Irrespective of COVID-19 impacts, Kentucky ag receipts keep to 2019 ranges – The Advocate-Messenger

By Katie Pratt
College of Kentucky

The COVID-19 pandemic designed for a tumultuous calendar year in Kentucky agriculture, but the state’s agricultural receipts will very likely keep continual to 2019 amounts.

Agricultural economists from the College of Kentucky Faculty of Agriculture, Meals and Environment are projecting 2020 farm cash receipts to be $5.5 billion, equaling 2019 receipts. The economists estimate that web farm cash flow will probable exceed the $2.2 billion Kentucky producers earned in 2019.

“Like most enterprises, agriculture has seasoned a nuts and difficult 12 months, but unlike a ton of industries, the farm economy not only survived, but is ending 2020 on a optimistic take note,” mentioned Will Snell, Uk agricultural economist.

Snell and fellow British isles agricultural economists Kenny Burdine, Greg Halich and Tim Woods, Jerry Pierce from the Kentucky Farm Company Management Method, and Bobby Ammerman from UK’s Section of Forestry and Purely natural Methods shared their annual outlook with Kentucky Farm Bureau users.

2020 started with optimism throughout the business thanks to new trade deals, continued lower manufacturing costs and enhanced provide/need balances. But the coronavirus significantly impacted the industry and the agricultural marketplaces. Whilst marketplaces at first plummeted at the pandemic’s onset, some sectors recovered.

In Kentucky, bigger grain price ranges, induced largely by an maximize in exports, and crop yields close to all-time highs served offset reduce equine, poultry, cattle, dairy and tobacco receipts.

“The increase in grain costs alongside with superb yields could enable make 2020 the most successful year for grain producers given that 2013,” Halich reported.

“The impacts of COVID on the livestock sector were substantial, as labor worries developed a substantial processing bottleneck in the spring and the promoting technique experienced to change to a major shift away from restaurant use and towards at-dwelling use,” Burdine stated.

A sizeable addition to Kentucky’s improved farm revenue is two rounds of federal government payments producers received by way of the Coronavirus Food Help Program and the previous payments from the 2019 Sector Facilitation Program. Accounting for these and other federal packages, Kentucky farmers could acquire near to $500 million in direct governing administration payments in 2020.

Nationally, direct authorities payments might account for approximately 40 p.c of the country’s internet farm income. The U.S. Department of Agriculture forecasts internet farm cash flow will be $119.6 billion, up 43 % from 2019.

“Despite an envisioned improve in net farm income and prospective for improved commodity prices in 2021, the nationwide and Kentucky farm economies continue to be incredibly vulnerable, in particular if the ag sector activities substantial crops, added trade disruptions, a major pullback in direct authorities payments, bigger curiosity premiums, and/or a decline in asset values,” Snell mentioned.

Poultry stays Kentucky’s prime agricultural commodity, comprising 19 % of all projected sales for the 12 months. Corn and soybeans tied for next, every accounting for 17 p.c of all projected product sales. Equine fell to fourth, with 16 % of all projected revenue.

Highlights from chosen commodities are:
• Poultry — Marketplaces were being adversely impacted by COVID-19 with wholesale broiler costs down 20 % in 2020. When most poultry growers ended up not instantly impacted by broiler prices, a lot of had been indirectly impacted by improved time in between flocks. Nonetheless, the field remains somewhat steady, and 2021 is probably to be considerably improved.
• Corn — Exports are envisioned to see a substantial maximize during the 2020-2021 internet marketing year, which could press on-farm costs up to $4 a bushel.
• Soybeans — Exports are predicted to raise 14 per cent previously mentioned the 5-12 months common. This ought to drive on-farm rates to $10.40 a bushel.
• Equine — Following surpassing $1 billion in 2018 and 2019, receipts are expected to fall noticeably in 2020 specified a sharp profits decline. A further minimize is likely for 2021 as equally stud fees and the number of mares bred should minimize.
• Cattle — COVID-19 impacts on desire and provide chain disruptions rocked the markets, particularly in the spring and summer season. Assuming COVID-19 impacts reduce in 2021, desire really should improve. The demand improve and a lesser calf crop really should enhance rates up coming year.
• Hemp — Manufacturing dropped appreciably from 2019 record highs. Licensed acreage was down by approximately half from 2019. Small price tag expectations, unsold stocks, nominal infrastructure enhancement and market place and regulatory uncertainties will retain acreage down in 2021.
• Tobacco — The sector continued to shrink with acreage down 10 percent to 15 % and variable yields described. In spite of larger costs, receipts are predicted to drop $30 million to $40 million from 2019.
• Generate and Nursery — Even though early for a 2020 estimate, overall make and nursery receipts are expected to access $160 million, which is a point out file. CSA’s, agritourism, develop auctions and back garden heart nursery income are envisioned to be up appreciably.
• Forestry — The sector contributed $12.9 billion to Kentucky’s financial system in 2020 with timber and lumber price ranges enhancing from 2018-2019 amounts. United kingdom foresters count on this contribution to continue to be continual with stumpage values continuing to increase. Likely into 2021, issues exist for logging capacity, the lengthy-term wellbeing of small sawmills and the deficiency of marketplaces for minimal-grade pulpwood in Kentucky.