Latest News From Global Economy

Noted ag economist Dr. David Kohl forecasts tighter margins in the year ahead and emphasizes the need to globalize and future-proof operations. 

From the election to world trade, as well as geopolitical factors that have the potential to shape agriculture in 2024, the December Ag Economists' Monthly Monitor shows the possibility of several economic surprises.

Let this sink in: One state in Brazil — Mato Grosso — produces the equivalent of Illinois and Iowa’s soybean production combined. Here's a look at South America's growing regions, crop calendar and production capacity.

While the U.S. and EU aim to make progress during an upcoming summit, reaching a final agreement is uncertain. This issue has significant implications for U.S./EU ties, climate goals, and geopolitics.

China's Commerce minister expressed concerns over trade and tech restrictions to U.S. Senate Majority Leader this week. That's as the U.S. Commerce Department added 42 more Chinese companies to the export blacklist.

While ag economists continue to be at odds when it comes to the likelihood of a recession in the U.S., some doubt the country's biggest importers will be able to avoid a recession over the next 18 months.

A historic drought has severely cut the size of this year's crop in Argentina, especially soybeans. Processors will be forced to import soybeans just to stay in business.

“When Ukraine fails, in terms of their ability to produce agricultural products, the world becomes less safe,” says Howard Buffett, global philanthropist and Illinois farmer.

It didn’t start with the swing of an ax in the Amazon or by an explosion in Kiev. Both contributed, but the shifts in global grain flows is a multifaceted prism through which the future is continuing to evolve.

If the nation’s debt hits $31.4 trillion—it’s on track to do so by this Thurs.—the Treasury will need to take “extraordinary measures” to help pay the government's operations and ward off a historic default.

“There is a problem with people thinking the pullback of Covid-zero measures is equivalent to the economy reopening, which it is not." says Leland Miller, CEO of research firm China Beige Book.

China moved to close parks, malls and museums on Tues. as COVID-19 cases hit near-record levels. Lockdowns follow reports that, days before COP27, Xi sent policy and business advisers to New York to meet U.S. executives.

“There are still more questions than answers, but we did get a vessel out the door,” says Dan Basse, president of AgResource Company.

Economists see interest-rate increases raising likelihood of recession to 44% in coming 12 months.

When farmers or ranchers in the U.S. face tragedy others in the industry are quick to help. That same mentality, of farmers helping farmers, has reached Ukraine as support rolls in from across the globe.

"Right now, Ukraine’s grain silos are full,” says David Beasley, executive director of the World Food Programme. “At the same time, 44 million people around the world are marching towards starvation."

Ukrainian farmers in the southern region of Zaporizhzhia are determined to get their fields planted this spring.

Understand how global headwinds and tailwinds will affect your operation.

Before Putin’s forces even breached the Ukraine border, fear and speculation drove commodity prices skyward. Concerns are warranted.

Farm commodity prices, production costs and consumer food prices are higher than would have been expected a few months ago, according to the 2022 U.S. Baseline Outlook report by FAPRI.

We could be headed for a volatile year – or more – in both ag commodities and energy. Here are just a few reasons for strong prices.

Hopes for docile agriculture markets in 2022 have already been blown out of the water. Instead, we could be headed for a volatile year – or more.

AgriTalk’s Davis Michaelson hosted Vince Malanga, president of LaSalle Economics, on Tuesday, Jan. 25, to dive into the current events and potential market impacts. 

After growing up in a small town in northeast Michigan, spending time in Bosnia and earning a degree in economics from Iowa State University, Kauffman started his career with the Federal Reserve. 

Home to 21% of the world’s population, China possesses only 7% of productive farmland. As such, shifts in the composition have effects that ripple across the globe. 

Despite COVID-19 variants, inflationary pressures and supply chain limitations, consumers will continue to power the economic rebound,

Nearly two years after COVID-19 invaded our world, we are still living with its disruptions, but we should not overlook the more traditional factors also at play.

Given stubborn demand, the answer hangs on 2021 crops.

How high will prices go? How long will the high prices last? What is behind this rally? Here are some of the factors at play.

Use this framework to understand COVID-19’s tail.

Questions remain about the Phase 1 trade agreement between the United States and China. "The Wall Street Journal" reports uncertainty surrounds China's commitment to buy up to $50 billion of U.S. ag. products.

Since 2012, ClipperData has been tracking movement in the energy market and recently added ag commodity tracking to its repertoire. The company uses port agents and satellites to track trade flows around the world.

Arlan Suderman chief economist for INTL FCSTone told AgriTalk host Chip Flory President Donald Trump may not have time to work out the details left to secure a long-term deal with China.