Rural and Farm Finance Policy Analysis Center (RaFF)

What drives farmers to adopt no-till—and what holds them back? RaFF’s latest policy brief uses survey data from South Dakota producers to explore adoption patterns and highlight key factors that shape long-term conservation tillage use. The brief examines mixed and alternating tillage practices, regional differences in adoption, and the role of social learning in spreading no-till—offering insights to inform more effective outreach and conservation planning. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/gDEUytMy

🚨 FSA Opens Sign-Up for Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) Payments! 🚨 Producers can now apply for ECAP payments ahead of the congressional deadline. The Farm Service Agency (FSA) has opened the sign-up period, allowing applications online or through local FSA offices starting March 19, 2025. Pre-filled applications will be sent to producers who submitted 2024 acreage reports, but you don’t have to wait—apply now. Application deadline: August 15, 2025 Since December, RaFF has worked with FAPRI and multiple land-grant universities to provide policy briefs and decision tools to help producers estimate ECAP payments. Our projections were highly accurate, with minimal differences from USDA’s final payment rates: - Virtually no difference for barley, oats, sorghum, and wheat - 1% difference for corn, peanuts, and soybeans - 3% difference for cotton - 10% difference for rice The first payment will cover 85% of the total, with the remainder issued as budget allows. 🔗 Apply here: https://lnkd.in/gdJEnCty 🔗 ECAP Calculator, fact sheets, and FAQs: https://lnkd.in/gdJEnCty 🔗 RaFF Policy Briefs: https://lnkd.in/g7JFkD8N 🔗 RaFF Decision Tools: https://lnkd.in/dMyH5sJp

Check out the latest policy brief from RaFF! We’re breaking down national ARC-CO and PLC participation trends, projecting payments for 2024 (green map) and 2025 (purple map) crop years, and analyzing historical ARC-CO probabilities for corn base acres. This analysis provides valuable insights for policymakers, stakeholders, and producers as they navigate farm program decisions. To view the full policy brief: https://lnkd.in/e-9jP5XR

🚨 LAST CALL! 🚨 Join us today at 11 a.m. CST as RaFF hosts a webinar on the Farm Earnings Explorer, an interactive dashboard providing key insights into state-level farm income. 🔗 Join the webinar: https://lnkd.in/gmRBjtQY 📊 Explore the dashboard: https://mizzou.us/fee Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights!

REMINDER - Join us next Monday, March 10th at 11:00 a.m. for a webinar on how to utilize the Farm Earnings Explorer, which highlights state-level farm income data and statistics! To view the interactive dashboard before the webinar: https://mizzou.us/fee Link to the webinar: https://lnkd.in/gmRBjtQY

Join us next Monday, March 10th at 11:00 a.m. for a webinar on the Farm Earnings Explorer, an interactive dashboard which highlights state-level farm income data and statistics! To view the interactive dashboard before the webinar: https://mizzou.us/fee  Link to the webinar: https://lnkd.in/gmRBjtQY

RaFF's latest policy brief examines Missouri farmers’ participation in ARC-CO and PLC, providing insights into program enrollment trends, projected payments for 2024-25 by commodity and county, and historical probabilities for ARC-CO payments under current USDA price projections. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/gbSqDNX7

Mark your calendars! The Rural and Farm Finance Policy Analysis Center (RaFF) will be hosting the Farm Earnings Explorer Webinar on March 10th at 11:00 a.m. CST. Discover how state-level farm income data can shed light on key trends in agricultural economics. This interactive dashboard is a must-see for anyone interested in understanding the dynamics of farm earnings across multiple states. To view the dashboard before the webinar: https://mizzou.us/fee

Want to learn more about the debt repayment of U.S. crop farm businesses? Farm businesses account for nearly half of U.S. farms and produce over 90% of the nation's agricultural production value. With high input costs and fluctuating commodity prices, understanding their ability to repay debt is crucial for financial stability. This policy brief delves into the debt repayment capacity of U.S. crop farms specializing in corn, wheat, and soybean production. To read the full report, visit: https://lnkd.in/gbSM8mSa

We’re just 15 days away from the Farm Earnings Explorer Webinar! This session will walk you through how this interactive dashboard can provide valuable insights into state-level farm income data. 👉 Explore the dashboard before the webinar: https://mizzou.us/fee For FAQ's, visit: https://lnkd.in/gEXgP_T7