Latest News From Crops

Removing compaction and density layers before transitioning to a vertical system can add 15 bu. to 20 bu. per acre and might lower cost of production, according to Farm Journal Test Plot research.

Pioneer announces its Z-Series brand of soybeans will be available in limited quantity for next season.

Fall tillage is in full swing. Farm Journal Field Agronomist Ken Ferrie shares two videos to explain how to successfully set and operate your hybrid chisel and inline ripper.

If you value the benefits starter fertilizer offers, you might like the performance of a starter fertilizer relay system even more. Farm Journal Test Plot data show a relay system + 2x2 placement = $36 per acre ROI.

In 2023, John Smith planted cluster corn, James Hitchcock tried wide row corn and Bill Jones targeted a triple crop. How did each farmer fare?

Various factors impact planting dates, but now's the time to get everything in order so you don't miss the windows of opportunity when they roll around next spring.

Layering federal and private conservation programs has potential to add extra cash to your bottom line.

According to USDA’s crop progress report, 88% of corn and 95% of soybeans have been harvested so far.

East-central Texas farmers battled historic heat, along with no rain during the heart of the growing season. The outlook on the cotton crop was bleak, but one Texas farmer says cotton harvest produced several surprises.

BASF is introducing xarvio SeedSelect, a novel seed variety placement technology based on an algorithm derived from plot trial research, local topographic and soil attributes, and variety-specific yield characteristics.

USDA upped its corn yield estimate by nearly 2 bu. to a 174.9 bu. per acre national yield. The agency also increased its demand estimate, which softened the potential blow of such a big jump in production.

Despite the weather extremes Indiana farmers faced during the season, USDA is estimating statewide yields will be above 2022 for both corn and soybeans. So far harvest results are confirming that trend.

Illinois farmer Ryan Myers has increased his 60-bushel-per-acre yield average to 70-plus-bushel averages in just three years. How? By focusing on the details from variety selection to in-season management.

Here's how and why you need to clean your combine after harvest and before you park it for the winter.

ADM recently surveyed consumers and decision-makers in the retail and consumer-packaged goods sectors on consumer trust, purchase consideration, and future regenerative agriculture trends for CPGs and retailers.

“We’re getting strong results. High interest rates and sub-$5 per bushel corn is not affecting land market conditions,” says Jim Rothermich from Iowa Appraisal.

According to USDA’s crop progress report, 81% of corn and 91% of soybeans have been harvested so far.

Although it’s not known exactly when chlorpyrifos will be reinstated, agriculture groups are citing this as a huge win for farmers who have been battling EPA for more than two years.

“If we don’t engage well digitally, we’re just another white pickup,” says K.C. Graner, CFS senior vice president.

Whether you're in the middle of harvest, or already wrapped up, there are five common grain marketing mistakes farmers often make. University of Minnesota's Ed Usset says these mistakes happen throughout the year.

According to the team at Heartland Ag Solutions, taking the time now to prep equipment for spring is vital.

The Panama Canal is now cutting its daily ship transits by half this winter due to severe drought.

Earlier this week, as part of an annual administrative review of countervailing duty orders, the Department of Commerce (DOC) adjusted duties on imported phosphate fertilizers.

North Dakota auction company announces new record-high land sale for cropland in the northeast corner of the state at $17,500 per acre, while in Iowa farmland sales are starting to cool off.

The company has already launched several sustainability features at the site and is planning more in the coming year.

Moisture availability is one of the biggies to check out, says Ken Ferrie. He also details some upcoming agronomic events, like his Beyond The Basics five-part webinar series and the virtual Corn & Soybean College.

From mid-September through October, thousands of pumpkin enthusiasts visit Siemers Farm in eastern Washington. Owner Burt Westover says they plant 53,000 seeds by hand each year and end up with 350,000 pounds of pumpkin.

Drought hit farmers hard in Minnesota this season, so farmers are finding mixed results at harvest. Many are disappointed with soybeans but say their corn yields are better than expected.

After losing its third consecutive trial, a Bayer investor called for the company to reconsider its litigation strategy, and a trial lawyer signaled interest in restarting settlement talks for thousands of Roundup cases.

While a few cotton fields flourished with yields to brag about at the gin, the majority of the region’s production suffered, from one weather extreme to another.

When it comes to seed treatments, the truth might surprise you.

Samuel Taylor, senior analyst for farm inputs at Rabobank, shares what to watch for the fertilizer, seed and crop protection price outlook.

If you think profitability and sustainability can’t go hand in hand, it might be time to reconsider. Watch this video to see how one Iowa family grows more corn bushels with less environmental impact.

As harvest 2023 winds down and we shift into 2024 preparation mode, it’s the perfect time to evaluate what worked, recognize what could be improved and plan for next year.

Major infrastructure investments being made at the port of Grays Harbor in Aberdeen, Wash., will help improve the efficiency of getting product to market and help expand soybean meal exports. 

A handful of soybeans scattered on the ground doesn't look like much, but small numbers can quickly add up to large losses. Evaluating the situation and making adjustments can help you take more beans to the bin.

An increase in crushing capacity means there's going to be more soybean meal available for export. To prepare for that transition, infrastructure improvements are being made at the Port of Grays Harbor in Washington.

According to USDA’s crop progress report, 71% of corn and 85% of soybeans have been harvested so far, which is considerably ahead of the five-year average.  

Several factors are leading economists to believe the price of corn will keep ethanol profits steady in the near future.

Bart Fischer, co-director of the Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M, spotlights two topics that will be updated in the next farm bill.

Corn and soybean prices seem stuck. So, what catalyst could it take to move commodity prices higher? There are a few, but analysts say the reality is there’s simply no story at the moment.

A seasoned crop consultant shares a list of items that are sure to make scouting a bit easier this spring.

With drought and heat stress in Iowa this season corn and soybean yields are variable, but not that far off of 2022.

Farmers applying NH3 can maximize their dollars and use of the product by not applying it until soil temperatures are no more than 50 degrees and trending lower, according to Iowa State University Extension.

Samuel Taylor, senior analyst for farm inputs at Rabobank, says U.S. wholesale fertilizer prices are down 25% to 50% — with variances resulting from timing and product type.

Scientists from the Agricultural Research Service have identified several different species of fungi and bacteria that can stop tar spot from developing.

According to USDA’s crop progress report, 59% of corn and 76% of soybeans have been harvested so far.

Poncho Votivo Precise from BASF offers a combination of protection to address nematodes and early-season insects in soybeans. The product contains a biological and insecticide.

Weather in Brazil is as big of a market mover as forecasts in the U.S. Why has Brazil grown so aggressively? One economist recently spent six months in Brazil and says a combination of factors is aiding their growth.

It’s a tale of two crops in South Dakota with corn yields exceeding expectations while soybeans missed those late season rains and have been overall disappointing.