News
Today’s agriculture headlines and expert perspectives serving farmers, ranchers, crop consultants, livestock nutritionists and the entire U.S. ag community.
Drought continues to deepen its grip across the Corn Belt, with Iowa and Illinois seeing large jumps in the moderate and severe drought categories. Now, more of the U.S. corn and soybean crop is covered in drought.
Wednesday’s interest rate decision broke a streak of 10 straight meetings where the Fed announced higher rates. Officials say another half-a-percentage-point hike is likely yet this year.
“We are working to democratize geospatial insights for farming everywhere,” says CEO Pieter Fossel.
Pay particular attention to hydraulic hoses, down-pressure components and anywhere birds and varmints can have a heyday. Your future self will thank you.
It’s not as simple as you might think. House Ag Chair G.T. Thompson shares a rundown of the funding and extension processes. He says the ag committees need to find new dollars to expand the farm bill budget.
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.
The CPI for May shows egg prices experienced the largest monthly drop in 72 years, but the price consumers are paying for a dozen eggs is still well above average over the past 10 years.
The Inflation Reduction Act is the most significant climate legislation ever enacted. The package includes more than $19 billion to support USDA conservation programs, but the money won’t last forever.
Iowa State researchers find this is the state’s highest level of farmland owned debt-free. In 1982, Iowa’s debt-free land ownership was only 62%.
The latest Ag Economy Barometer shows farmer sentiment has soured as crop prices have tumbled over the past month, but it’s not all gloom and doom. Strong working capital can help address the downturn in farm country.
Meat demand peaked last year, but economists say domestic demand is still stronger than pre-pandemic levels, and with more grilling this Memorial Day weekend, it could help boost domestic meat demand.
Weather conditions at planting, herbicide damage, insects and poor closure of the furrow are just a handful of the factors that can hinder corn emergence success.
We recently asked farmers what’s the most random thing they’ve found in their fields. Here are a few of the responses.
The new technology is designed to improve seedling vigor, boost root biomass and contribute to yield increases – up to 15% in corn and 12% in soybeans. It will be commercially available starting in 2024.
Dry conditions in some parts of the Midwest are putting a strain on yield potential early this season. But some stands are thriving. Practices such as continuous covers and no-till are making the difference.
Analysts at Wolfstreet believe the U.S. is seeing the first hint of an EV effect on gas demand. John Phipps looks at the data and explains why a possible peak in U.S. gasoline consumption could impact ethanol demand.
Chevron deference, one of the most frustrating legal doctrines faced by farmers and private landowners, may be on the brink.
Several factors converge making corn rootworm, black cutworm and true armyworm a high concern this season.
Drugs such as penicillin and some others routinely used to treat cattle, hogs and other food animals will be available only with a prescription from your veterinarian, starting June 12, 2023.
Sluggish exports continue to be the main theme in the grain markets with USDA cutting both old and new crop ending stocks. Arlan Suderman of StoneX Group says the bigger story moving forward might be soft corn demand.
Ireland’s Agriculture Minister has been looking into various ways to reduce methane emissions, including culling 200,000 cows over the next three years.
Plenty of farmers started young, worked hard and found a path forward. Along the way, they learned from mistakes and celebrated successes. Farming is hard, but here’s why those who have taken the road say it’s worth it.
With much of the Upper Midwest processing capacity maxed out in terms of milk production, finding a new home for milk is not an easy task. This is causing dairy farms to dump milk due to the oversupply.
Last week, 34% of the U.S. corn crop was covered in drought, and this week it jumped to 45%. The second crop conditions ratings of the season from USDA-NASS confirmed dryness is starting to deteriorate crop conditions.
A concentration of smoke over a period of several weeks could contribute to lower temperatures and fewer growing degree units for row crops because of reduced solar radiation.
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.
Senate Ag Chair Debbie Stabenow, (D-Mich.) says there will be no new funding for the 2023 farm bill. However, Stabenow stressed she will not allow a cut in conservation funding.
Richie Devillier is fighting back after the government twice flooded his 900-acre farm and home, killed his cattle, ran his family through emotional hell—and insisted he foot the entire bill.
The Senate and House Ag committees are facing delays in drafting the next farm bill, and it is expected to be the most expensive farm bill to date, clocking in at around $1.5 trillion.
From lubricating booms to cleaning and replacing spray tips, ace mechanic Dan Anderson emphasizes the importance of prioritizing upkeep during the spraying season.