Washington's First HPAI Case and Ag Lending Continues to Grow
From the Western Ag Network, I’m Bob Larson with your Agribusiness Update.
**The USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratory confirmed the first detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in two Yakima County dairy farms.
www.morningagclips.com reports this marks the first known case of HPAI in cattle in Washington state.
Dairy cattle in 19 states have been infected since the start of the outbreak in 2024.
The two farms are under quarantine, and veterinarians are treating sick cows.
However, pasteurized milk products remain safe for consumers.
www.morningagclips.com/washington-confirms-first-detection-of-avian-influenza-in-dairy-cattle/
##Former Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack will present, “Food and Nutrition Security: The Critical Intersection of Farm Policy and the Land-Grant Mission,” at this year’s D.W. Brooks Signature Event Nov. 19 at the University of Georgia.
www.morningagclips.com reports Vilsack’s lecture, which will address the challenges new and small-scale farmers face as commercial agriculture becomes more consolidated and how bold action is needed to make smaller-scale farming both desirable and profitable.
www.morningagclips.com/former-u-s-agriculture-secretary-tom-vilsack-to-deliver-keynote-at-d-w-brooks-signature-event/
**Agricultural lending at commercial banks continued to grow during the second quarter, while farm loan performance remained stable.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation shows total outstanding agricultural loans reached 206.27 billion dollars, up 2.1% from the first quarter and 3.8% from a year earlier.
Farm real estate loans totaled 122.26 billion dollars, up 4.5% year over year.
Non-real estate farm loans reached 84 billion dollars, up 2.8%.
**U.S. soybean prices remain under pressure as farmers contend with larger crop estimates and uncertainty surrounding agricultural trade with China.
Successful Farming reports November soybean futures declined in overnight trading Tuesday following USDA's October supply-and-demand report.
Despite the stronger export outlook, traders remain sensitive to developments in U.S.-China trade relations.
China is a major destination for American soybeans, making purchase commitments and tariff policies important influences on farm prices.
