About 580 farmers filed for chapter 12 bankruptcy protection in the 12-month period ended June 30, according to federal data. That was 8 percent more than a year earlier, though bankruptcies slowed slightly in the first half of 2020 partly because of an infusion of federal aid and hurdles to filing during the pandemic, according to agricultural economists and attorneys.

The pandemic has pressured prices for many commodities, squeezing farmers who raise crops and livestock, and prolonging a six-year downturn in the Farm Belt.

The Trump administration is expected to dole out a record $33 billion in payments to farmers this year, according to the University of Missouri’s Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute. The funds, including those intended to help farmers hurt by trade conflicts and the coronavirus, would push government payments to 36 percent of farm income, the highest share in nearly two decades, the institute said.

“Agricultural markets have been horrible, and the pandemic exacerbated it, big time,”

said Paul Swanson, an Oshkosh, Wis.-based attorney. He said he has 40 open farm-bankruptcy cases, about a third more than last year.

Swanson said some clients who received federal coronavirus aid still wound up in bankruptcy.

“The cash came in, the cash came out,”

he said.

Before the pandemic, a global grain glut and foreign competition had pushed down agricultural prices. Trade disputes deepened the pain, drawing retaliatory tariffs from top buyers of U.S. farm commodities, such as China and Mexico.

Then the coronavirus hit, upending the U.S. food-supply chain. As restaurants closed, farmers plowed under thousands of acres of vegetables and dumped milk into manure lagoons. Corn prices plummeted as Americans stopped driving, cutting demand for ethanol. Prices for slaughter-ready cattle and hogs dropped as meatpacking plants that became virus hot spots slowed or halted production.

Hog farmers have lost nearly $5 billion in actual and potential profits for 2020, according to the National Pork Producers Council, a trade group. In California, agricultural businesses stand to lose as much as $8.6 billion, according to a study commissioned by the California Farm Bureau Federation.

Trade aid and coronavirus-relief payments are due to end this year. Agricultural economists say more farms could fold next year without additional support. Slow purchases from China and the pandemic’s persistence continue to weigh on demand for agricultural products.

If more aid isn’t extended, farm income is expected to fall 12 percent to $79.4 billion in 2021, according to the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute. Government payments would drop by half to less than $17 billion.

Congress is debating further financial support for farmers, and USDA could offer more aid from the $14 billion earmarked earlier this year to replenish the Commodity Credit Corp., a funding mechanism for agriculture.

Source: Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association

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Rice has been director of projects and grants for Congressman John Shimkus (R-Ill.), who is not seeking re-election. This recent role is part of an extensive career in politics that gave Rice opportunities to get to know people and issues in manufacturing, agriculture, and the rural Midwest.

Executive Vice President Vernon Schmidt said:

“He brings a unique understanding of the industry and a deep appreciation for the companies this Association represents. He is a relationship builder with ideas on how to make our Association more indispensable to members.”

Source: Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association

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WCCO Belting’s patent-pending enhancement for draper belting is an angled cleat technology manufactured with the company’s RAPTOR belt construction, the gold standard in harvesting applications for small grains and edible beans.  For combine harvest headers (draper platforms), swathers, and mergers, the cleat extension is designed to increase efficiency and output while reducing downtime from material buildup under the belt.  The angled cleat directs crop to the center of the draper belt and into the feeder house, successfully pulling material away from the cutter bar. In addition, an angled connection method creates a smooth, quiet transition of the draper belt on the roller.

The design of its patent-pending belt for belted chain assemblies improves process efficiency for assembly manufacturers and redefine performance for original equipment manufacturers and growers in root vegetable harvesting applications including potatoes, sugar beets, carrots, onions, and more.  The belt can accommodate any pitch requirement and is engineered with a simple hardware concept for easy assembly and disassembly.  The construction of WCCO Belting’s belt for belted chain is a strong, yet flexible design that supports the belt’s ability to move around the rollers for less pressure on the splice.  Low elongation in the fabric design reduces slippage and promotes steady tension during operation.  In addition, sealed edges prevent moisture wicking into the belt carcass, which eliminates delamination.

“We are excited to announce these products at Agritechnica, a fair that celebrates the future of agricultural technology,” said Jean Voorhees, Vice President of Business Development at WCCO Belting. “As a company dedicated to value innovation, we are proud to see our latest solutions help move agricultural equipment – and the entire industry – forward.”

Source: WCCO

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