Panhandle Watermelon Festival and Hold and Farm Finances Remain Concern
From the Ag Information Network, this is your Agribusiness Update.
**Calling all watermelon producers. It’s almost time to enter your finest melons in the Big Melon Contest at the Panhandle Watermelon Festival.
There’s no cost to enter a melon in the contest, but melons that are entered into the contest are donated to the festival and will be sold at auction.
The 2024 Panhandle Watermelon Festival will be held Friday and Saturday, June 21st and 22nd, in Chipley, Florida at the Washington County Ag Center.
**American food insecurity is increasing with the number of food-insecure people up over 40% in several states from 2021 to 2022, according to the annual “Map the Meal Gap” report from Feeding America.
The national rate of food insecurity is about 13%, but some areas are much higher rates.
North Dakota, up 57%, South Dakota and Iowa, up 45%, saw the biggest increases.
Washington, D.C., Hawaii, and Nevada saw the lowest rates.
**The Federal Reserve reports that farm finances remain a concern.
The Fed’s Beige Book noted that 10 of 12 districts reported slight to moderate growth in May, while the other two had no change.
The Beige Book says while drought conditions have eased in some districts, there’s still a concern about farm finances and incomes.
Overall ag outlooks grew more pessimistic due to reports of rising uncertainty and greater downside risks.
