US Department of Agriculture

The federal funding for farmers has been terminated under President Donald Trump’s administration. Family farmers in the Metro East now face abrupt uncertainty about how to fund plans they made for their growing businesses.

Avian flu has been found in 13 of Missouri's commercial poultry producers and egg farm flocks in the last month. Close to 400,000 birds in commercial flocks have been affected in the state.

Missouri's 2025 state budget includes less than a third of the federal funding the state received for Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program grants. More than a dozen producers with selected projects are without funding for now.

Crop prices have returned to more normal levels this year — down from record highs. As farmers expect less income this year, that's likely to send ripples through the larger agricultural economy.

Four months after the first reported cases of bird flu in dairy cows, the price of milk and demand for it have largely remained unchanged. Industry experts say whether that remains the case will depend on how far and how quickly cases spread.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — the food program for low-income individuals — has become one of the hottest topics in farm bill negotiations, as congressional Republicans seek more changes.

Small nonfarm companies in the St. Louis region that have lost agricultural business due to the recent drought can apply for low-interest federal loans. The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering 30-year max economic injury loans at a 4% interest rate for businesses and 3.25% for nonprofits.

The annual markets outlook from the Food & Agricultural Policy Research Institute anticipates declining farm income, higher costs for producers.

The agriculture department’s annual projections show a slowing economy and lower crop prices for the upcoming year. The USDA also looks ahead to the next decade, showing rising crop yields but a competitive job market.

A U.S. Department of Agriculture report found “socially disadvantaged producers,” especially Black farmers, operate at a higher risk level compared to their white counterparts and are less likely to receive government payments.