Economic Assistance Payment For Row Crop Producers
Financial difficulties faced by U.S. agricultural crop producers in 2024 created an urgent need for financial support. Articles in Southern Ag Today have highlighted some of the challenges facing peanut and cotton producers in the South, although farm financial challenges are not unique to this region.
Farmers across the country are dealing with lower commodity prices, elevated input costs and higher interest rates. Together, these have exerted significant financial strain on agricultural producers and the rural economy.
Government safety net programs through the Farm Bill aim to alleviate financial burdens and ensure income stability for farmers. Programs such as the Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) have previously provided revenue and price support to farmers in times of low revenue or low prices. However, the delay in the passage of an on-time Farm Bill has left the current safety net lacking to provide the support necessary for farmers to navigate the current farm economy.
As a result, Congress passed a one-time economic assistance payment for producers of eligible commodities in the 2024 crop year, with an allocated budget of $10 billion. Eligible commodities are crops covered by Title I of the Farm Bill. The legislation was signed by President Joe Biden Dec. 21, 2024. Producers are expected to receive payment before the end of the first quarter of 2025.
Ben McKnight Named Cotton Specialist Of The Year
Ben McKnight, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service statewide cotton specialist and assistant professor in the Texas A&M Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, has been recognized as the Beltwide Extension Cotton Specialist of the Year by the university Extension cotton specialists.
This award was presented during the Beltwide Cotton Conferences hosted by the National Cotton Council. The Cotton Specialist of the Year acknowledges leadership, dedication and exceptional service in developing and conducting educational programs to meet the needs of cotton producers and the U.S. cotton industry.
“Dr. McKnight is a valued resource to cotton growers in Texas and beyond,” said Larry Redmon, Ph.D., associate department head and AgriLife Extension program leader for the department. “He provides leadership and coordination to the AgriLife Extension programs relevant to cotton production, thus helping improve cotton’s added value and impact on agriculture and the life sciences.”
McKnight has been the statewide cotton specialist since 2020, when he joined the department. Previously, he worked for both Texas A&M AgriLife Research and AgriLife Extension while earning degrees at Texas A&M before working as a weed scientist with Louisiana State University, where he earned his doctorate.
McKnight leads grower meetings, field days, crop tours and training sessions for producers, AgriLife Extension agents and allied industry partners. Additionally, he conducts and translates cotton research addressing region-specific challenges, ensuring findings are translated into actionable resources for producers.
McKnight also advises state-level commodity organizations and collaborates with national producer groups while mentoring undergraduate and graduate students who are poised to become the next generation of agricultural leaders.
Soil Fertility Training Set For March 11 in Marianna, Arkansas
Registration is open for a March 11 soil fertility workshop facilitated by Trent Roberts, professor of soil fertility, soil testing; and Bronc Finch, assistant professor and Extension soil fertility specialist; and Chandler Arel, Extension crop, soils and environmental sciences, all of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
The event will be held at the Lon Mann Cotton Research Station, 3121 Highway 1 South, Marianna, and opens with on-site check-in at 8 a.m. Lunch will be provided to participants who register by March 4. Participants may register at rb.gy/jtvb7d. The event will include sessions on:
■ Plant essential nutrients.
■ Soil basics.
■ Soil and water conservation.
■ Soil testing philosophy/interpretation.
What Makes Generational Farm Families A Success?
As of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Census of Agriculture completed in 2022 and reported in 2024, the size of Arizona farms increased by 19%, or in number by 95 farms since the 2017 Census.
Consolidation is taking place but remember 95% of Arizona’s farms and ranches are family farms, according to the same Census of Agriculture. So, even if a farm grew in the past five years and became large, that large family farm down the road added more acres to be sustainable and profitable. But it’s still a family farm.
Why is this important to understand? For generational farm and ranch families, if the next generation wants to stay in the family business, they most likely must scale in some form. For example, they must add more acres or start another revenue stream through “value-added” agriculture that creates an opportunity for the younger generation to participate in the family business.
Certainly, the details for every farm and ranch business are more complicated than that but in essence, maintaining a generational farm is no easy task.
The Bales family of Buckeye, Arizona, shared their experiences on what it takes to be a generational farm family and the relationship a father and son must maintain to be successful. The pivotal question was when Trevor Bales (who is sixth generation) was asked about his relationship with his father. The answer can be found in this broadcast: rb.gy/u3ab0f.
2025 Train-The-Trainer
These workshops are for owners, managers, supervisors, safety personnel or those responsible for training. They will be conducted in English and Spanish and will hold seven on site Aerial Lift workshops. Call the California Cotton Ginners & Growers Association at 559-252-0684 to register.