News
Today’s agriculture headlines and expert perspectives serving farmers, ranchers, crop consultants, livestock nutritionists and the entire U.S. ag community.
GDUs offer a more reliable method to predict corn emergence and development than using calendar days, according to yield champions David Hula and Randy Dowdy. They also offer their pro tip on how to assess planting and germination depth.
Learn about an Iowa plot trial that is looking at the yield boosting potential of strip cropping corn and cover crops.
“Sunlight drives photosynthesis, which drives starch production, which drives yield,” explains Ken Ferrie. If sunlight hits the ground, it’s wasted, so maximizing sunlight capture requires closing rows as quickly as possible.
Drew Lerner, founder of World Weather, Inc., says the summer of 1968 had some strong patterns, including a wetter bias in the western and north-central U.S., but drier in most of the Atlantic Coast states and parts of the eastern and southern Midwest.
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“In today’s economy, the ability to farm often depends on the ability to commute,” says Daniel Munch, economist at American Farm Bureau Federation.
With its trio of products, Groundwork BioAg is solving for two problems at once.
John Block shares an insider’s perspective on the challenges faced by farmers and policymakers alike.
Livestock producers say thanks to veterinarians for being valued members of their team.
As history has shown, more farmers hit the auction circuit during a down cycle in the farm economy. See what equipment is drawing strong prices.
North Dakota becomes first state to enact law focusing on federal labels for product use and safety
SUL4R-PLUS is a slow release granular product providing sulfur, calcium and fulvic acid and is designed for use in soybeans, corn, small grains, alfalfa, forages, fruits or vegetables.
FSIS responds to feedback shared in public comment period regarding its approach for addressing Salmonella illnesses associated with poultry products. Here’s how this reaches beyond poultry.
Farmshare helps connect producers more directly with end buyers in the market by way of independent processing facilities.
Before the White House’s 90-day pause on higher tariffs for other countries expires on July 9, India is one country rushing to negotiate a trade deal with the U.S.
Results from a new survey reveal that between 25% and 50% of corn and soybean growers adopt the use of cover crops when their trusted adviser has been planting them, as well.
Soil conditions, temperatures and weather outlook are finally aligned for planting in much of the Midwest. In the hurry to get the job done, keep in mind that to get a 300-bu. corn yield, you need to start with at least a 300-bu. picket-fence stand.
Shell Rock, Iowa, farmer Jeff Reints started planting corn on April 8 — the earliest ever on his farm. He got 50% of his corn and soybeans in the ground before 3 inches of rain parked the planters.
After several years of volatility for U.S. growers, prices and acreage of industrial hemp appear to be stabilizing or even rising modestly, according to the 2025 National Hemp Report.
A new report from Bloomberg Law shows family farm bankruptcies had already increased by 55% last year compared to 2023, and to start 2025, the number of bankruptcies is already exceeding the same time last year.
The administration created a “top 10 list” that includes the fishing industry, agricultural land deforestation in Brazil that impacts beef and soy production and Mexican avocados produced on illegally deforested lands.
Machinery Pete gives his top choices from a busy week of transactions on the used farm equipment auction circuit.
The original proposal would have resulted in millions of dollars of fees per vessel, thus lowering commodity prices. The revisions, however, have some key exemptions that are net positive for U.S. agriculture.
A handful of rain-free days were a perfect recipe for spring planting — and farmers took full advantage of the opportunity. This week’s USDA crop progress report puts corn and soybean acres just ahead of last year’s pace.
Growers are grappling with a second consecutive year of waning demand and no home for their grapes. The issue is complex with non-tariff trade barriers hitting the wine industry especially hard and a flood of imports that are creating cheap wine with which U.S. grape growers can’t compete.
Farmers can make a poor planting scenario better by teaching their planter how to dance across fields. The practice is particularly helpful in wet soils.
High winds have posed plenty of problems for farmers trying to spray, and even plant, this spring. NOAA says it’s one of the windiest starts to the season on record, but the bigger question is how long will it last?
Ocean shipping transports about 80% of global trade — from coal and corn to bananas and cement. The revisions tackle major concerns from the global maritime industry that feared virtually every cargo carrier could face steep, stacking fees.
“We’re only 15 days into this. It feels like a year, right?” says Matt Clark, senior rural economy analyst. “I catch myself feeling very overwhelmed by the news flow, a lot has happened in 15 days.”
Iowa farmers say a foliar fungicide application can add more bushels per acre by preventing losses to disease pressure and minimizing the impact of environmental factors, such as heat stress and drought.