New Programs Announced with Expected Timeline 05/07/25 – Secretary Rollins announces an expedited disaster aid program. USDA plans to release 4 disaster programs this summer. Signups for these programs are expected to begin in July, August, and September.   Available Drought Programs 05/06/25 USDA Designated 6 ND counties as primary natural disaster areas and 15…

Cattle & Ranch Report May 2, 2025 Live Cattle: This week’s cash trade has been developing over the last couple days with $222-$224 in the north and $215-$218 in the south.  I’ve heard rumors that a few traded at $226, although not confirmed.  With June now the spot month and trading $210, the obvious question is…

The link below shows todays press release announcing a second round of payments for the Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crop program (MASC). The first payments under this program were made in January 2025. No details yet. I am guessing automatic payments to those who applied in January. https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/04/29/usda-issue-13-billion-specialty-crop-producers-through-second-marketing-assistance-program-payment

Sugarbeet Planting Reminders   As planting begins in the RRV, keep these tips in mind: Grower Agreement: Submit your Annual Grower Agreement to your Agent ASAP if not already done. Final Plant Dates: Contact us with questions about specific county deadlines. Replant Payment ($110/ac): Only authorized by crop insurance adjuster prior to replanting. Requires replanting…

Cattle & Ranch Report April 9, 2025   Live Cattle: This morning’s spread to place an 850# steer on feed against marketing them into the October time frame starts at $101.35 as I write this.  More participants continue to leave the playing field.  Close to 38K contracts have evaporated in the past 3 trading days.  Basis…

This disaster assistance program was passed last year and by law has to start dispersing funds no later than March 21st, 2025.  The total ECAP funding is 30 billion.  The first 10 billion will be distributed  in the form of per acre Payments.  FSA will be mailing preprinted applications based off your certified acres from…

  April 11th is the Initial Plant Date for Sugar beets in most areas of the Red River Valley, if you chose to plant prior to that date, you sacrifice the replant coverage of $110/ac that is included in your multi-peril on the early planted acres.   Qualifications for Replanting Payment: *You are only allowed…

Cattle & Ranch Report February 28, 2025   Live Cattle: Were the manipulation of sectors not so rampant to achieve some form of profit margin, reflecting the poor state of the industry, the spreads between starting feeder to finished fat would be comical.  Unfortunately, due to the historical amount of working capital it takes to…

Cattle & Ranch Report February 4, 2025   Live Cattle: The Mexican border open, with no tariff’s, suggests an onslaught of inventory to be herded across the border before it is potentially shut down again.  About the time they get caught up with this, wheat pasture cattle will be coming off, leading me to expect…

The national payment factors have been established for MASC (Marketing Assistant for Speciality Crops)