From worrisome figures on farm debt to good news from poultry and cattle to a Texas producer embracing the magic of mushrooms, the headlines clearly show that there’s no “mid-summer slowdown” in farm country.
Here are the top five most important rural news stories from the week of July 7, 2024:
Farm debt is expected to hit $500 billion this year
USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) reports show that producers under 44 years old have the highest debt-to-asset ratio, at 15 percent, which they consider low for that group.
California’s locomotive rule would hurt the ag industry, economists warn
Trains are an integral part of grain movement in the United States, but new rules around locomotives in the nation’s largest ag state have economists on edge.
Oklahoma stockyard doubles its cattle sales
An Oklahoma stockyard recently sold nearly double the number of cattle it would in a normal week. They say demand has been good overall and believe the market is holding strong across farm country.
Feel Good Stories: Meet a Texas farmer utilizing the full benefits of mushrooms
There are some 10,000 varieties of mushrooms grown in Texas. One mushroom farmer is not only growing this delicacy for restaurants but also turning the waste product into fertilizer. RFD-TV News’ own Tammi Arender reports.
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RFD-TV’s Rural Wrap-Up curates headlines from the previous week that mattered most to Rural Americans.
For today’s top rural news stories, visit the Rural Rundown.
