Large brands are gaining share, but inflation, weak rural incomes and early down-trading are testing the strength behind reported volume growth. by Dhananjay Sinha, BasisPointInsight.com

Safra recorde e endividamento bilionário marcam o agro no governo Lula. Veja o impacto do cloreto de potássio e custos em S.C.R.P. SP e Média Sorocaba

County staff said a USDA award (reported as $70,000) will expand a food and farm technical‑assistance program to help farmers with grant readiness, business planning, and market access; staff said the pilot helped farmers win more than $152,000 in grants with a 100% success rate.

The post How rural economic woes imperil GOP majorities appeared first on Brookings.

Bank and hospital representatives presented a proposal for the village to act as conduit issuer for tax-exempt financing to reduce the hospital's borrowing costs; board members agreed to move the proposal to a public hearing after questions about capacity, risk and possible issuer fees.

Several landowners and farmers testified to the Zoning Board of Appeals that lease income from the 4 Creeks Wind Project would provide steady revenue for small school districts and help preserve family farms, while acknowledging limitations and disputed longer-term state-aid effects.

Around 30 participants from Podington attended a meeting at Borough Hall in Bedford to support their popular activity...

Members described a decline in small farms and aging farmers; they recommended regional farm-transition workshops, marketing training and state incentives to support succession and attract new agricultural business.

Georgia Tech and state officials described a pilot plant, funded with an $8.9 million state investment and partnered with Langdale Industries, that would convert woody biomass to charcoal and chemical intermediates for plastics, pharmaceuticals and other products.

A farm loan waiver means the government takes responsibility for repaying eligible agricultural debt owed by farmers to participating lending institutions.

New Brunswick is facing significant backlash from American hunters and anglers, as well as local outfitters, after the province announced it may restrict U.S. residents from obtaining hunting and fishing licenses in response to the ongoing trade war with the United States. The potential policy change, which has sparked 'just plain panic' among industry stakeholders, could have severe economic consequences for rural communities that rely heavily on American tourism. Bradford Burns, a 75-year-old American angler who has fished in New Brunswick for 25 years, expressed disbelief at the prospect of being barred from the province's waters. He has invested over a million dollars in fishing camps along the Miramichi and Cains rivers and considers the activity a central part of his life. Burns, a self-described 'Trump Republican,' compared the province's potential move to President Trump's tactics, suggesting it might be more about gaining attention than serious policy. Larry Adair, owner of Adair's Wilderness Lodge, noted that approximately 30% of his business comes from American clients, with some outfitters relying on U.S. hunters for nearly 100% of their revenue. He warned that restricting access would be 'crippling' for small outfitters, many of whom are still recovering from a similar ban during the pandemic. The province's annual reports show a steady increase in non-resident hunting licenses sold to Americans, with 3,247 moose licenses sold in 2025 compared to 1,954 in 2021. Non-resident licenses cost significantly more than resident ones, with some fees up to seven times higher. Debbie Norton, president of the New Brunswick Professional Outfitter Guide Association, stated that over 90% of business in the hunting and fishing outfitting industry comes from American clients. She emphasized that the industry, while not the largest in the province, has a 'tremendous impact' on rural economies. Norton described the reaction to the potential restrictions as 'panic,' noting that many clients have been visiting for decades, fostering deep personal connections. The New Brunswick government has not provided specific details on how the restrictions would be implemented, but the province's news release indicated it would explore legislative changes to allow the minister of natural resources to restrict licenses based on certain criteria. The announcement came in response to U.S. tariffs, including a 50% tariff on select Canadian goods and a ban on Canadian alcohol imports. While the government stated it would prioritize Canadian goods in procurement, the potential impact on the hunting and fishing industry has raised concerns about unintended economic consequences for rural communities.

The board approved a $250,000 budget amendment (ARPA funds) as Craven County's match for BrightSpeed's Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology grant; BrightSpeed reported the project is 95% complete with 1,863 locations to be served when finished.

The council authorized submission of an initial project assessment to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs for a potential infrastructure grant of up to $2.5 million to support a proposed workforce housing project near Woodlawn; staff said the city would be the grant applicant and negotiate a developer agreement.

The shift points to a more professional sector with larger farms, more hired labor and a widening regional technology gap.

Rural Texans have long been overlooked. All Texans deserve to live in a vibrant economy.

A Humboldt County grower and remote callers urged the board to send a formal letter to the state's Department of Cannabis Control about recent rule changes, saying local farmers were excluded from a state hearing and that prior regulatory choices have hurt the county's cannabis economy.

Commissioner Roberts said ranchers reported lease changes and potential timber revenue loss after a monument expansion around Howard Prairie; he said he will follow up with state contacts and relay information to congressional staff.

Rural places have long built and expanded prisons to tap federal funds during hard times.

Commissioners reported a return to a 75/25 split for ONC timber receipts and approval of an intergovernmental agreement that will let the county pursue a $250,000 grant for forest‑road repairs; they said timber receipts may outpace property tax receipts in coming years.

Rural communities should never be an afterthought. They should be at the heart of economic growth. During my visit to Australia, I was delighted to meet Martha Haylett MP, Victoria's Member for Ripon...