Sara Schafer

Sara (Muri) Schafer, editor of Top Producer magazine, grew up on a family farm where they raised hogs and cattle, along with soybeans, corn, wheat, milo and hay. Since joining Farm Journal Media in 2008, she has covered a broad range of topics pivotal to the success of U.S. farmers. In addition to being an award-winning journalist, she has played several key roles with the transformative relaunch of AgWeb.com and spearheaded the Farm Journal Legacy Project expansion. Sara graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a degree in agricultural journalism and a minor in agricultural economics. She resides in Columbia, Mo., with her husband and daughter.

Latest Stories
Trouble continues in the rural economy. Rural bankers point to the issues causing uncertainty ahead.
Last year, farmers who bought nitrogen fertilizer early received lower prices. Will the same pattern play out this year?
Harvest still a few months away, but could the harvest price lows already be in? Jerry Gulke, president of Gulke Group, provides his take.
Fertilizer prices have softened from the record highs seen earlier this year. Are you ready to buy? Take our poll!
How can you reward team members for good work, increase employee retention and achieve your operation’s goals? Consider implementing an incentive pay system to reward your farm employees.
The Top Producer of the Year Award recognizes producers who demonstrate excellence in the business of farming, including marketing, farm finance, family and employee relations, technology and environmental stewardship.
Will it rain or not? That’s the key question for this weekend. Jerry Gulke weighs in on what’s in store with this volatile weather market.
Be ready for a big profit swing for 2023 — to the downside. The 2023 Illinois Crop Budgets released by the University of Illinois show a clear trend of higher costs and lower returns.
The grain markets sparked back to life this week. Could the trend continue for corn and soybean prices? Jerry Gulke provides his take.
The U.S. corn crop is consistently declining in condition. Currently 57% of the crop has a good or excellent rating, which ties with 2019 for the week’s worst corn condition rating since 2012.