USDA Crop Report Changes and Rented Farmland Acres Grow
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with your Agribusiness Update.
**The USDA is planning changes to its crop reporting process after a sharp decline in farmer participation raised concerns about data reliability.
Officials say this year’s response rates fell to 37.6%, down from 44.3% last year and the lowest on record.
Reuters says, pending approval, the agency will increase the number of farmers surveyed for its June acreage report by roughly 35%, with smaller increases planned for later in the year.
##The Georgia Department of Agriculture and the USDA announced that twenty additional Georgia counties have been designated as primary natural disaster areas due to ongoing drought.
www.morningagclips.com reports that means now, a total of 146 Georgia counties have been designated as primary natural disaster areas.
This Disaster Declaration expands previous designations and means farm operators in those counties can be considered for Farm Service Agency emergency loan assistance.
www.morningagclips.com/usda-designates-additional-georgia-counties-as-primary-natural-disaster-areas-due-to-drought/
**A new USDA survey shows rented farmland remains a major part of American agriculture, with absentee landowners holding a significant share of cropland and pasture nationwide.
The survey found about 348 million acres of agricultural land are rented for uses including cropland and pasture.
The figures exclude federally owned public grazing land.
Nationwide, about 2 million landlords own roughly 167 million acres of cropland and 98 million of pasture.
**The USDA says expanding export markets remains a top priority as farm groups seek stronger overseas demand for grains, meat, dairy and specialty crops.
Trade has become increasingly important as domestic supplies remain ample and commodity prices stay under pressure.
Industry groups have urged the administration to pursue new agreements, resolve trade barriers and defend access to existing markets.
Producers say improved market access can help lift prices and support rural economies.
