COVID-19 and Food Price Inflation

By Will Snell | Extension Professor
Published on Jun. 29, 2020

The media has provided a lot of news stories of late on the impact of COVID-19 on the prices we are paying for food. A major disruption in our food supply chain coupled with an initial surge of panic buying by consumers would suggest that food prices would increase. But how much extra are we paying to feed our families?

Updates to the PPP Loan Program

Published on Jun. 29, 2020

The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) administered through the Small Business Association (SBA) continues to evolve and there are some noteworthy updates that have occurred during the past few weeks. As you may recall, the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act was signed into law on June 5th.

Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) Update

By Kenny Burdine | Extension Professor and Will Snell | Extension Professor
Published on May. 27, 2020

USDA has announced details of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP)  designed to compensate farmers who have suffered losses due to COVID-19.

PPP Loan Forgiveness

By Jennifer Rogers | KFBM Area Extension Specialist
Published on May. 27, 2020

Several weeks ago, Congress passed the CARES Act, which included legislation to provide loans to small businesses.  One of the loans administered through the Small Business Administration (SBA) became commonly referred to as PPP loans, or Paycheck Protection Program.  According to the SBA, the PPP loan “is designed to provide a direct incentive

Economic Factors Affecting Agricultural Trade

By Will Snell | Extension Professor
Published on Apr. 1, 2020

With 95% of the world’s population residing outside of the United States, coupled with around 20% of U.S. farm production (or 1/3 of ag cash receipts) being purchased by foreign consumers, agricultural trade is a critical component of the U.S. farm economy.

The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill)

By Will Snell | Extension Professor
Published on Jan. 1, 2019

The 2018 Farm Bill was passed by Congress and signed by the President last month. In reality, the structure of the 2018 Farm Bill is not much different than the previous farm bill (2014) with crop insurance, Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) remaining the main safety net components for program crops.

2014 Farm Bill Summary

By Will Snell | Extension Professor
Published on Mar. 1, 2014

After several years of debate, extensions and much uncertainty the 2014 Farm Bill --- The Agricultural Act of 2014 was signed into law by President Obama on February 7, 2014 which establishes nutrition, commodity, crop insurance, conservation, and other ag/food programs for next five years (2014-2018).