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.
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Payment totals alone do not show financial stress — production costs and net losses complete the picture.
Year-round E15 remains on the table, but procedural caution and competing regional interests pushed action into a slower, negotiated path.