Higher Food Prices Continue and Regenerative Ag Climbs
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with your Agribusiness Update.
**Higher food prices continue to change the way Americans shop, according to a new report from CoBank's Knowledge Exchange.
The report says food prices are up 2.7% from a year ago BUT about 26% from five years ago, prompting consumers to switch to discount retailers or buying fewer groceries.
CoBank notes inflation, elevated energy prices, and higher interest rates continue to pressure the overall economy.
**Regenerative agriculture continues to gain momentum across the country, with USDA reporting that nearly 40 million acres were managed using USDA-supported regenerative practices in fiscal year 2023.
That's over 360% more than a decade earlier.
USDA says the most widely adopted practices include grazing, nutrient, and pest management, conservation systems, and cover crops.
Overall, farmers, ranchers, and conservationists received assistance for conservation practices on nearly 70 million acres.
**Dairy farmers took their message to Capitol Hill last week, urging lawmakers to advance ag labor reform and other key dairy priorities.
More than three dozen advocates participated in the National Milk Producer Federation's State Dairy Association Summit.
A top priority was the Securing Agriculture's Workforce Act, introduced by House Ag Chair G.T. Thompson, that would expand H-2A access for year-round industries by removing the seasonal requirement.
