LandGuys, LLC.’s Post

Today the Department of Agriculture announced the award of nearly $125 million to states and territories to protect 105,000 acres of private forestland through the Forest Legacy Program. 16 projects in 10 states are receiving funding made available through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the third round of awards through IRA made available in 2024.    The news release is available on USDA’s website (https://lnkd.in/eHa6ZMEb) and project funding details are available on the Forest Legacy Program website: https://lnkd.in/eHUrw_eg. 

Branching out into Christmas tree farming🎄 For many families, the festive season doesn’t truly start until you’ve gone out to pick your Christmas tree. But have you ever considered Christmas tree farming as another way you can generate income? Cameron Horton, solicitor in our agriculture, estates and private client team, discusses the considerations and practical issues that may arise with a diversification project, click here to read👉 https://ow.ly/Cu1X50UkXZx

Last week, The Texas Tribune's Rural Symposium brought key issues facing rural communities centerstage, sparking important conversations among media and state legislators. Pressing topics underscored the necessity of keeping family farms in business - an issue that impacts every Texan. Here's a glimpse of what Texas Corn Producers Executive Director David Gibson shared on the current state of farming. 👀 Watch the full discussion: loom.ly/D14_zjM 📹 Video clip courtesy Texas Tribune

Our research suggests that we’re losing 2,000 acres of farm and ranch land a day in the U.S. to development or other uses that jeopardize farming. The tools to protect farmland exist. But they are not being applied as aggressively as needed to prevent the alarming loss of this irreplaceable resource. Learn more about how we're working to protect our nation's agricultural land: https://bit.ly/3UkMKZ6.

Did you know that agriculture is Arkansas’ largest industry, adding about $16 billion to the state’s economy annually? We were excited to catch up with Senator Boozman and staff to talk about agriculture in Arkansas – where we proudly manage over 46k acres of farmland (and more than 16k acres of timberland) – and share the good work that our team members are doing every day on the ground. This was a great opportunity for the leaders of our agriculture and timberland businesses to come together and highlight the value we bring to the lands we manage and the people we impact every day. Data: https://lnkd.in/gTbpVAyP #ArkansasAgriculture #SustainableAgriculture #EconomicImpact

The cattle rancher is an American icon, and cattle ranching has been a central part of our nation’s landscape, identity, heritage, and economy for centuries. The ability to co-locate cattle ranching with utility solar in a way that is good for solar generation, good for the land, and good for the animal could provide extraordinary environmental, economic, and social benefits to Americans across the country while beginning a new, high-tech chapter in the story of the cowboy and his iconic contribution to American culture and historic land use. This is what our #Cattletracker research program, conducted in concert with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and stakeholders from across the energy, agriculture, and academic sectors, is all about. By marrying cattle grazing and solar generation on our land, we can provide new opportunities for a revered tradition while we progress on decentralizing the nation’s electricity generation. We hope this initiative helps to create a new career pathway for American cattle ranchers similar to the one we're providing to the growing community of shepherds in rural communities across the country. Read more about the heritage-friendly future of American agriculture that the Cattletracker team is working towards here: https://lnkd.in/eFbEfqdJ

One of the practical pre-harvest points to consider is involving your team and stakeholders. Harvest isn’t a solo endeavour. Involving your team and other key stakeholders in your preparation is essential whether you run a family farm or manage a large pastoral business. Clear communication ensures that everyone is on the same page and that responsibilities are delegated effectively. Ready to tackle your pre-harvest checklist? Dive into our latest article for practical tips to set your farm up for a successful season! 🔗 Read Full Article Here: https://lnkd.in/guTCJPN7 For more information on how Dibbo can benefit your business succession, please contact us directly at 📞 08 8253 2906 or 📧 [email protected]. #FarmingSuccess #HarvestReady #BusinessPlanning #Agriculture #FinancialServices

🚜 Streamline Farm Safety and Compliance! Discover how DIGI CLIP’s Digital Compliance Checklists for Agriculture can help improve farm safety and compliance, and stay audit-ready with ease. https://lttr.ai/AZAlB #FarmSafety #AgricultureCompliance #DigitalChecklists

Happy to share this collaborative work with the Rural and Farm Finance Policy Analysis Center at the University of Missouri! I just wish it were under better conditions. 📉 Arkansas net farm income is expected to see a $1.06 billion drop from the record set in 2022. This marks the second year in a row of decline in net farm income. The year-over-year decline of 10% in Arkansas net farm income is more than the 6.2% national decline. 🚜 Key production expenses for fertilizer, pesticides, and fuel are expected to decline 9% year-over-year. Total value of cash receipts for crops are projected to decline over half a billion dollars (or 10%) year-over-year. Crop specific takeaways are below. 🐂 Livestock receipts are projected to rise $97 million (or 12%) along with a $74 million (or 6%) increase in purchased livestock expenses and a $574 million (or 18%) decline in feed expenses. 🌽 Arkansas corn acres are projected to have the fewest acres since 2015 with a near record yield and the lowest price in 5 years. This equates to a $169 million (or 21%) year-over-year decline in corn receipts. 🫛 Arkansas soybean acres are about in line with expectation at 3 million, the top crop in the state in terms of production area. The state average is projected to be a record at 55 bushels per acre but at a marketing year average price of $10.15/bushel, the lowest since 2019. Despite record yields, this results in a $375 million (or 17%) decline in soybean receipts. ☁️ Arkansas cotton acres are the most since 2011 despite the lowest season-average price ($0.66/lb) since 2020. The projected yield of 1,238 lbs/acre is the third highest yield in ten years. This results in a $67 million (or 10%) decline in cotton receipts. 🌾 Arkansas rice acres are projected to come in at nearly 1.5 million, the most since 2020 making it the crop with the second-most acres in the state. The state-average yield is projected to be 7,600 lbs/acre (or 168.9 bu/acre) near the record set in 2021 (7,633 lbs/acre and 169.6 bu/acre). The season-average price is projected to come in at $14.10/cwt (or $6.35/bu) which is the lowest since 2021 when it came in at $13.88/cwt. 🪙 Government assistance has shifted from primarily market-based programs (i.e., ARC/PLC) to supplemental and ad hoc disaster assistance since the enactment of the 2014 farm bill. Assistance from market-based and ad hoc programs accounted for 48% and 17% of total government payments, respectively, over the 2014-2018 period. Conversely, the breakdown for market-based and ad hoc assistance accounted for 18% and 63%, respectively, over the 2019-2024 time period.