Inside Washington: Farm Subsidies' Staying Power

Many Republicans who swept rural Democrats from office are now confronting the reality of a promise to reduce spending: Should it cover the farm subsidies that have brought money and jobs to their districts — and directly benefited some GOP lawmakers or their families?

Food Inflation Accelerating as Cooking Oil Poised to Catch Grains

Cooking oils, left behind in this year’s surge in agriculture prices, are poised to catch up with grains as record demand cuts stockpiles by the most in 17 years.

Election Unlikely to Change US Farm Subsidies

Republicans might take control of Congress as they ride a wave of voter anger over deficit spending and big government, but experts who follow agriculture say they don't expect deep cuts in subsidies to farmers who grow crops such as corn and soybeans.

Farmland: The Next Boom?

Is farmland going to be the next gold?

It isn't as implausible as it may sound. Forecasts are always a sucker's game, but there are good reasons why the next few decades could see a new boom in farm country—and big money for those who own the land.

No Sign of Farmland Price Bubble Yet

Prices for top-quality farmland so far this year have inched to historically high levels, but there are no signs the market has entered a bubble, according to an expert from the ag lending industry.

China Floods Boost Pests, Threaten Rice Crop Agriculture Ministry Says

China's mid-season and late-season rice crops face increasing threats from pests after widespread floods this summer made conditions ideal for insects to breed, the Ministry of Agriculture said...

U.S. Farmland Values and Returns Increase in 2010

Farm real estate, cropland, and cash rent values all increased over hte past year, while pastureland values did not change.

Wheat Jumps to 13-Month High as Droughts Curb Output in Russia, Australia

Wheat futures rose to a 13-month high as buyers rushed to make purchases amid mounting concern that adverse weather will slash this year’s global crop.

Corn Jumps on New Supply Outlook

Fresh U.S. government data rattled corn markets on Wednesday, sending futures prices soaring 9% and raising questions about the precision of earlier estimates.

TIAA -CREF: Why investments in farmland are now 'like gold'

TIAA-CREF aims to add to its $2 billion holdings of farmland to help diversify its portfolio and hedge against inflation, said the pension-fund manager's director for private-equity investments in agriculture.

Farmland Property Beats Commercial Markets

Farmland property outperformed commercial markets for the third consecutive year according to the IPD UK Rural Investment Property Index, sponsored by Smiths Gore and Carter Jonas.

Cash Crops: Buying Farmland for Income

Investors nervous about the stock market and in search of better returns than a money-market fund might consider plowing cash into farmland, say some financial planners.

US 'to cut crop stocks estimates' as exports rise

Key data due later from US farm officials may - in theory - provide a prop to Chicago's falling prices...

Gulf Farmland search switches to richer countries

Golf nations seeking farmland for food security have shifted their focus to East Europe and Australia after a buying spree in the developing world as they look for land that comes with less political and financial risk.

U.S. Plains farmland values rise in first quarter

Farmland values up 2pct in 1st quarter on strong demand

Bulgaria may keep wind, solar off good farmland

The bulgarian goverment on Wednesday propsed a ban for building solar and wind power farms on quality arable land...

Economist: Investments in farmland 'remarkably steady'

Average return on Illinois farmland during the past 20 years was 10.4% annually.

Soybeans Rise on Lower U.S. Inventories, China Import Purchase

Soybeans rose to a one-week high after the U.S. said inventories will be smaller than forecast and that China purchased supplies from American exporters.

'Buy farmland and gold', Advises Dr Doom

The world’s most powerful investors have been advised to buy farmland, stock up on gold and prepare for a “dirty war” by Marc Faber, the notoriously bearish market pundit, who predicted the 1987 stock market crash.

Investors drawn to farmland

Mark Twain once said “buy land, they’re not making it any more” – and it seems private investors share his view. Many are now taking advantage of predicted rises in rural land prices, and favourable tax breaks.

Soybeans, Corn, Wheat Drop After China Seeks to Rein in Growth

Soybeans, corn and wheat fell after China ordered banks to set aside more deposits as reserves, raising concern that tighter lending in the world’s most populous country will hinder a global economic recovery.

U.S. Plains Farmland Values Firmed Up At End - 2009

Farmland values in the U.S. central Plains rose 2 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009 as crop prices climbed while ranchland values fell with livestock markets, the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City said Friday.

China Looking To Lease Kazakhstan Land For Agriculture

Kazakhstan’s government is mulling a plan that would enable China to lease a large swath of Kazakhstani land for agricultural use. The proposed deal is stirring passionate opposition in the Central Asian state, with critics expressing concern about the country’s sovereignty.

Obama: Corn Ethanol Isn't So Bad After All

Score another one for the corn farmers.  Corn ethanol has  long been ridiculed ... But suddenly, corn doesn't look so bad, according to the Obama administration.

Ditch the Penthouse, Buy the Farm for Pay Dirt: Chart of Day

Sell the Porsche, buy a tractor and reap returns.  Farmland prices that more than doubled in England in the past decade may repeat the gains...

Illinois’ high-quality cropland selling for $7,500 to $8,000 an acre

Despite the overall economic downturn, a strong farm economy has helped keep farm values high.

Seed Giant Monsanto Sees "Technology Explosion"

Monsanto Co said Wednesday it was accelerating research and development efforts in agricultural seed technology with a focus on 11 key projects that should help drive revenue gains over the next decade by offering farmers better yields and weed and bug control.

USA-EXPORTS/GRAIN:US Grain Exports-Corn sales hit 8-1/2-month high amid price dip

U.S. corn export sales exceeded trade expectations last week, rising 45 percent from the prior week to the highest level since March as a dip in prices to one-month lows boosted demand.

Corn Falls for Second Day After U.S. Delays Ethanol Decision

Corn fell for a second day after U.S. regulators postponed a decision to raise ethanol usage in gasoline until mid-2010, prolonging uncertainty about demand prospects for the grain used to make the fuel additive.

Soybean Global Trade All Time High

The USDA’s weekly export sales were far above the high end of expectations in soybeans, somewhat above expectations in meal and below expectations in oil.

Crop prices rise 7.7 percent amid soggy harvest

Farmers are still getting paid much less for their crops compared with a year ago, when global food shortages pushed grain prices to record highs. But the farm prices of corn, wheat and milk jumped this month, according to a report Friday from the Agriculture Department.

U.S. Inflation to Appear Next in Food and Agriculture

"While most mainstream economists such as Nouriel Roubini are warning of deflationary threats to the U.S. economy, it is our belief that massive price inflation has already begun..." The National Inflation Association

Soybeans to Advance on Tight Supplies, Mielke Say

Soybeans may advance in the next “couple of weeks” as record U.S. crop fails to meet rising global demand, Oil World said.

Could China be about to import corn?

China's self-sufficiency in corn is suddenly in doubt...

Food production will have to increase by 70 percent

Producing 70 percent more food for an additional 2.3 billion people by 2050 while at the same time combating poverty and hunger, using scarce natural resources more efficiently and adapting to climate change are the main challenges world agriculture will face in the coming decades

Farmland Values See Smaller Decline

The decline in average farmland values in Iowa has slowed from more than 7 percent through March of this year to a statewide average drop of 1.9 percent from March through August.

The survey by the Iowa Farm and Land Chapter of the Realtors Land Institute shows that buyers are still willing to pay premiums for the best-quality farm land, which commands more than $5,000 per acre.

Farmland Falls for First Time Since 1987, May Rebound

The value of all land and buildings on farms averaged $2,100 an acre at the start of 2009, down 3.2 percent from a year earlier, the first decline since 1987, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said...

Foreign Investors Snap Up African Farmland

Governments and investment funds are buying up farmland in Africa and Asia to grow food -- a profitable business

Agrinuity

Acres of Farmland and, Maybe, Profits

Glenn Kreuder is quoted in the article on investing in farmland.

 Farmland Reaps Bonanza for TIAA as Commodities Rise

Glenn Kreuder quoted on Farmland Investments.