News
Today’s agriculture headlines and expert perspectives serving farmers, ranchers, crop consultants, livestock nutritionists and the entire U.S. ag community.
The U.S. Drought Monitor shows drought coverage is now at its lowest level since spring of 2020, but USDA’s topsoil moisture map shows it’s still extremely dry in areas of the west and too wet in the east.
This week Machinery Pete – Greg Peterson – takes a deep dive into used equipment auction data and what it might mean to the dealer network, and an auction up North nearly sets a price record on a two-decade old tractor.
Shipping may have been easier back in the days of Columbus
It’s a tale of two extremes this year. Some farmers report they can’t find soil moisture to plant into, while others are struggling just to get into their fields. Agronomist Ken Ferrie weighs in on both scenarios.
Along with too much moisture, high numbers of corn flea beetles are posing an early-season concern. Ferrie advises checking your Stewart’s wilt bacteria rating on hybrids. There’s no treatment option for infected corn.
A handful of planter manufacturer reps share several tips and lookouts to ensure the planter is working properly this spring.
Two consecutive years of drought has been devastating for farmers in West Texas, and with forecasts of a transition to La Niña, economists and cotton leaders say it will force even more cotton farmers to call it quits.
One of the biggest benefits from waiting to plant corn until conditions are ideal, is the crop emerges more uniformly and forms those picket-fence stands that deliver huge yields, says Agronomist Missy Bauer.
USDA is Discontinuing A Major Cattle Report, And it Could Now Spur More Volatility For Cattle Prices
USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) announced it’s canceling the July Cattle Inventory Report. In the announcement, NASS blamed budget cuts from the most recent appropriations bills.
Lance Honig, acting director of the NASS methodology division, says budget constraints led to the agency’s decision. The County Estimates data was used over the years, in part, to determine federal farm program payments.
This week’s Machinery News covers U.S. and Canadian tractor and combine sales figures for March 2024, Jorge Heraud’s new role at Rootwave, and John Deere’s upcoming appearance in Washington D.C.
South Dakota Dairy Producers encourages all dairy producers to closely monitor their herd and contact their herd veterinarian immediately if cattle appear symptomatic.
USDA’s April WASDE report showed larger wheat and soybean ending stocks, but smaller ending stocks for corn. More surprising, still, was the lack of changes to South America’s crop estimates.
Has U.S. gasoline demand peaked? And what will more electric vehicles mean for gasoline prices down the road? John Phipps looks into the issue in John’s World.
Just in the last year construction and traditional ag companies such as Case, Caterpillar, Doosan Bobcat, John Deere, Komatsu, Yanmar and Volvo have released prototypes or plans for industrial-sized electric equipment.
Farm Journal had an exclusive interview with John Deere’s CTO to set the record straight about the company’s stance on electric equipment, as well as explore Deere’s vision for the future of ag tech.
While farmers find the technology useful, especially for spot spraying and targeting fields in less-than-ideal conditions, weed scientists are buzzing with more caution.
Apply product when and where you need it at the optimum rate.
As drone use in agriculture climbs the FBI and CISA are warning about data theft from Chinese-manufactured drones. The ag industry is on the lookout but U.S.-made drone options are limited.
Once a niche tool used by agronomists and consultants, farmers are starting to take notice of drones and consider the technology more often. Here’s the latest on swarms, service providers and security concerns.
After a 30-year career, her advice to someone just getting started is to be an effective communicator, which includes developing listening skills, and invite people to the table to take in different perspectives.
Now that the mystery illness impacting some dairy herds has been revealed as the same strain of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza that has been impacting the U.S. poultry flock, pork producers are asking questions.
Steve Troxle, state commissioner of agriculture, said he is waiting for more diagnostic information from the National Veterinary Services Laboratory and will work collaboratively with North Carolina dairy farmers.
This roll up unites complimentary product portfolios and distribution channels to provide farmers with Smart Farming solutions and retrofit precision ag technologies, and OEMs with more factory fit options.
Government officials claim power over entrance, searches, and surveillance on private land with no restrictions.
What’s the key to growing big yields? According to the reigning national corn yield contest champ, David Hula, you can’t have 300-bushel-per-acre yields if you don’t start with 300-bushel-per-acre stands.
The American Association of Bovine Practitioners is making the name change, as it more accurately reflects the issue.
The second USDA Crop Progress Report of the year shows farmers are already ahead in planting the 2024 crop with six states pacing ahead of the five-year average.
Greg Peterson – Machinery Pete – talks his weekly Pete’s Pick of the Week and other used equipment market news during his weekly AgriTalk appearance with host Chip Flory.
The first look at a new farm bill could happen as early as next week. It’s long overdue after nothing was released out of Committee in 2023. Now, there’s growing doubt a farm bill will even be passed in 2024.