BUSINESS

Are farmers protected by the agricultural practices exemption of the Clean Water Act? That is the centerpiece of a court hearing getting underway in California.

There wasn’t anything to get excited about in regard to USDA’s monthly WASDE and Crop Production reports. Though, that was to be expected, says Jerry Gulke, president of The Gulke Group.

Jamie Walter, CEO and president of Whiskey Acres, was in search of ways to diversify his family’s 2,000-acre corn and soybean operation when inspiration hit: What if they used their grain as a feature ingredient in premium spirits such as vodka, whiskey and bourbon? In 2011, they decided to see if they could make an on-farm distillery work.

Controversial ballot measure passes with margin of 2,528 votes out of nearly 1 million cast.

Calculations show corn is the more profitable crop in Illinois into late-May.

While landowners welcome the news, Purdue Extension agricultural economist Craig Dobbins said it should signal caution for potential buyers.

Corn and soybeans have been far more volatile than other commodities, such as oil and even the stock market, and that may be the harbinger of more to come.

Corn and soybean prices got an early boost from USDA’s Crop Production report released Oct. 11, even though grains took a beating the following day.

Here’s a look at what writers across the country said about that issue, along with crop chemicals and commodity swaps, this weekend.

While crude oil prices have fluctuated in a narrow range this winter, natural gas prices have plummeted.