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Nebraska ag economist looks forward to USDA’s Ag Outlook Forum
Among those attending USDA’s Ag Outlook Forum, which gets underway Thursday morning in Arlington, Virginia, will be University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension ag policy specialist Brad Lubben.
Lubben says he looks forward to hearing more about the issues facing ag producers in 2020.
“It’s certainly an interesting time, trying to decipher the outlook ahead for agriculture from a farm income perspective and a market perspective—and throw in all the uncertainties of trade and weather and everything else,” Lubben says.
A big question is whether there could be another round of MFP payments in 2020. Lubben says that likely depends on how quickly trade agreements start to show results.
“Even if we’re heading in the right direction with trade, can we get there fast enough in terms of actual results such that producers can see cash flow from the market instead of cash flow from the government,” he says. “Look for pressure for additional payments if conditions don’t improve markedly.”
The Ag Outlook Forum runs Thursday and Friday.
AUDIO: Brad Lubben