September Squeeze: Farm Bill Uncertainty, Plunging Corn Prices, and Fed Rate Decisions

Compeer's AgEdge team tackles the perfect storm facing agriculture as Congress returns from recess. Ag Economist Megan Roberts joins legislative affairs experts Ben Duncanson and Perry Aasness to break down the critical 30-day window ahead, where funding the federal government, extending the Farm Bill, and potential Fed rate cuts all hang in the balance. With USDA slashing 2024 farm income forecasts by $11.3 billion and corn prices dropping to $3.90 per bushel amid record yields, producers face a brutal cost-price squeeze just as production expenses climb higher. The team explains why the "Skinny Farm Bill" containing crucial farm credit provisions—including increased FSA loan limits and rural community investment authority—may have to wait until appropriations battles are resolved. Learn how the September 16-17 Fed meeting could deliver the first rate cut of 2025, what the unemployment report means for monetary policy, and why additional ad hoc disaster assistance might be necessary before year-end.