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Indebtedness, Credit Sources, and Loan Burden of Farmers: A Study in Bikaner District of Rajasthan, India
No full textThis empirical study examines the indebtedness patterns and credit utilization behaviour of farmers in Bikaner district, Rajasthan through a multi-stage random sampling of 90 cultivators during 2017-18. Results reveal that 67.8% of rural households are indebted, with institutional sources dominating credit supply at 74.84%, primarily through commercial banks (92.23%), while non-institutional lenders account for 25.16% of total borrowing. The analysis demonstrates significant farm-size disparities in debt burden, with per farmer indebtedness escalating from ₹232.57 thousand for small farmers (15 ha). Productive loans constitute 76.47% of total credit, with tubewell construction commanding the largest share (38.26%) reflecting irrigation imperatives in this arid region, followed by land development (27.69%) and farm machinery (17.37%). Non-productive borrowing (23.53%) is concentrated in healthcare (33.65%), house construction (31.61%), and marriage expenses (24.62%), with smaller farmers disproportionately dependent on such credit for survival needs. The findings underscore the vulnerability of marginal farmers to debt traps due to higher reliance on expensive informal credit and consumption-oriented borrowing, highlighting urgent policy needs for enhanced institutional credit access, financial literacy, and productive investment promotion in Rajasthan's desert agriculture
The Novel Impact Monitoring of Germany’s Nitrates Directive Action Program – From Concept to Implementation
No full textIn 2018, Germany was found guilty by the European Court of Justice for insufficient implementation of the European Nitrates Directive and assured to implement a monitoring framework. Since then, a nationwide impact monitoring system has been developed to assess effectiveness of mitigation measures, analyze nitrate pollution trends, and provide early warnings for regulatory adjustments. The monitoring combines three levels: agricultural emissions, immissions to waters, and nutrient flux modeling combined with field measurements. Data from around 7,500 groundwater stations and farm records are analyzed alongside model-based estimates to assess trends in fertilization and water pollution. First results indicate a recent decline in fertilization intensity in many regions, yet rarely significant water quality improvements. Model validation with empirical data on fertilizer expenses from German Farm Accountancy Data Network shows high accuracy. Future enhancements, including expanded data access and optimized methodologies, will strengthen regulatory assessments and support targeted mitigation measures for EU compliance
Changes in Farm Production and Efficiency (Annual Summary)
No full textContents: Highlights of changes --- Farm production --- Acreages of harvested crops used for specified purposes --- Cropland used and crop production per acre --- Use of fertilizer and lime in the United States --- Animal units of breeding livestock and livestock production per breeding unit --- Man-hours of farm work and labor productivity --- Number of farm machines --- Persons supported by production of one farm worker
Women's empowerment and nutrition: Evidence from rural households in Africa and Asia
No full textWomen play key roles in food systems, yet continue to face persistent disadvantages in terms of low decision-making power and limited access to goods, services, and markets. Discrimination against women is often deeply ingrained in social norms, policies, and institutions. Widely observed gender gaps are not only unfair; they also undermine broader sustainability objectives. Extensive evidence shows that women's empowerment contributes to productivity, efficiency, and broader social welfare gains. We review and synthesize the literature on links between women's empowerment and nutrition, focusing on rural households in Africa and Asia. We analyze advances in the measurement of women's empowerment, discuss strengths and limitations of existing metrics, and summarize the broad empirical evidence showing that women's empowerment is positively associated with dietary quality and nutrition. Further, we develop a conceptual framework, highlighting key mechanisms of the empowerment-nutrition relationship, including women's bargaining power, control over income, and time allocation. Using this framework and examples from different countries, we show that development initiatives, such as promoting agricultural commercialization and women's off-farm employment, can involve tradeoffs, sometimes resulting in undesirable empowerment and/or nutrition outcomes. Such tradeoffs need to be properly understood and addressed through gender-transformative policies. We conclude by discussing policy and research implications
Disaster Management in Sri Lanka: A Case Study of Administrative Failures
No full textThis briefing note documents the findings of an investigation carried out by Verité Research on the administrative gaps within Sri Lanka’s disaster management framework. The investigation was conducted using the instrument of Right to Information (RTI). The study specifically looked into the functions of the National Council for Disaster Management (NCDM), which is the apex body responsible for disaster management in Sri Lanka. The investigation found two key administrative failures in the NCDM: 1) It did not convene to make decisions as required; and 2) It neglected its critical responsibilities. The lessons from this case study suggest that these types of administrative failures are not unique to disaster management but might be a systematic feature of the current public sector
Use of Feeder Cattle Livestock Risk Protection Insurance in Kansas
No full textThis white paper examines participation in the Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) Feeder Cattle insurance program in Kansas using the USDA Risk Management Agency Summary of Business data. The analysis describes patterns of LRP use over time, focusing on insured head, endorsement size, endorsement length, coverage level selections, premium subsidy allocations, and geographic distribution within the state. Results show that LRP-Feeder Cattle participation in Kansas has increased in recent years, with insured exposure concentrated among beef steers and heifers in the 600-1,000 pound weight range, and endorsements written at high coverage levels. While most endorsements insure relatively small numbers of animals and shorter coverage horizons, larger endorsements account for a substantial share of total insured head and premium subsidies. Using data on the Kansas calf crop and cattle inventories, the analysis presents approximate estimates of LRP market share, suggesting that LRP coverage represented a larger share of eligible feeder cattle in 2025 than in 2024
Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry (CSAF) Mitigation Activities List for FY2025
No full textIncludes: Additional Planner Guidance for FY25 Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry (CSAF) Mitigation Activities with Specified Implementations -- This document provides a conservation planner with additional guidance to plan, design, and implement the identified CSAF Mitigation Activities with specific implementations to meet the intended goal of providing mitigation benefits
Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities
No full textThere is a strong and growing interest among American consumers for climate-smart products. USDA has invested $3.03 billion dollars in 135 pilot projects nationwide to connect customers to farmers, ranchers, and private landowners implementing climate-smart production practices on working lands to build soil health, sequester carbon & enhance productivity. By providing producers with the tools they need to combat the challenges of climate change and building market opportunities for the resulting commodities, USDA is positioning American agriculture as a global leader in delivering voluntary, incentives-driven, market-based climate solutions. This report provides an overview of Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities’ progress
A Summary of OBBB Tax Provisions Affecting Midwestern Farmers
No full textThe One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB), signed in July 2025, reshapes the farm tax landscape primarily by preventing the scheduled 2026 sunset of major 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act provisions and by adding targeted new benefits for producers. This post summarizes the law’s effects across three practical domains for Midwestern farm operations. First, it locks in lower individual income tax rates and the higher standard deduction, avoiding an automatic tax increase for most farm families, while also strengthening and permanently extending the Child Tax Credit and adding a temporary senior deduction for 2025–28. Second, it improves farm business investment incentives by making the 20% qualified business income deduction permanent, restoring 100% bonus depreciation, and expanding Section 179 expensing, alongside other provisions that affect interest limits, SALT, and clean fuel incentives. Third, it supports intergenerational succession by permanently increasing the estate and gift tax exemption to $15 million per person (indexed) and preserving stepped-up basis, helping most family farms transfer assets without federal estate tax exposure
Factors Affecting U.S. Mushroom Consumption
No full textU.S. mushroom consumption has been increasing over the past several decades. Basic knowledge of the distribution of mushroom consumption across different market channels, geographic regions, and population groups has been very limited in the past. Using data from USDA's 1994-96 and 1998 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals, this article examines the consumption distribution of fresh-market and processed mushrooms in the United States. The analysis indicates that per capita mushroom consumption is greatest in the West and Midwest. A little more than half of fresh-market mushrooms are purchased at retail and consumed at home, while three-fourths of processed mushrooms are consumed at home. Per capita mushroom use is highest among men and women aged 20-39, and lowest for children under the age of 12