“People sometimes refer to farmland as an investment in gold, plus a coupon,” Bruce Sherrick says. “You get a fairly low annual cash flow, fairly high long-term rates of return and tax advantages to the asset classes.”
Waters of the U.S. rules have evolved many times in the past 50 years. EPA announced another round of changes on Tuesday, following a May Supreme Court ruling that required EPA to revise the definition.
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln kickstarted the Know Your Well Project in 2022 to teach the next generation how to test well water. The EPA took notice and looks to double the program's reach.
USDA on Thursday lowered expectations for both ag exports and imports in FY 2023. The export decline is linked to corn and wheat, while the import decline is correlated with easing prices.
Nebraska, Minnesota and Iowa corn projections fall below USDA's August estimates. Soybeans are on par in all scouted states, including Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and South Dakota.
Lack of moisture and high-heat days have Iowa locals concerned about cannibalized stalks, while Illinois considers impacts of wildfire smoke and overnight temps.
Titan’s program, Diesel Camp, hosted 9th and 10th grade high school students at four community and technical colleges in Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota to foster interest in diesel mechanics.
As scouts made their way through eastern Nebraska, the state’s extreme-to-exceptional drought conditions (15%) were obvious in corn. Scouts on the eastern leg saw more of a mixed bag for corn, including disease.
This time last year, more than 36% of South Dakota was covered in drought. This year, that number dropped to 14%. Dry conditions did improve in the east, but some fear early season dryness could play out in coming weeks.
Brad Nelson and Tim Gregerson farm on opposing legs of the 2023 ProFarmer Crop Tour. They share a field preview with AgriTalk Host Chip Flory, and their crop conditions couldn’t be farther from the same.
“Mexico’s decree, which runs counter to scientific findings and is in direct violation of USMCA, is negatively impacting American corn growers,” said Tom Haag, NCGA president.
“These tax credits, which encourage the use of more eco-friendly fuels, could make or break the prospects of corn ethanol as a sustainable aviation fuel," says Jim Wiesemeyer, ProFarmer policy analyst.
“There’s no question of the law, science or anything. They’re simply not doing their job,” says Monte Shaw, Iowa Renewable Fuels Association executive director.
Austin Kings, rural crimes investigator for Missouri Highway Patrol, takes a look at how a criminal might view your farm and home—what they see that producers don’t, and how producers can prevent becoming a target.
Ray Starling, general counsel at the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce, details what the recent rulings mean for growers and the ag industry as a whole.
Renewable diesel consumption in the U.S. hit 28 million barrels in 2021, according to the Energy Information Administration. California burned up 99% of that consumption rate.
“Producers looking to adopt precision ag technologies need network connectivity that extends far past their residences. They need to be able to make real-time decisions that increase yields," says Sen. Fischer (R-Neb.).
Roughly 37.6 million acres of U.S. ag land is foreign owned, according to USDA. However, select purchases of U.S. land could come to an end following a Senate vote this week.
Roughly 1.4 million metric tons of herbicide was applied globally in 2020. EPA looks to reduce the U.S.’s contribution to global herbicide numbers via a new regulation proposed on Monday.
“Most farms don’t have the time, capabilities, perspectives, resources or desire to do all the tasks it takes to run an operation," says Steve Kluemper, AgriStrategies LLC founder. "A lot of growers hire to fill gaps."
CLAAS introduced its latest tractor lines: the XERION 12.650 and 12.590, the ARION 660, 650 and 630, as well as row-crop friendly options on the AXION 960 TT and 930 TT on Tuesday.
"Nearly two decades of data prove that the supposed ‘cost’ to refiners is an accounting fiction, and EPA’s decision reflects those facts,” said Emily Skor, Growth Energy CEO.
The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) introduced an act to prevent foreign adversaries from exploiting U.S. land near security sites, and would push a review of current ownership in these areas.
USDA looks to improve the future measure, monitoring, reporting and verification of ag climate emissions via a $300 million investment announced on Wednesday.
According to Columbia University, 90% of the world’s mined phosphate is used as fertilizer in ag. Morocco supplies 34% of the world’s traded phosphate rock, but this dynamic could change with Norge Mining’s discovery.
“This is the earliest we’ve reported tar spot in Iowa,” says Robertson, Iowa State professor of plant pathology. She says the early detection could be due to the Tarspotter app. Here's how it works.
The Committee on Ag is looking to solve workforce issues with the formation of the Ag Labor Working Group. "Reforms are desperately needed to address this pressing issue," said Co-Chair Rick Crawford (R-Ar.).
EPA released biofuel blending obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard on Tuesday. While EPA says the decision will reduce reliance on oil imports, some biofuel industry leaders do not approve.
According to USDA, Russian-speaking hackers are the likely suspects. The Office of Personnel Management and two organizations within the Department of Energy also were apparently targeted or breached.
Mexico reached an agreement with food manufacturers to use only non-GMO corn in tortilla production across the country. The government says it plans to implement new import tariffs on white corn imports.
The White House set a goal of producing 3 billion gal. of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by 2030. Senators say outdated climate data is keeping producers from reaching the finish line, but a new bill could change that.
The 2023 crop is in the ground and growing steady, just like ag’s financial risks this year, according to Alan Rosendahl, farmer and senior vice president at Iowa State Bank in Kesley, Iowa.
National enrollment in ag and related science majors at two-year institutions grew 41% in Fall 2021. The Community College Ag Advancement Act aims to give these students more industry opportunities.
“We fundamentally disagree with the position Mexico has taken on the issue of biotechnology, which has been proven to be safe for decades,” said Tom Vilsack, USDA secretary.
Nestled in an old barn sat 8,000 mason jars filled with soil dating back to 1862. Now the plan is to revisit the 450 sampling locations spanning 21 million crop acres for insights into soil fertility and conservation.
Ron Rabou spent the first 26 years of his life expecting to return to his family ranch. When his dad passed and it came time to transition the farm, negotiations weren’t as easy as he imagined. Here's what he learned.
More than 50% of farmers intend to grow their operation, based on responses in Purdue’s February 2023 Ag Economy Barometer.
If you’re thinking about scaling your farm, it’s important to first ask these questions.
"EPA is using decade-old analysis to measure the carbon intensity of ethanol, despite the Department of Energy’s updated data,” says Chris Bliley of Growth Energy. “This bill will ensure we capture the accuracy."
Automakers, including Ford, recently announced they are planning to remove AM radio from their lineups. Joe Gill, National Association of Farm Broadcasters president, says this move poses a threat to public safety.
The Office of Investment Security proposed a rule on Friday that would require foreign entities to garner U.S. government approval before they are able to purchase land within 100 miles of eight military bases.
According to American Farm Bureau Foundation, the 40- to 90-minute courses focus on four themes: Careers, celebrating local food events, pollinators and regenerative ag.
As of May 2022, there were 5,465 satellites orbiting earth, with 3,433 of those under U.S. ownership. NASA and Congress are looking to tap into those U.S. satellites to help producers make more informed crop decisions.
