As COVID cases and its complications continue, the U.S. economy continues to thrive, according to a new quarterly report from CoBank's Knowledge Exchange. Workers are steadily returning to the labor force and consumers are still spending confidently.

For 2022, the Purdue Agricultural Economics Report released on Jan. 13 cited inflation and COVID-19 uncertainty as key issues impacting food prices, general economy performance, farm costs and returns, farm financials and household economics.

Iowa State Agricultural Economist Bobby Martens has been researching U.S. ag supply chains for over 16 years. He will share his perspectives on supply chain management at the Farm Futures Business Summit and Ag Finance Boot Camp Jan. 19-21 in Iowa City, Iowa.

The Sandhills EVI for the farm equipment market, which includes 100-horsepower and greater tractors and combines, notched 15.5% year-over-higher auction values and 9.2% (or $15,000) year-over-year higher asking values in December.

Berlon Industries, of Hustisford, Wis., has acquired Lowe Manufacturing, a Viola, Wis.-based supplier of auger, trenching and grapple attachments that complement Berlon’s line of buckets and attachments for skid steers and other machines. The deal closed January 4, 2022.