Latest News From Crops

Farmland Values Remain Strong, Expected To Stabilize In 2024
Farmland Values Remain Strong, Expected To Stabilize In 2024

In their January 2024 land values report, Farmers National Company shared that the sharp increase in farmland values has slowed, and values are holding strong.

Next-Gen Spotlight: Matt Adams Created His Niche By Doing Things No One Else Wanted To Do
Next-Gen Spotlight: Matt Adams Created His Niche By Doing Things No One Else Wanted To Do

After years of letting negativity and discouragement hold him back from full-time farming, the first-generation Kentucky farmer decided to take a leap of faith.

Ferrie: Farmer Asks How to Use Red Clover as a Cover to Reduce Nitrogen Rates and Costs
Ferrie: Farmer Asks How to Use Red Clover as a Cover to Reduce Nitrogen Rates and Costs

Red clover can fix nitrogen, suppress weeds and improve crop yields. Based on test plot research in Illinois, a good stand of red clover can provide between 50 and 100 pounds of nitrogen per acre.

Ceres Solutions and Co-Alliance Merge to Form Keystone Cooperative
Ceres Solutions and Co-Alliance Merge to Form Keystone Cooperative

The merger will be effective March 1, 2024.

Plants That Talk: Coming Soon To A Field Near You
Plants That Talk: Coming Soon To A Field Near You

InnerPlant is developing early-stress signaling capabilities in soybeans and corn. The concept is getting serious buy-in from big players in U.S. agriculture.

Soybean Harvest Is Just Now Beginning in Brazil. Here’s What the Crop Looks Like
Soybean Harvest Is Just Now Beginning in Brazil. Here’s What the Crop Looks Like

Soybean prices continued to slide this week on news that a wetter weather pattern is blanketing Brazil. The rains are giving the crops a much-needed drink after battling severe drought conditions at the end of 2023.

Now Is the Time to Pay Attention to the Weather Forecast: Severe Snowstorm Forecasted to Dump Multiple Feet of Snow
Now Is the Time to Pay Attention to the Weather Forecast: Severe Snowstorm Forecasted to Dump Multiple Feet of Snow

Major winter storms are on the way early next week. With the possibility of blizzard conditions to flooding in the southeast, the impact on agriculture could be two-fold: good news for drought but stress to livestock.

Seed Impact Mill Technology Hammers Herbicide-Resistant Weeds
Seed Impact Mill Technology Hammers Herbicide-Resistant Weeds

Harvest weed seed control systems have a hefty price tag, but some farmers and researchers say they are a good investment and provide a ROI, especially where resistant weeds are taking over and control options are few.

Worst-Case Scenario: Why Eric Snodgrass Thinks The Heavy Rainfall In Brazil Could Do More Harm Than Good
Worst-Case Scenario: Why Eric Snodgrass Thinks The Heavy Rainfall In Brazil Could Do More Harm Than Good

Brazil is seeing a sudden shift in weather with heavy rains now forecasted over the next two weeks. While it will bring relief to drought areas, it could cause harvest delays and issues planting the safrinha corn crop. 

The El Niño Effect: Is El Niño to Blame for the Historic Heat and Drought that Gripped the U.S. in 2023?
The El Niño Effect: Is El Niño to Blame for the Historic Heat and Drought that Gripped the U.S. in 2023?

From the intense heat in the South to drought blanketing much of the U.S., weather stole headlines again in 2023. What caused such extreme conditions? One meteorologist explains the culprits of the heat and drought.

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Turning Unprofitable Acres into Money Makers
Turning Unprofitable Acres into Money Makers

Precision data uncovers hidden underperforming areas and unlocks new pathways to generate more revenue. Four easy steps to money makers.

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One New Way to Get More Phosphate in The Plant
One New Way to Get More Phosphate in The Plant

RhizoSorb is being marketed at MAP 2.0

Two Takeaways On Nitrogen Stabilizer Research
Two Takeaways On Nitrogen Stabilizer Research

“Nitrogen is a farmer's biggest investment in corn production, so we need to do everything we can to protect it,” said Dan Quinn, assistant professor of agronomy at Purdue University.

Christmas Tree Farm Helps Families Make Memories
Christmas Tree Farm Helps Families Make Memories

Christmas tree farming is becoming a rarer part of American agriculture, but at Riverview Christmas Tree farm on the Iowa, South Dakota border they’re helping keep the tradition alive.

4 Stories to Learn More About a Vertical Tillage System
4 Stories to Learn More About a Vertical Tillage System

Vertical tillage is not a single tool or a single pass — it's a comprehensive system, says Ken Ferrie. Here’s what you need to understand about a vertical tillage system and the first step of removing horizontal layers.

New Survey Shows Labor is Serious Challenge for Ag Industry
New Survey Shows Labor is Serious Challenge for Ag Industry

The availability of livestock workers was ranked as more limited than crop workers and finding long-term help seen as more difficult than temporary help due to the seasonal nature of the ag industry.

Iconic Holiday Road Trip Stop Returns to Its Georgia Pecan Farm Roots
Iconic Holiday Road Trip Stop Returns to Its Georgia Pecan Farm Roots

A few decades back, stopping at a Stuckey's during a holiday road trip wasn't uncommon. Today the company is eyeing a business comeback by focusing on its farming roots and leveraging quality Georgia pecans.

Ferrie: No-Till Farmer Asks at What Depth to Pull Soil Samples?
Ferrie: No-Till Farmer Asks at What Depth to Pull Soil Samples?

Growers can benefit from evaluating the dispersion of N, P and K and pH levels in no-till fields. Often, there is a drop off in soil fertility levels in no-till soils once below the three-inch mark.

Mexican Rail Crossing Closures Delivering Significant Blow to U.S. Agriculture
Mexican Rail Crossing Closures Delivering Significant Blow to U.S. Agriculture

A coalition of nearly 50 ag groups are urging the Biden administration to take immediate action to open Mexican rail crossings before it's too late.

Utah CCA Named Certified Crop Advisor Conservationist of the Year
Utah CCA Named Certified Crop Advisor Conservationist of the Year

Through his work, Russell Taylor has focused on being an advocate for conservation practices in agriculture – partnering with several different organizations to change laws and draft language for the farm bill. 

5 High-Yield Farmers Share Their Secrets
5 High-Yield Farmers Share Their Secrets

It’s no surprise those who chase high-yield honors set aside acres for that very purpose. However, there’s something to learn from the management practices that go into growing a record crop.

Low-Input Soybeans Boom For Tennessee Farmer
Low-Input Soybeans Boom For Tennessee Farmer

“I’m shooting for consistent averages around 75 or 80 bushels without stacking inputs,” says Matt Griggs. “ROI don’t lie.”

David Hula Hit Another New Record Corn Yield With 623 BPA, Now Thinks 900 BPA Is Possible
David Hula Hit Another New Record Corn Yield With 623 BPA, Now Thinks 900 BPA Is Possible

Virginia farmer David Hula is known for growing big yields and he's doing so once again. He won the 2023 NCA National Corn Yield Contest with a new record yield, beating his previous world record set in 2019. 

New Legislation Would Require USDA to Study Fertilizer Industry
New Legislation Would Require USDA to Study Fertilizer Industry

The Fertilizer Research Act has been introduced by three senators to require USDA to study competition and trends in the fertilizer market.

South American Weather Isn't the Only Thing Shaking Up the Markets
South American Weather Isn't the Only Thing Shaking Up the Markets

Analysts say it's go-time for the impacts of South American weather, but Argentina's new president, and major policy changes, also spooked the markets this week. Chip Nellinger and Brian Grete explain why.

Rabobank: Tighter Margins Globally For Row Crop Farmers in 2024
Rabobank: Tighter Margins Globally For Row Crop Farmers in 2024

The report shares markets are at a crossroads—prices could move in either direction.

8 Factors Shaping the Rural Economy in 2024
8 Factors Shaping the Rural Economy in 2024

CoBank has released their 2024 outlook report, which takes a look at the key themes the organization expects to shape agricultural and the rural economy in the coming year.

Phosphate Fertilizer: There’s a Lot of Risk in The System
Phosphate Fertilizer: There’s a Lot of Risk in The System

“In this market, there's a lot of risk from the farm gates to the retail side. So more conversation goes along way this year,” Josh Linville says. 

5 Tips To Achieve The Best Fertilizer Spread Pattern
5 Tips To Achieve The Best Fertilizer Spread Pattern

The team at Heartland Ag Systems offers their advice for keeping fertilizer spreaders running in top shape.

New Study: Why Farmers Fall Into Two Camps If They Sell Or Store Grain
New Study: Why Farmers Fall Into Two Camps If They Sell Or Store Grain

Researchers found a significant relationship between capital costs and farmer-held inventory.

No Dryland Crop to Harvest: West Texas Cotton Farmers Open Up About the Harsh Realities of 2023
No Dryland Crop to Harvest: West Texas Cotton Farmers Open Up About the Harsh Realities of 2023

West Texas is the largest cotton production area in the country, but after battling drought and heat, area farmers say the dryland crop is a failure, and the irrigated acres are only yielding half of normal.

Five Tips For Reviewing SCN Soil Test Results
Five Tips For Reviewing SCN Soil Test Results

To help growers create an effective management plan for controlling soybean cyst nematode (SCN), the SCN Coalition shares five key steps to take.

John Phipps: The Slow Growth of Going Organic in Agriculture
John Phipps: The Slow Growth of Going Organic in Agriculture

Organic food sales have grown over time, but it's still only accounts for 2.5% to 6% of the food market. How much is organic farming growing year over year? John Phipps answers a viewer's question in Customer Support.

Flashback to Previous El Niño Trends
Flashback to Previous El Niño Trends

With rapidly changing market conditions, Jerry Gulke says it pays to look at historical precedents.

USDA's December Reports Unwrap No Major Surprises, And Analysts Argue Corn Prices Are Stuck For Now
USDA's December Reports Unwrap No Major Surprises, And Analysts Argue Corn Prices Are Stuck For Now

Despite weather concerns sprouting in Brazil, USDA didn’t make any major adjustments to the South American crop in Friday's reports. Increased demand from China and Mexico prompted USDA to trim U.S. ending stocks.

Be Prepared for an FSA End-of-Year Audit
Be Prepared for an FSA End-of-Year Audit

Every year, around this time, FSA mails letters to randomly selected farmers and landowners informing them they are facing an audit. If you receive a letter, don’t panic. Get help from experts who deal with FSA reviews.

Two Companies Launch Tool to Get Ahead of Corn Rootworm
Two Companies Launch Tool to Get Ahead of Corn Rootworm

The Prescriptive Pathogen Report uses predictive soil analysis to predict the field pressure and economic risk of corn rootworm in the upcoming growing season.

New Gene Discovery Will Help Combat Soybean Cyst Nematode
New Gene Discovery Will Help Combat Soybean Cyst Nematode

As the costliest pest in the U.S. for soybeans, this breakthrough means there will finally be options to develop varieties with enhanced SCN resistance.

Shatter Your Yield Barriers One Layer At A Time
Shatter Your Yield Barriers One Layer At A Time

A chocolate layer cake is good. Layers of dense or compacted soil aren't so good. Once you've probed or dug and found the layers put in place by horizontal farming tools, it's time to remove them. Here's how.

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Make Every Seed Count in 2024
Make Every Seed Count in 2024

Soybean farming can be a marathon. And just like in a race, how well you finish relates directly to how well you start – though you may not know how much.

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GrowMark To Pilot InnerPlant’s Fluorescent Soybeans
GrowMark To Pilot InnerPlant’s Fluorescent Soybeans

InnerSoy is genetically engineered to omit signals when stressed, which are detectable from as far away as space. The company says its products can show stress signals two weeks before current detection methods.

Prepare Now for a Successful 2024 Soybean Season
Prepare Now for a Successful 2024 Soybean Season

“Plant early for optimum yield” is a common refrain soybean growers hear from agronomic experts today. If that’s your plan for 2024, here are three reminders to help you make it happen.

American Gothic: Farm Couple Nailed in Massive $9M Crop Insurance Fraud
American Gothic: Farm Couple Nailed in Massive $9M Crop Insurance Fraud

Welcome to a $9 million orgy of crop insurance fraud by an unassuming farm couple.

West Tennessee Farmer Says He Just Harvested the Best Cotton Crop of His Life
West Tennessee Farmer Says He Just Harvested the Best Cotton Crop of His Life

After a year of struggles in 2022, this year’s crop reaped weather that was much more favorable for growing cotton. Burlison, Tenn., farmer Brad Williams describes this year’s growing season as almost perfect.

Farmer Shocked After Lost iPhone Circles Globe, Returns Home
Farmer Shocked After Lost iPhone Circles Globe, Returns Home

After Kevin Whitney’s iPhone fell into 220,000 bushels of grain, the device made a 20,000-mile roundtrip across the globe before returning to its stunned owner.

It's So Dry in Brazil, Some Farmers Have Replanted Soybeans Three or Four Times
It's So Dry in Brazil, Some Farmers Have Replanted Soybeans Three or Four Times

AgResource Company forecasts 80% of the soybean crop is planted as of today, but for some farmers it's been a year of replant for both corn and soybeans.

How Accurate is the Farmers' Almanac in Forecasting Winter Weather?
How Accurate is the Farmers' Almanac in Forecasting Winter Weather?

While the Farmers' Almanac and Old Farmer's Almanac are both backward looking – derived from past data that come close to current conditions. Weather agencies are tending more toward predictive computer models.

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1 Way to Improve Nutrient Use Efficiency on Your Corn Acres
1 Way to Improve Nutrient Use Efficiency on Your Corn Acres

Better nutrient use efficiency can lead to higher yield potential with less environmental impact. Watch this video to find a simple, proven way you can upgrade NUE on your corn acres in 2024.

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Accessing Agronomic Research Through Dairyland Seed’s PAR Report
Accessing Agronomic Research Through Dairyland Seed’s PAR Report

The Dairyland Seed Agronomy Team spent the past year preparing the upcoming 2023 Product Agronomy Research (PAR) Report, conducted on Dairyland Seed research sites, demonstration plots and replicated trials.

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Ferrie: Farmers Are Strip-Tilling Covers Now. Is That A Good Idea?
Ferrie: Farmers Are Strip-Tilling Covers Now. Is That A Good Idea?

The practice can be useful in some scenarios but not all. Farmers need to evaluate the potential impact on 2024 yield outcomes. Perhaps a bigger concern is how the practice impacts weed management, especially waterhemp.