Economy Barometer

Farmer sentiment changed very little in December. The Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer recorded a reading of 114, just one point lower than a month earlier.

The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas, which represents importers of Mexican tomatoes, recently claimed a study showed tomato prices will rise by an average of 52% if antidumping duties are imposed on imports of Mexican tomatoes.

Winegrape growers in Mendocino and Sonoma counties say proposed water-quality regulations for waste discharge requirements for vineyards are burdensome.

Not much movement in the November Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer with a reading of 102 for the month, unchanged from October. The national average gas price fell 15.8 cents over the last week.

A coalition of ag groups seeks Senate consideration of shipping reforms. Specifically, they hope the Senate considers the House-passed Ocean Shipping Reform Act, or similar legislation.

The pandemic has effected sales at retail nurseries and garden centers. Sales of landscaping plants have slumped, but sales of vegetables, fruit trees have skyrocketed.

The Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service is starting work on two surveys this fall on vegetable’s and farm management resources. For both the Vegetable Chemical Use Survey and the Agricultural Resource Management Survey NASS will collect the data through in-person interviews...