2024 held a lot of uncertainty, and this year may not be much different. CoBank economists say the rural economy is in trouble, and the future is still unknown.
They say rural industries are often more exposed to federal policy than other industries. They also point to the November election and say there are a lot of variables with the incoming Administration.
CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange says 2025 is not yet fully defined, but says they are focused on export markets and labor, as they could be major players as the year pushes on.
Related Stories
Strong demand supports sweet potatoes, but grading challenges and rising costs weigh on returns for Southeastern growers.
The Cotton-4 are pushing hard for new value chain investments. Still, many U.S. cotton producers face unsustainable losses, and weakened regional textile capacity threatens the survival of the Carolina “dirt-to-shirt” supply chain.
Cargill’s commitment to keep plants open helps preserve competition as Tyson removes capacity amid historically tight cattle supplies.
