California wolf fund depleted, NASS data shows 2% decline in cattle
I’m Bob Larson, bringing you the latest in agribusiness from the Ag Information Network.
**California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced funding less than a year after the state fully implemented a pilot program to compensate ranchers for livestock losses and other economic impacts caused by wolves. states that it has been depleted.
Ranchers argue that the $3 million allocated to the program will not pay for the increased economic damage caused by the presence of wolves, which are protected under state and federal Endangered Species Acts. ing.
** USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service released a cattle report showing a 2% decline in U.S. cattle inventories.
As of January 1, there were 87.2 million cows and calves on U.S. farms, according to the report.
Of these, calving cows and heifers totaled 37.6 million.
The U.S. beef cattle population was 28.2 million head, also down 2%.
The number of dairy cows decreased slightly to 9.36 million head.
**A new Farm Journal poll of agricultural economists found that a majority expect falling commodity prices and the prospect of rising costs to weigh on the agriculture industry in 2024.
Agricultural economists’ price forecasts for all crops and livestock declined compared to the December survey.
The January survey also found that economists’ views on net farm income have changed, with the survey average dropping to $135 billion in 2024.
