The American Farmer is on the Mend (Micro News for February 22, 2020 – February 28, 2020)

US farmers may have weathered the worst of the trade war between the US and China. Tractor and equipment manufacturer Deere reported net income that exceeded analysts’ expectations and Deere is considered a good bellwether for agriculture. When farmers are doing well Deere sells more equipment. When farmers are struggling Deere sales fall.

The Price of Wine is Dropping Fast (Micro News for February 15, 2020 – February 21, 2020)

Wine prices are expected to hit their lowest level in five years due to a surplus of grapes and declining demand for wine. One expert, Rob McMillan, posted that US wine drinkers will see the “best wine retail values in 20 years.”

Trump’s Push to Save Coal is Failing. Coal Demand to Plunge to 42-Year Low (Micro News for October 12, 2019 – October 18, 2019)

The coal industry is dying due to the glut of cheaper alternatives such as natural gas and “increasingly affordable renewable energy.” Government forecasts indicate that coal consumption by U.S. power plants will fall to a 42-year low in 2020. Coal demand is falling even in the face of reduced environmental regulations enacted by the Trump administration. Next year’s coal consumption will mark a 27% decline just four years.

Beyond Meat’s CEO Says Fake Meat is Good for Farmers. The Reality is Complicated (Micro News for October 5, 2019 – October 11, 2019)

Beyond Meat CEO Ethan Brown believes his firm’s product will help American Farmers. He made the comments in response to criticism that his firm’s plant-based meat substitutes are hurting farmers. Beyond Meat’s products, primarily pea-protein, use less land to generate the equivalent protein than it takes to raise cattle. Brown contends that if farmers switch from cattle to plants they will “have more land to use at their discretion.”