Bob Tita and Allison Prang reported on Friday at The Wall Street Journal Online that, “Deere & Co. is raising equipment prices this year to protect profit as costs rise.

“The maker of farm and construction machinery said on Friday that profit was up 50% and equipment sales up 34% annually in its latest quarter, though both figures disappointed analysts. Deere’s shares rose 5.8% to close at $155.25, as investors appeared to focus on Deere’s strong outlook for sales growth this year, analysts said.

DTN writer Katie Dehlinger reported this week that, “Implement dealers and input suppliers are taking on an increased role in funding farm operations, and a new study published on the FarmDoc Daily blog finds that in 2016, implement dealers issued $11.2 billion dollars of debt to farmers with the vast majority of it — $10.72 billion — going to fund equipment purchases.

“‘What we’ve seen is a growth in implement dealer financing for non-real estate long-term debt,’ Todd Kuethe, one of the blog’s authors and University of Illinois ag economics professor, told DTN. ‘These are things you’re financing for multiple years, so it’s not your one-year operating loans. We saw a real growth during the farm expansion and commodity price boom. It’s come down a little bit, but it’s still stayed pretty high.’

“Kuethe’s research, done in conjunction with Jennifer Ifft at Cornell University and Kevin Patrick with the National Ag Statistics Service, shows implement dealers’ share of long-term non-real estate debt grew from 11% in 2003 to 31% in 2013 and 2014. It was 27% in 2016.”

The DTN article added that, “The rising popularity of this type of financing raises two primary concerns: tracking and regulating it. If a lender is running a credit history on a potential borrower, will it show up in that buyer’s history? The concern isn’t the John Deeres and the like, it’s the potential ‘that some people, if they have enough individual wealth that they’re loaning out through other means, those potentially aren’t regulated. So how much of it is risky?’

“Kuethe says that’s a concern, but the data shows there’s no significant difference between people who borrow from implement dealers and from traditional lenders. ‘So it doesn’t appear that its riskier, and it appears that the interest rates are pretty comparable, so it doesn’t look likely they’re (conventional lenders) at a pricing disadvantage.'”

An update this week at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Blog noted that, “Dairy producers have until June 1, 2018, to register for the new and improved Margin Protection Program for Dairy (MPP-Dairy), which provides protection to dairy producers from shifting milk and feed prices.

“To help raise awareness of recent changes to the program, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is holding informational meetings all across dairy country, explaining changes to the program (PDF, 366 KB), coverage levels, premiums and the availability of the Margin Protection Program-Dairy Decision Tool.”

The USDA update explained that, “In February, Congress made several changes based on feedback from dairy producers to the MPP-Dairy program, including:

• Calculation of the margin period now is monthly rather than bi-monthly.
• Covered production is increased to 5 million pounds on the Tier 1 premium schedule, and premium rates for Tier 1 are substantially lowered.
• An exemption from paying an administrative fee for limited resource, beginning, veteran, and disadvantaged producers. Dairy operators enrolled in the previous 2018 enrollment period that qualify for this exemption under the new provisions may request a refund.”

This week’s update added that, “If you own dairy cattle and operate a dairy, you must register in order to participate. All dairy operations must make new coverage elections for 2018, even if the operation was enrolled during the previous 2018 signup period. Coverage elections made for 2018 will be retroactive to Jan. 1, 2018. All dairy operations must sign up during the enrollment period and submit form CCC-782 (PDF, 3.49 MB) to enroll. Dairy operations may ‘opt out’ by not submitting a form. The final day to act is June 1, 2018.”

“If you have questions or want to enroll, contact your local USDA service center.”

Amy Harmon reported late last week at The New York Times Online that, “The United States Department of Agriculture has proposed new guidelines for labeling foods that contain genetically modified ingredients. Food makers will be required by federal law to use the labels, starting in 2020.

“The safety of genetically modified ingredients, widely known as G.M.O.s, remains a source of anxiety for some Americans despite the scientific studies that say they pose no health threat. Many food makers now voluntarily place ‘No G.M.O.’’ labels on their products as a marketing tactic.

“Clarifying how genes are altered in the plants and animals we eat, and whether grocery store shoppers should care, has proved to be a heavy lift.”

Ms. Harmon noted that, “Instead of the commonly used but somewhat stigmatized terms ‘G.M.O.‘ and ‘genetically engineered,’ the guidelines propose labels that say ‘bioengineered‘ or ‘BE.’ Food makers would be given a choice of three disclosure methods: spelling out the information, as in ‘contains a bioengineered food ingredient;’ using a standard icon (the agency proposed several evoking sun and smiles); or affixing a QR code that directs consumers to a website with more information.”

The Times article also stated that, “The public has until July 3 to comment on the proposed guidelines.”

A news release last week from USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) stated that, “U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced today the appointment of Richard Fordyce to serve as Administrator of the [USDA’s FSA]. In his role, Fordyce will provide leadership for FSA and its mission to support agricultural production across America through a network of over 2,100 county and 50 state offices.

“‘As a fourth-generation farmer, Richard brings firsthand knowledge and experience to this role,’ Secretary Sonny Perdue said. ‘I am confident that he will continue to help USDA become the most efficient, effective customer focused agency in the federal government as he leads this customer focused mission area.’

“Richard Fordyce most recently served as State Executive Director for FSA in Missouri. Prior to his appointment by the Trump Administration, Fordyce served as the director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture from 2013 to 2017. In 2015, Fordyce was awarded the Missouri Farm Bureau Distinguished Service Award and the Agricultural Leaders of Tomorrow Alumnus of the Year. He and his wife, Renee, have two children and grow soybeans, corn and beef cattle on the family farm.”

Kristen Leigh Painter reported recently at the Minneapolis Star Tribune Online that, “General Mills became a food giant by pioneering ideas to get people in and out of the kitchen more quickly. Now, it has moved to the front lines of an agricultural movement it didn’t start.

“A series of investments in recent months for its growing portfolio of natural and organic products has been aimed at fortifying the land where its food is grown.

“And those moves, which roped General Mills into a growing movement called regenerative agriculture, show the influence a small startup can have on its larger parent company. General Mills awakened to the movement when it purchased Epic Provisions, a meat-snack producer, in 2016.”

Ms. Painter noted that, “Best known for its traditional packaged foods, like Cheerios cereals, Betty Crocker mixes and Progresso soup, General Mills has substantially expanded its reach in natural, organic and Earth-friendly grocery products over the past decade. It’s a top-five organic-ingredient purchaser and the second-largest buyer of organic fruits and vegetables in North American packaged food.

“One of the main challenges to growth is the dearth of food ingredients grown in a way that meet the social and environmental promises of those brands and the expectations of their consumers.

“To address this dilemma, the Golden Valley-based food company revisited how it sources ingredients. By working with farmers, company executives believe they can help change the growing practices in such a way that increase biodiversity, improved water quality and reduced greenhouse-gas emissions and use of harmful chemicals.”

The Star Tribune article added that, “Regenerative agriculture is one big button the company can push to help it reach its own environmental goals, [John Church, executive vice president and head of supply chain at General Mills] said, such as reversing the negative impact that agriculture has on climate change.”

A news release yesterday from the Senate Ag Committee stated that, “U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., joined Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., today to introduce legislation that expands support for military veterans in agriculture. The Farmer Veteran Opportunity Act of 2018 makes all new veterans eligible for support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The bill also improves access for farmer veterans across eight existing initiatives to make risk management tools more affordable, expand access to land and capital, and prioritize training for veterans.

“‘When our veterans retire from active service, whether here or abroad, they need certainty and opportunity,’ said Senator Roberts. ‘I’m proud to cosponsor a bill that allows men and women who have served our country to return to the farm.'”

The release added, “The legislation expands support to all new veterans who may have existing careers in agriculture. Currently, the USDA’s veterans initiatives are designed to support those who are starting a career in agriculture for the first time. This common-sense change ensures that all new farmer veterans will be able to benefit from support, whether they are just starting a career on the farm or looking to expand their operation.

“Additionally, the bill would help farmer veterans receive better assistance from existing farm programs, including more-affordable risk management tools like crop insurance to help them recover from unexpected losses. Because many farmer veterans also face barriers to accessing land and capital to start or expand their farms, the legislation would make farmer veterans eligible for down payment loans when purchasing real estate and would provide priority access for reduced interest rates on loans to buy farmland or finance production equipment. Veterans would also receive priority access for additional training and education opportunities to help them navigate their crop insurance options and meet food safety standards.”

Stephen Babcock reported this week at Technically Baltimore Online that, “Gotham Greens announced plans Tuesday to build a hydroponic greenhouse at Tradepoint Atlantic, the 3,100-acre development that formerly housed the Bethlehem Steel mill in Sparrows Point.

“The 100,000 sq. ft. facility, which the company plans to open in 2019, will grow leafy greens and herbs that the New York–based company aims to supply to supermarkets, restaurants and others in the mid-Atlantic. The new facility will be powered by 100 percent renewable electricity, and utilize recycled irrigation water as part of a process that is designed to be more efficient in yielding crops than conventional farming. About 60 full-time jobs are initially expected in areas such as horticulture, engineering, plant science and food manufacturing.

“For Tradepoint Atlantic, it marks a move into green businesses. The current developers took over the site in 2014 following the shuttering of the steel mill. The transformation into a logistics hub comes with a bold goal to bring 11,000 jobs to the once-roaring economic engine, and has touted the property’s access to multiple forms of transportation over land and sea.”

Mr. Babcock noted that, “Gotham Greens opened its first greenhouse in Brooklyn after being founded there in 2009, and expanded to Chicago, where it now operates two greenhouses. Baltimore County will be the company’s third market, with eight facilities expected to be in operation by the time the Tradepoint Atlantic site opens.

“‘Urban agriculture, at its core, is about reconnecting with the community through food, jobs and economic development,’ Viraj Puri, CEO of Gotham Greens, said in a statement. ‘To that end, we’ve found a great partner and are proud to be part of the American industrial turnaround story taking place at Tradepoint Atlantic.'”