Rosy Nebraska farmland outlook: The value of Nebraska farmland surged by an average 14 percent statewide during 2022 and “the outlook for future gains in farm real estate values remains relatively strong,” said a panel of experts. (University of Nebraska–Lincoln)
Corn up, soy not: Some 55 percent of the corn crop was in good or excellent condition, an increase of 5 points in two weeks thanks to rain in the Midwest; soybeans were unchanged from two weeks ago at 51 percent good or excellent. (USDA)
El Niño increases risk: The emerging El Niño weather pattern “poses a risk to agricultural production and food security in several regions, particularly Southern Africa and Central America”; 45 countries need food aid. (FAO)
Crop insurance comes first: The most important item to protect in the new farm bill is the taxpayer-subsidized crop insurance program, said Collin Peterson, a former House Agriculture committee chair who warns against payment limits on premium subsidies or tying coverage to stewardship practices. (Agweek)
Ditch WOTUS, ask aggies: Agriculture groups asked a federal judge in North Dakota to discard the Biden administration’s “waters of the United States” rule, rather than allowing the administration to update it to reflect the new Supreme Court standard for protecting wetlands. (DTN/Progressive Farmer)