Get an update on RR Virtual Fence via the RightRisk Newsrelease at: RightRisk.org/news.

NEW RIGHTRISK RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE to help livestock producers and their advisors think through VIRTUAL FENCE DECISIONS, consider how it might fit a particular management problem, and better understand the risks involved.
   The new Virtual Fence decision-support resources are designed to start with the operation and the management problem—not the technology. They help users compare the status quo and other realistic alternatives, identify important sources of risk, and determine when a decision can be addressed with a simple screening process or when deeper analysis may be useful …

Get an update on the agricultural sector by the Federal Reserve in the RightRisk Newsrelease at: RightRisk.org/news.

ECONOMIC ACTIVITY INCREASED MODESTLY since early July. Ten of the twelve Federal Reserve Districts reported growth in the slight to moderate range; two Districts reported no change. Consumer spending grew slightly on balance; reports reflected both heightened price sensitivity on the one hand and solid high-end purchases on the other. Agriculture conditions saw slight improvement but generally remained strained; the livestock sector was strong while conditions were stressed among crop producers. The general outlook for the coming months was positive, but sentiment was mixed across sectors, with contacts reporting heightened uncertainty surrounding the effects of higher energy prices, policy, and international conflict …

Review the Ag Finance Update highlighted in the RightRisk Newsrelease by clicking the image or at: RightRisk.org/news.

   THE IDEA OF A SINGLE national farm economy does not describe 2026 very well. Agricultural credit conditions increasingly reflect two sharply different realities operating side by side: strong cattle returns and a persistent crop-margin squeeze …

Get an update on the agricultural sector by the Federal Reserve in the RightRisk Newsrelease at: RightRisk.org/news.

ECONOMIC ACTIVITY increased at a slight to moderate pace in eleven of twelve Federal Reserve Districts in late May and June, while one District reported no change. The pace of growth was quite close to that of last period, when activity expanded in ten Districts, was flat in one, and down in one. Consumer spending edged up as higher prices, particularly for fuel, dampened sales in other categories. Several Districts noted declines in spending on discretionary items or trading down to more affordable varieties. Tourism was up, with some Districts receiving a boost from World Cup visitors. Auto dealers reported little change in sales, but spending on repairs grew as consumers held onto vehicles for longer. Agricultural conditions deteriorated due to lower commodity prices, higher input costs, and tighter credit …

Review the Ag Finance Update highlighted in the RightRisk Newsrelease by clicking the image or at: RightRisk.org/news.

   A RECENT Agricultural Finance Update from the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City brings good news with a catch. Farm loan growth stayed strong in the first quarter of 2026, but it was not spread evenly. The difference came down to the type of lender …

Ag Labor Updates are compiled from Bureau of Labor Statistics data into various reports at: RightRisk.org/news > Ag Labor Update.

CLICK here to access the Update

The BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS compiles data on the number of establishments, monthly employment, and quarterly wages. Reports for NAICS agricultural sector codes have recently been compiled and released, providing county-level data for Colorado-Q4, Nebraska-Q4, and Wyoming-Q4 . . .

* BLS – U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Get an update on the agricultural sector by the Federal Reserve in the RightRisk Newsrelease at: RightRisk.org/news.

ECONOMIC ACTIVITY increased at a slight to moderate pace for ten of the twelve Federal Reserve Districts, while one District reported a slight decline and one reported no change. Consumer spending remained mixed across Districts and increasingly bifurcated across income groups amid affordability pressures. Agriculture conditions were unchanged or declined for most of the Districts, with cost pressures intensifying from fuel and fertilizer spikes.
More broadly, business outlooks for the next six months were reported to have little change in anticipated growth, as elevated uncertainty and signs of weakening consumer spending weighed on sentiment …

Get an update on the agricultural sector by the Federal Reserve in the RightRisk Newsrelease at: RightRisk.org/news.

RIGHTRISK IS HANDING farmers and ranchers the keys to a better-managed business with the announcement of its robust Risk Controls resource directory, now available at RightRisk.org/controls. Unlike standard educational pages, this directory serves as a curated information filing cabinet, providing direct, real-time links to the data streams producers need to make informed decisions every day …

Review the Ag Finance Update highlighted in the RightRisk Newsrelease by clicking the image or at: RightRisk.org/news.

   IF YOU SAT in a sale barn last week, then walked into the banker’s office the same afternoon, you might think you live in two different farm economies. On the one hand, cattle are bringing record prices and many ranchers are in a stronger position. On the other, a row-crop producer is staring at fertilizer quotes that keep changing and asking whether next year’s operating note will pencil out. Both of these stories are true at the same time …

Get an update on the agricultural sector by the Federal Reserve in the RightRisk Newsrelease at: RightRisk.org/news.

OVERALL ECONOMIC activity increased at a slight to modest pace in eight of the twelve Federal Reserve Districts, while two Districts reported little change and two Districts reported slight to modest declines. The conflict in the Middle East was cited as a major source of uncertainty that complicated decision-making around hiring, pricing, and capital investment, with many firms adopting a wait-and-see posture. Manufacturing activity rose slightly to moderately in most Districts. Banking sector activity was generally steady with loan demand stable to up moderately. On balance, consumer spending increased slightly despite harsh winter weather in some regions and higher fuel prices …