the index surged 4.8% in May, its largest monthly increase in nearly 11 years.
Vegetable oil, grain, and sugar prices were sharply higher due to the resurgent global economy and concerns harvests could run later or this year’s crops could be smaller than expected.
Dairy and meat prices held firm.
www.agriculture.com/news/business/highest-food-prices-since-2011-may-persist-for-months
