Minnesota

Soybean Gall Midge Emerges As Top-Tier Threat

Mon, 11 May 2026 20:19:03 GMT

Soybean gall midge is no longer just a curiosity or annoyance for many Midwest farmers. The pest is chewing into yield and profitability for soybean growers across parts of at least seven states – Kansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota.

Iowa State University Entomologist Erin Hodgson reports the pest’s footprint is significant, present in at least 42% of the 45.4 million acres of soybeans farmers harvested across the seven states in 2025.

“At least 19 million soybean acres are potentially impacted by this pest,” Hodgson says, noting that the pest continues to spread. Eight new counties were confirmed in 2025, with five of those being in Iowa .

According to a recent farmer survey led by University of Nebraska Entomologist Doug Golick, the pest has become a major threat in parts of Nebraska. “In the last year or two, soybean gall midge is approaching as near high of concern as herbicide-resistant weeds for survey respondents,” Golick says.

Since 2018, the soybean gall midge has spread to 185 total counties in seven states, including five new counties in Iowa this past year, according to Erin Hodgson, Iowa State University Extension entomologist and professor.

(Erin Hodgson)

Look For Small Orange Or White Larvae

Damage from the insect starts at the base of the soybean plants, largely out of sight. Adult midges emerge from the ground in May and June, then seek out tiny fissures in young soybean plants near the soil line to lay eggs, according to Thales Rodrigues da Silva, a master’s student at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

The larvae cause severe, localized yield losses from 20% to 100% loss along field edges and 17% to 50% reductions in entire fields average under heavy infestation, according to University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) Extension. The larvae – small, orange worm-like pests – feed inside the base of the stem, causing plants to wither, die, and lodge (break), with damages sometimes extending 100+ feet into fields. Scouting for the pest should occur after the second trifoliate (V2) growth stage, according to the Crop Protection Network.

This damage in a soybean plant at the soil level shows the result of soybean gall midge larvae feeding.

(University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension)

Because the pest often feeds along field edges, the damage in affected plants is often mistaken for issues caused by compaction or herbicide injury, according to Stine Seed Company .

To confirm the pest’s presence, Stine agronomists recommend digging up compromised soybean plants and splitting open the stem. If white or orange larvae are found feeding within the inner layers, growers should check the Soybean Gall Midge Alert Network tracking system to determine whether the pest has been reported in their area. Next, they should contact their local Extension specialist to help confirm the diagnosis and report the finding if their county is not yet documented in their area.

Cultural Practices Show Promise

Unfortunately, there are few strategies to manage and control soybean gall midge, according to Tony Lenz, Stine technical agronomist.
With no labeled, consistently effective in-season insecticide program and no established treatment threshold, researchers are testing cultural and mechanical tactics that might give farmers at least partial relief.

Tillage ahead of planting — a tough sell in no-till systems — shows some promise in reducing early infestations in current-year soybean fields.

“Turns out that disking alone, at least in (our) study… did reduce infestation,” says Justin McMechan an entomologist and associate professor at UNL.

“There’s a significant reduction as we move from no-till to that… where it’s just disked and planted into, and then disking and hilling (a practice used in growing potatoes), which really is effective, because you’re covering up the infestation site,” McMechan adds.

He notes that even subtle changes in seedbed shape may help by covering fissures or altering microclimates at the stem base.

On planters running row cleaners, McMechan says adjustments at field edges might be one of the more accessible tools.

“There are not huge differences, but they are statistically significant,” he adds.

Field edge management has been another area of experimentation, including mowing or managing dense vegetation next to infested fields. Results are mixed, but McMechan says there are situations where mowing modestly cuts pressure.

“Nebraska saw on occasion where mowing would reduce infestation and lead to marginal yield benefit… we’re talking like 6-bushel differences,” he says, adding that weather and nearby corn canopy can override those gains.

There are no insecticides currently available to control soybean gall midge. A combination of cultural practices and mechanical efforts is likely the best option, for now, to stop or slow the pest.

(Justin McMechan)

Scientists Evaluate ‘Out-Of-The-Box’ Practices

Other work by researchers is pushing even further outside the box to find control measures. At UNL, graduate research assistant Kristin Heinrichs Stark is testing whether a biodegradable surface barrier called BioWrap can physically trap larvae in the soil and prevent emergence.

The work is early-stage and raises reasonable questions about cost and field-scale application rates, but it points to the kind of layered, non-chemical tactics Extension researchers say will likely be needed to address the pest.

Even as these cultural and physical strategies are developed, Hodgson reminds farmers that the ag industry still lacks any clear control option once larvae are inside the soybean stem.

“We really don’t have a treatment threshold, or a rescue treatment option at this time,” she says. “We know that the soybean gall midge certainly can cause yield losses, plant death, and that directly relates to yield. But we don’t really have great answers on like, how many plants does it take? How many larvae per plant (causes yield loss)?”

For now, farmers dealing with soybean gall midge are being asked to combine careful field scouting, crop rotation, and targeted cultural tactics to address the pest as the research community races to find answers and close those gaps.

Specialists from three Midwest universities provided the latest updates on soybean gall midge (SGM) this spring in a webinar, available at the link below:

Breeding for New Markets: How University of Minnesota is Working to Boost the Oil Content in Soybeans

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 13:37:12 GMT

At the University of Minnesota, soybean breeders are looking far beyond the next harvest; they’re developing varieties that can withstand pests, push yields higher and meet new demands from renewable fuels. That also means breeding soybeans to contain higher oil content that traditional varieties today, an innovation that could cater to the possible new demand.

Aaron Lorenz, a professor of agronomy and plant genetics, has spent the past decade leading efforts to ensure farmers have tools that work today and decades down the road. Standing in a research plot near St. Paul, he gestures toward rows of soybeans that tell the story of decades of progress.

“In the front we have varieties released in the 1940s and 1950s,” Lorenz explains. “You can see that they’re falling down. They don’t have very many pods on them. They’re very tall and lanky — not very good agronomically.”

Those early varieties might have been cutting-edge at the time, but they pale in comparison to today’s resilient, high-yielding soybeans.

“On average, breeders have increased yield by about a half a bushel per year,” Lorenz says. “Right now, the varieties farmers are growing yield about two and a half times more than what their predecessors grew back in the 1940s and 1950s. On-farm yield has increased two-and-a-half to three times — and a big chunk of that has been due to breeding better varieties. It’s been a long, continual investment. Incremental, but over time it adds up to something much better.”

Battling a Hidden Threat: Soybean Cyst Nematode

Yield isn’t the only focus. Lorenz and his team are also taking on one of the most persistent, and invisible, enemies of soybean farmers: the soybean cyst nematode (SCN).

“Soybean cyst nematode is No. 1,” Lorenz says. “The main concern is that the current resistance most Minnesota farmers use comes from one single source that researchers discovered 40 or 50 years ago. It’s been used so long and so often that there’s now resistance breakdown occurring on the landscape. The nematodes are evolving to overcome our current source of resistance.”

That means farmers who believe they’re protected might not actually be, and once they discover thee issue, it’s often too late.

“A farmer may plant a resistant variety, thinking they have protection,” Lorenz explains, “but if the nematode population in their field has changed and overcome that resistance, they may be losing yield and not even know it. That’s why it’s good to get a soil test and rotate your sources of resistance.”

Lorenz says his breeding program is working to stay ahead of that curve, developing new varieties before the old ones lose their power.

“We’re working with projects with Minnesota Soybean and the United Soybean Board,” he says. “We’re not just discovering new sources of resistance; we’re breeding with different ones. We know which genes have good resistance for new SCN populations, and we’re getting those into elite varieties that farmers may want to grow.”

Some of those experimental lines are already showing promise.

“We’ve had some varieties that have done quite well,” Lorenz says. “They’re not quite ready for farmers to use right now, but we’re hopeful. Getting them into better varieties will eventually give us strong performers in the future.”

Breeding for New Markets: Renewable Diesel and High-Oil Soybeans

Beyond yield and pest resistance, Lorenz’s team is also thinking about how soybeans will fit into the future of energy. With renewable diesel demand growing, farmers are being asked to produce crops with higher oil content.

“We understand there’s a lot of potential future demand for renewable diesel, which is going to require a lot more oil,” Lorenz says. “We’d like to increase the oil content in soybeans, from around 22% to maybe closer to 30%, to make it a higher-oil crop and more valuable from that standpoint.”

That work started when the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association approached the university with a challenge: Breed soybeans that can meet the renewable fuel industry’s needs.

“We work very closely with those grower groups to identify target traits we should be working on,” Lorenz explains. “They have their ears closer to the ground. They can see what the industry needs better than we can and help direct our research. It’s been a very fruitful collaboration.”

He says it’s also possible soybeans looks more like canola, as a way to capture more of the oil content from every plant. But that research is just a hint of what may be to come.

Looking Ahead

From fields filled with the tall, spindly soybeans of the 1940s to test plots growing varieties rich in oil and nematode resistance, the University of Minnesota’s breeding program reflects decades of continuous innovation.

Each seed planted represents a future crop, and a future challenge, already being met by researchers like Lorenz and his team.

“As long as we continue the incremental progress of selecting and developing better varieties,” Lorenz says, “over the long term we’ll always have something that’s a lot better.”

$9 Soybeans, Record Yields, Rising Costs: Minnesota Farmers Brace for Another Year of Tight Margins

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 20:16:02 GMT

As harvest rolls across Minnesota, farmers are seeing strong yields in both corn and soybeans. But those big harvests come with an old problem — low prices and limited storage. During a recent University of Minnesota U.S. Farm Report College Roadshow stop in Minneapolis, experts Ed Usset, grain marketing specialist, and Pauline Van Nurden, Extension economist with the university’s Center for Farm Financial Management, break down what this means for farm profitability heading into 2025.

Soybean Storage Challenges — and the Corn Problem Coming Next

The conversation began with a topic dominating coffee shops and grain elevators across the Midwest: soybean storage. Reports earlier in the season hinted at a “soybean pileup,” with the governor even joking farmers might have to start putting soybeans in their garages.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz warned trade war-related tariffs and a record harvest meant “there’s going to be soybeans in garages, on the streets, wherever we can put them because there’s nowhere to go”. He specifically blamed President Donald Trump’s trade policies for creating “a man-made farm crisis” that has financially harmed Minnesota farmers.

However, Usset says farmers did find room for the crop.

“Well, I’m kind of surprised,” Usset says. “A couple of weeks ago, I really was concerned that we wouldn’t find a home for all the soybeans. But I’m talking to people in the country — they found a place for them. They’re in storage. They’re holding out.”

While the majority of Minnesota farmers have found a home for their soybeans this fall, futures prices are about the same as this point last year, however, it’s cash prices in the upper Midwest that are suffering.

“Prices are not good. Probably around $9.25 a bushel in much of southern Minnesota,” he explains. “But we found room for the soybeans. The problem, I think, is going to be in the next couple of weeks because a lot of space was dedicated to soybeans. Where does the corn go? We’re gonna have corn piles.”

Record Yields Add to the Surplus

Despite the logistical headaches, Minnesota farmers are seeing some of their best yields in years.

“I think we’re seeing good yields in soybeans,” Usset says. “There’s a good chance in Minnesota we’ll set a state record for average soybean yields. Not by a lot — you know, 52 bushels [per acre] is our record. I like to think we have a shot at 53 for a state average.”

Corn yields are also impressive.

“We have an outside shot to top 200 bushels an acre for the state,” Usset adds.

Those high yields, however, come at a time when input costs remain elevated and prices have failed to rebound.

A Difficult Year for Farm Income

According to Van Nurden, Minnesota farmers are still feeling the financial strain from last year— the lowest farm income in two decades.

“Unfortunately for crop farmers, it looks like more of the same,” she says. “Low prices, even with the better yields, but input costs are up.”

This situation isn’t new for Minnesota farmers. Even though China has backed off from buying U.S. soybeans, farmers also faced low-to-negative farm incomes last year. According to University of Minnesota analysis , Minnesota farm incomes declined again in 2024, falling to the lowest level this century.

In the data from the University of Minnesota and Minnesota State, it showed the median net farm income for Minnesota farms dropped to $21,964 in 2024, marking the lowest level this century. The drop was due to falling crop prices, coupled with below-trendline crop yields.

Van Nurden notes some relief came at the end of the year from the ECAP payments that had been issued.

“That payment was helpful — it provided some cash. But we actually included that income in last year’s numbers on the balance sheet as an accounts receivable,” she explains. “So it looks to be another challenging year for crop producers, with losses per acre on corn and soybean production.”

Payments Help, But “They’re Just a Band-Aid”

The conversation turned to the ongoing debate over government support payments for farmers, especially as uncertainty continues around trade policy and federal budgets.

“Something’s needed,” Van Nurden says. “I know farmers would rather be able to sell their crop at a profitable price and not receive payments, of course. Payments are a band-aid. Hopefully we can find new solutions to help replace markets, find new markets, all of that. But payments would be helpful at this challenging time.”

Trade Tensions Still Haunting Soybean Markets

For soybean growers, the trade relationship with China continues to cast a long shadow. Reports this week suggest China is intentionally avoiding purchases of U.S. soybeans — an echo of the trade war that hit markets hard in 2018 and 2019.

When asked whether that business might be lost for good, Usset says that’s a tough question.

“We had a trade war in 2018, 2019. We got by it, got a change in administration, and we got the sales back. I guess if I want to be hopeful, we can hope it comes back again,” Usset says.

Cutting Costs — One Small Step at a Time

Looking ahead to 2026, both experts agree managing costs will be critical as input prices continue to rise. Van Nurden says farmers are focusing on the small things.

“It’s probably little things across the board — trying to make smart decisions, manage the inputs where they can,” she says. “I don’t know that it’s going to be one place. I think it’s going to be lots of little places and just trying to manage and be very intentional about inputs and deferring repairs at times, potentially, and new investments.”

But she cautiones cost-cutting comes with long-term consequences.

“That has ramifications as well,” she says. “So it’s a balance.”

Market Opportunities — and a Ray of Hope

Even in a tough price environment, Usset says there are opportunities for farmers willing to look ahead.

“Look at the big carries in the market,” he advises. “Today’s price is really terrible — pretty much as low as it’s been in the last year. But in the corn market, for example, if you looked for delivery in April or May, you’ve got a 35¢ to 40¢ premium. You’ve got a 50¢ premium to hang onto your soybeans out into the spring.”

He says similar opportunities exist for wheat.

“No one wants to talk about spring wheat,” Usset says. “But if you’ll hold out to January, you can get a 50¢ premium for wheat — 50¢ for three months. That’s how big the carry is.”

Building Support and Planning Ahead

As the year winds down, Van Nurden encourages farmers to lean on their support systems.

“Take a look and push the pencil to your finances, talk to your lender, build that support,” she says. “There’s great collaboration between the university and the state of Minnesota with some of those programs, but there are resources out there to help. Always seek out the tools or the individuals that can help you.”

In the face of strong yields but shaky profitability, Minnesota farmers continue to show resilience and resourcefulness. As Usset put it, “It might not solve all the problems — but it’s a lot better than today’s price.”

The Arthur Companies Acquires Minnesota Ag Retailer and North Dakota Ag Aviation Company

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 17:02:16 GMT

Today, The Arthur Companies announced it has purchased the assets of AgriMax and Right Way Ag Aerial Spraying.

AgriMax is an independent agronomy-based ag retail business with two locations—Fisher and Fertile, MN. It was founded in 1998 and had a merger with Ross Seed Company in 2009. Its footprint covers the Red River valley serving hundreds of customers with seed, crop protection, custom application and seed conditioning.

“AgriMax is a great fit for The Arthur Companies because its culture and how they’ve served growers,” says James Burgum, CEO of The Arthur Companies. “We are two independent businesses that have competed to earn growers’ business and trust—first and foremost.”

This acquisition expands the company’s geographic footprint into Minnesota.

“This is a grower base we’re excited to work with,” Burgum says. “It’s new territory for us in Minnesota, but we’ve had our eyes on it for some time. We believe we can provide competitive alternatives for growers.”

Burgum is referring to Arthur’s bid to buy West Central Ag, which was acquired by CHS in 2024.

Right Way Ag Aerial Spraying is based in Casselton, North Dakota. Founded in 2019 by Matt Hovdenes, who will continue as chief pilot, its service geography spans the Red River Valley. Its aerial application services will be paired with retail business provided by AgriMax. Both companies will be rebranded. AgriMax as The Arthur Companies, and Right Way Ag Aerial Spraying will become Arthur Aviation.

“We’ve made the decision to grow. And growth is a choice,” Burgum says. “This is about growing into markets where we want to be a competitor, and competition is good for growers.”

While the AgriMax acquisition doesn’t include grain, which has been a foundational division of The Arthur Company’s business–Burgum says there are natural overlaps in the agronomy business, seed conditioning, and wheat breeding/research divisions.

“Arthur Companies is continuing to look for growth and bring our model of local decision making, family values, local empowerment to other parts of the northern tier,” Burgum says. “We’ve consistently invested back into our business—through good times and bad. We’ve learned through our 120 year history, for us, we need to invest through all the cycles. And we’ll come through this in a stronger position together. We aren’t going to take our foot off the gas.”

Pete's Pick: 29-Year-Old Used Case IH Skid Steer, 2000 John Deere 8310 Draw Strong Bids

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 18:19:57 GMT

This week’s Machinery Pete “Pete’s Pick of The Week” comes to us from the world of construction equipment.

On Thursday, Sept. 11, at a retirement auction in Gaines, Mich., a 1996 Case IH 1845 C skid steer with 1,745 hours (see Facebook post below) sold for $20,700. Xyz Auction Service handled the bidding.

“Now, if I had a nickel for every time someone told me: ‘Hey, Pete, my favorite skid steer model is an 1845 C’ I’d have a lot of nickels, [and] this one was nice,” Pete says. “I thought, you know, getting up almost over $21K for an almost 30-year-old skid steer, [that’s] pretty good stuff.”

Last Thursday must have been a good day in the used equipment auction world, because another transaction that day also caught Pete’s attention.

At the Tom Mix farm retirement auction near Clay City, Ill., a well-maintained 2000 John Deere 8310 tractor with 4,222 hours (see Facebook post below) sold for $111,200. According to MachineryPete.com sales data, that is the fourth-highest price all time on a used 8310. Schmid Auction handled the bidding there.

Upcoming auctions
On Tuesday, Steffes Auction Group is hosting the Rost Farms Retirement Auction in Ivanhoe, Minn. Bidding for that sale (see Facebook post below) closes tomorrow at 8 p.m. CT.

And on Wednesday, in Dyersville, Iowa, the Alex Lyon and Son Auction Co. Rental Fleet Construction & Utility Equipment auction will feature a healthy selection of heavy duty machines pulled from rental fleets from around the country. Pete will be attending that sale in person, so be sure to say hello if you’re also checking out the auction in person.

“There are 13 skid steers on the docket, 17 excavators, 13 wheel loaders, and eight tractor loaders/backhoes,” Pete says. “I love covering all types of auctions and any chance I get to hang out with Jack Lyon and his son, Alex, I’ll take. They have sales all over the U.S. and the world, and it will be fun to have him in Iowa.”

Your next read: Navigate The Used Farm Equipment Market With 5 Smart Buyer Hacks

Southern Rust Set To Take Big Bite Out Of Midwest Corn Crop?

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 21:06:37 GMT

If one picture is worth a thousand words, then the video Iowa farmer Dan Striegel shot last week must be worth thousands more. In the video, Striegel is shown harvesting a field of emerald-green corn enveloped in a cloud of orangish-red southern rust.

“We were just getting that field opened up, and I looked over and saw that dust boiling up out of the chopper, so I shot the video,” Striegel says.

Southern Rust? Never heard of her.
What Cheer, Iowa. USA. #pftour25 #harvest25 pic.twitter.com/tiIsUc2CHl
— Dan Striegel (@djsinseia) August 21, 2025

To date, Striegel’s video has garnered more than 48,000 views on X, formerly Twitter.

“We’re in southeast Iowa, Keokuk County, and I think the southern rust is as bad here as it is anywhere,” Striegel adds. “Every field you walk in, if you’re wearing a white T-shirt, you’ll come out of there red.”

A Red Path Of Disease Mars The Midwest

Expect to see more red T-shirt-clad farmers walking out of cornfields across the upper Midwest, based on what the Crop Protection Network (CPN) southern rust map is showing.

The CPN continually updates its online, interactive map showing the counties by state where southern rust infections are confirmed. Now, in late August, the counties look like red steppingstones. They form a checkered path from southwest Michigan through northern Illinois and Indiana, into southern Wisconsin, across all of Iowa and nearly two-thirds of the way across Nebraska. Eastern South Dakota is also lit up with a string of red counties, as are parts of southern to central Minnesota.

The amount of southern rust present in the upper Midwest is worrisome to Ken Ferrie, Farm Journal Field Agronomist. In severe cases, the disease can wipe out 45% of the yield potential in a field, according to the CPN.

“At most, one in 10 growers in northern Iowa and Minnesota have seen the kind of southern rust some of them are seeing this year,” says Ferrie, who was working last week with corn growers in both states.

“It was a problem in probably eight out of every 10 fields I was in, and they’d all been sprayed at least once,” he says. “Minnesota has a corn crop that’ll knock your socks off – yield potential of 250, 270. I encouraged every grower to spray their field a second time except for two fields. One had been knocked down by hail, and the other had a hybrid that was clean.”

I spoke with a good friend of mine from Iowa yesterday that is an agronomist and farmer. He said the southern rust in corn across Iowa and much of the Midwest will take 9 to 12 bushel/acre off corn yields on average from what his team and himself are seeing. pic.twitter.com/Ad1VJ9oQBg
— Captain Cornelius1 (@ISU145) August 26, 2025

Hybrids Have Little To No Resistance To Southern Rust

A combination of early-season moisture, heat and wind formed the perfect storm for southern rust this season, allowing the disease-causing fungal spores (Puccinia polysora) to move from southern climes up to the Midwest, according to Kurt Maertens, BASF technical service representative for eastern Iowa and western Illinois.

“We’ve seen it all – southern rust, tar spot, northern corn leaf blight, gray leaf spot. Our corn has been inundated with all these fungal diseases, and we started seeing them early,” says Maertens.

If there’s a silver lining to southern rust, it’s that it does not overwinter in corn residue like tar spot does. But like tar spot, southern rust takes advantage of hybrids that have no built-in resistance. For many growers, that was an Achilles heel this season.

“When you’re dealing with a 117-day hybrid like they grow in southern Illinois, Tennessee, and Kentucky, you don’t grow corn that doesn’t have good southern rust resistance, because they deal with it every year,” Ferrie notes. “When you move to Minnesota, and you’re planting 102- to 95-day corn, you’re probably not going to find hybrids with southern rust resistance.”

Striegel says that was true for his neighbor’s cornfield, which he custom chopped for silage. “That field had two hybrids in it, one was worse than the other, and the field had been sprayed with a fungicide,” he says.

He adds that he also sprayed his own cornfields with fungicide, but they are still inundated with southern rust.

“We’ve had southern rust before, and it’s not usually something we have to worry about, but this is really bad,” Striegel says. “I’m standing on my deck looking at the cornfield next to my house, and you know, all of the leaves from the ears down in that field are covered with it.”

Southern rust is real in eastern Nebraska. Fungicide 3 weeks ago, 2nd app today with some potassium acetate pic.twitter.com/WZubU6IBwz
— Trent Mastny (@TrentMastny) August 21, 2025

How Late Is A Fungicide Application Still Worthwhile?

Ferrie says the fields he scouted last week were at late R3 to early R4 and had already been sprayed with fungicide at least once, but the disease was rebuilding.

“Any field where farmers had sprayed two weeks previously, the southern rust and northern corn leaf blight, to a lesser degree, were coming back, especially the southern rust. It was resporating,” he says.

The intense disease pressure from southern rust, tar spot and others have kept fungicide use at high levels this season, despite poor commodity prices.

“Because of that [amount of disease pressure], we have seen increased demand for our fungicides this year,” says Maertens, who encouraged customers to get applications made at the beginning of tassel.

Maertens says he has fielded a lot of questions this summer from farmers, asking how late they could go with a fungicide application and still benefit.

“Our recommendation is to get in front of disease,” he says. “Generally, we stop applications before we get to dent (R5). That’s not to say a later application can’t have some benefit, but our best results have been before infection was able to take place.”

Southern rust is a yield enemy farmers routinely face in the Southeast, reports corn yield champion Randy Dowdy, Valdosta, Ga. He participated in the Pro Farmer Crop Tour last week and said on U.S. Farm Report he believes many Midwest farmers still have time to address disease.

“We need to implore the fungicides, the technologies out there and get after it and protect this crop, especially that crop that still has not reached dent,” he says.

Farm Journal Field Agronomist Missy Bauer likes to see farmers complete their fungicide applications on the front side of dough (early R4). “Once we get to early dent, I think it’s a little more challenging to get the payback consistently, though we’ve applied at early dent (R5), and seen a nice response,” says Bauer, who is based in south-central Michigan.

Under the tough disease pressure farmers are facing this year, Bauer is telling growers to scout fields and evaluate what growth stage their crop is in before they walk away or pull the fungicide trigger one last time.

She adds that farmers need to check the label to make sure the product used is able to address southern rust effectively. She describes these as “Cadillac” products containing the newest chemistry.

“When it comes to some of these diseases, especially southern rust and tar spot, I do believe a little bit of a Hail Mary pass can be effective,” she says. “Will it be as effective as an application you could have made on a more timely basis? Well, no, you could have made more money doing it timely, but you’re still protecting bushels and gaining ROI at the end.”

Ferrie adds that farmers might want to do the late-season fungicide application to keep their corn crop standing until they can put their harvest plan in place.

“Be doing the push test to check stalk quality,” he advises.

Southern Rust/Silage Alert!!

Southern Rust has been aggressively advancing in many fields, especially those without a fungicide treatment. In some situations the plants are shutting down prematurely and plant material is senescing rapidly.

While we typically want to get down… pic.twitter.com/aK3hGgZE19
— Pioneer Troy (@deutmeyer_troy) August 26, 2025

Striegel says some of the farmers around him are heading to fields to harvest their silage corn sooner than later, because of standability concerns. “Some of this corn got planted early, and we had a lot of heat. The crop matured quickly, and the diseases are kind of shutting it down. It’s just dying out, and guys are going to go get it,” he explains.

That’s the strategy Ferrie encourages farmers to use in regular production corn, too.

“Harvest the fields most at risk first. But if a field of corn goes down, go combine the fields where the corn is still standing and come back to that one later,” he recommends.

The reasoning is you don’t want to risk more corn going down while you’re harvesting the field of corn that already has.

“While I was driving through Iowa last week, I kept thinking that if I built corn reels to pick up down corn I’d bulk up my inventory, because I know where they’re going to get used,” Ferrie says, only half joking. “Yes, harvesting corn at 25% moisture is expensive, but down corn will kick your butt.”

Your next read: Revenge Applications: Why They Don’t Work, Cost You Money and Bushels, and Are Frankly Illegal

Crops vs. Foliar Diseases: A High-Stakes Race Underway in Midwest Fields

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 21:55:22 GMT

Two words sum up the concerns Pro Farmer Crop Tour scouts expressed about the corn and soybean crops they evaluated on Thursday in Minnesota and northeast Iowa: disease pressure.

Corn crops infected by southern rust and tar spot were a common sight in fields across both states during the fourth and final day of the tour.

“We saw disease in all of the fields we sampled today, though one of them really wasn’t too bad,” says Lane Akre, host of the eastern leg of the tour. “We saw a lot of early stages of tar spot, and we saw a lot of southern rust throughout.”

So it was no small surprise to the crowd attending Thursday night’s live broadcast when the final tally showed Pro Farmer’s corn estimate for Minnesota actually surpasses USDA’s 202-bu.-per-acre yield projection made August 12.

Pro Farmer estimates the Minnesota corn crop will average 202.86 bushels; that’s up 23.02% versus 2024 and up 13.41% versus the three-year average, according to Emily Flory Carolan, Pro Farmer Crop Tour data consultant.

“This crop is huge; it absolutely is,” Carolan says. “Minnesota is the only state on tour where we have recorded over a 200-bu. average this year. It is a record-year yield for the state.”

She adds that scouts recorded the longest grain inches in the crop that have ever been measured on the tour. “That’s definitely what pulled up that yield average for us,” she says.

Minnesota soybeans show similar yield promise, with final numbers pegged at 1247.86 pods in a 3' x 3' area. That’s up 20.38% versus last year, and up 19.9% versus the three-year average, Carolan reports.

(ProFarmer)

A Much Better Growing Season, So Far
The findings in Minnesota were a pleasant change from what scouts found in 2024, when weather seemed to jog between two extremes – drought and flooding – for much of the season.

Jaden Serbus, Pro Farmer tour scout and farmer based near Renville, Minn., says he was relieved to see Mother Nature had course corrected.

“Last year, the corn crop was only as high as my head, all yellow and stunted with very, very poor yields with all the rain,” Serbus recalls. “This year, many areas are like a garden spot.”

Minnesota District 8 & 9 (10 stops)
Nicolett, Le Sueur, Waseca, Steele, Dodge, Olmsted counties
🌱 Avg Pods in a 3X3 - 1262.80
🌽Avg Yield- 208.35#pftour25 @Feckersbrad73 pic.twitter.com/IklmOxDOTA
— McKenzie Feckers (@MFeckers) August 21, 2025

Northeast Iowa Crops Look Good, But…
As Akre and his team of scouts moved into northeast Iowa on Thursday morning, early yield estimates had Akre concerned results there could bring the state’s overall averages down.

“We saw a lot of drowned-out parts of fields, and that’s limited some of the ear size and counts as populations are down due to skips,” he says.

Despite some agronomic challenges, scouts recorded strong numbers that put the Iowa corn crop at 198.43 bu.-per-acre yield average for 2025. That’s up 2.93% versus last year, and up 6.4% versus the three-year average.

“This Iowa crop has a very, very strong ear count, great grain inches — just a very consistent equation putting that corn yield together,” Carolan reports.

Iowa soybeans are also looking to break yield records. The 2025 crop delivered a 1384.38 pod estimate average in a 3' x 3' area on Thursday; that’s up 5.49% versus last year and up 12.94% versus the three-year average.

(ProFarmer)

Linn Co. Iowa. Lots of tar spot and rust. 46 avg ear count, pretty light, but made some big ears. Yield est 208.53 but still a long way to go grain fill wise#pftour25 pic.twitter.com/efDDM6sbBG
— Lane (@iwatchcorn) August 21, 2025

“For the most part, the Iowa beans are pretty lush and the pod counts have been there, the soil moisture is up, so the potential is pretty high on beans...I think that’s been the real story the last couple of days — how many pods are out there,” Akre says.

But foliar diseases rearing up in Iowa fields have the potential to put the kibosh on record yields between now and harvest, reports Chip Flory, host of AgriTalk and lead scout on the western leg of the tour.

That concern is one reason he reminded crop tour listeners on Thursday that Pro Farmer’s current yield estimates could change before combines roll.

“When we put the corn yield estimate out, it comes with a plus or minus 1%. The soybean crop estimate comes with a plus or minus 2%, and that’s because things can change. We all know that,” Flory says.

“The other thing is the yield models that we use give us a range, and then, based on conditions, we can move within that range with the yield estimate that we’re going to pull,” he adds, noting that he wonders whether the soil moisture currently available will offset some of the discount scouts put on the crops because of the disease pressure that’s present.

At the end of the day, August 21, no one knows how the final corn and soybean yields will net out. As Flory notes, while there’s optimism about better yields coming in this harvest versus a year ago, the outcomes depend on how well the crops cross the finish line.

Watch On-Demand: Pro Farmer Crop Tour Day 3 Results from Illinois and Iowa

Watch On-Demand: Pro Farmer Crop Tour Day 2 Results from Indiana and Nebraska

Watch On-Demand: Pro Farmer Crop Tour Day 1 Results from Ohio and South Dakota

High Yields, Poor Profits: Corn Farmers Search for New Demand to Drive Prices

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 15:19:58 GMT

USDA’s record 16.7 billion bushel corn crop estimate in the August WASDE is raising concern among farmers and farm groups — including the National Corn Growers Association.

They’re questioning the accuracy of USDA’s yield and acreage projections and asking for demand solutions to blunt the threat to the livelihood of farmers already facing record-low prices.

Corn Acreage a Double Whammy
Corn profitability was already in the red before the August WASDE.

But the record 16.7 billion bushel corn crop and 2 million additional acres just added insult to injury for Tom Haag, who farms near Eden Valley, Minn.

“When they first had their intentions earlier in June, I thought we were pretty close to where we were. I don’t know where they come up with these extra acres or where they found them,” Haag says.

Illinois and Iowa acreage was unchanged, but between the June Acreage Report and August Farm Service Agency (FSA) certified acreage, states including Kansas, North and South Dakota had 1.2 million more acres.

Some could be silage, but these are fringe states.

Krista Swanson, chief economist with NCGA, says even with record yields, those states can’t lift the national yield average.

“The higher acres are, the less likely we have an extremely high yield because of those fringe acres. I think that certainly comes into play, as maybe challenging ‘Can a yield of this level be hit?’”

Validity in Question
The yield methodology for the August report is also in question since it doesn’t use field data.

Swanson says, “So, what happens when we start to getting into harvest is left to be seen. You could analyze, ‘Well, if a state like Iowa has exceedingly high yields, then you wouldn’t necessarily need that record’. But you come out around 190 if every state achieves their maximum yield of the past five years.”

And the record yield projected for the No. 2 corn producer, Illinois, is debatable with crop ratings at only 63% good-to-excellent — well below last year.

Kent Beadle, Paradigm Futures, says that’s well below last year’s rating, and it has dropped 8% in the last few weeks.

“Right now, the good-to-excellent rating is suggesting an average Illinois crop, and of course USDA gave it a record at 221,” Beadle says.

USDA Lowers Average Corn Price
Swanson says as a result of the record supply, USDA lowered the national average corn price.

“USDA also reduced its projected market year average price for the 2025 crop from $4.20 down to $3.90. That would be the lowest market year average we’ve had since 2019.”

But cash prices are much lower in the country — pushing profitability further in the red for farmers like Haag.

Dec. Corn Profitability

(USDA)

Losing Money at This Price
“Our break-even at the farm is right around $4.25, and cash corn to where we haul today is $3.59,” Haag explains.

And with USDA’s cost of production on corn at $897 an acre, he isn’t the only farmer below break even.

Beadle says, “You know, at the 181-bushel level, we were going to need $4.95 on average for the average farmer to break even. If you add this 7.8 bushels an acre, you still need $4.75 to break even.”

Call to Action on Demand
The bleak outlook has NCGA issuing a call to action from Congress and the Trump administration, including year-round E15 — which could use an estimated 457 million bushels of corn.

“If we could get E15 — and also California to use E15 — that would burn up a lot more bushels,” Haag says. “A lot of states don’t have the infrastructure to burn E15, as their pumps are not set up. We need some adjustments there also from EPA to allow E15 to be used in your normal conditions like unleaded 87 is.”

Swanson says they’re also looking for demand in the export market.

"[We’re] also stressing the importance of continuing to work on some of these new trade frameworks and build international market access as well.”

Unfortunately, if help comes, it may not be in time to stop the bleeding at harvest time.

Pete's Pick: Almost 20-Year-Old Case IH Ohio Combine Nearly Breaks Record

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 17:38:33 GMT

Greg “Machinery Pete’” Peterson has noted the strong performance of well-conditioned, pre-DEF used combines on the farm equipment auction circuit this summer, and “Pete’s Pick of the Week” checks that box yet again.

At an auction on Friday in Oberlin, Ohio, a 2006 Case IH 2388 combine with 2,361 engine hours and no header included (pictured top of page) sold for $120,000. That’s the second-highest auction price for a used 2006 Case IH 2388 since 2013, according to MachineryPete.com auction data.

The all-time record price came in on a like-new model with only 98 operating hours that included a corn harvesting head on Feb. 2, 2007. That record-setting machine brought $155,000 at an auction in Henderson, Ky. Here’s a link to the historic data on used 2388s sold since 2007.

“[Just] more confirmation of maybe one of the biggest trends of 2025, which I would say is the increasing buyer demand on really good condition, pre-DEF combines,” Pete says. “Of course, in green country, you know, it’s been a tough year, tough two years, because the price of new is so doggone high. When times are tight like this, folks tend to look for the nicest used [machines]. And, of course, pre-DEF you can work on them yourself.”

Upcoming Auctions To Watch

Pete has a pair of auctions he wants interested buyers to check out this week, both taking place Thursday, Aug. 14.

First up is Rebel Auction Co.’s Monthly Construction & Farm Equipment Auction in Hazelhurst, Ga., kicking off at 9 a.m. EST. That sale will feature over 450 machines across 1,400 lots, Pete says. You can check that sale out here.

And BigIron Auction/Sullivan Auctioneers Premium Equipment Online Auction is also wrapping up on Thursday. Online bidding is open now and the bids will close Thursday at 11 a.m. CST. Head here to check out the auction docket and get registered to bid .

Here’s Pete’s Facebook post with some pictures of the machines that are available in that auction:

Your Next Read: Is the Ag Economy in a Recession? Why Economists and Farmers Don’t Agree

Be Prepared: Intense Storm Cluster With 75+ MPH Winds Working Through Upper Midwest Monday Evening

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 19:51:00 GMT

A powerful cluster of storms is forming in the Upper Midwest with a chance for crop-damaging winds and potential tornados in central South and North Dakota as well as southwestern Minnesota, warns The National Weather Service and meteorologist Bret Walts with BAMWX.com.

Walts expects the cluster will release a lot of wind energy this afternoon and this evening as it gathers steam moving east through the upper Great Plains. It could even intensify into a rare derecho storm with hurricane force winds.

UPDATE: The Weather Channel is now reporting a “derecho is likely to strike the Northern Plains.”

“We’ve got a stronger (atmospheric) jet stream moving in with a lot of instability in place still with the heat and humidity across parts of Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and Minnesota,” he says.

Walts is paying close attention to how quickly the individual storm cells merge together. He says the faster that formation occurs the more intense the storm has the potential to become.

7/28/25: Intense severe storms are expected to form this afternoon in SD and spread southeastward into MN and IA through tonight. Swaths of damaging winds, potentially 75-90 mph, are the main concern. Be prepared to take action if watches and warnings are issued for your area. pic.twitter.com/wf2rH7eUdD
— NWS Storm Prediction Center (@NWSSPC) July 28, 2025

Walts forecasts the timing as 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. CT for parts of South and North Dakota, while 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. would be the time frame for the most intense winds in northwest Iowa and southwest Minnesota.

“If that initial cell to the north shoots out of a lot of boundaries it could lead to the setup becoming a little bit messier,” Walts says. “We’ll know by five or six o’clock that if this thing is not getting organized, then we have an idea it is not going to be that intense. But I don’t anticipate that happening because the environment is very, very unstable and there’s a lot of wind energy. That combination this time of the year normally is not a good thing.”

NOAA says it expects these storms will move very quickly, and it is important to take action when warnings are issued locally. Do not wait until you see or hear signs of a strong storm because by that time it might be too late.

Your Next Read: Insights From Seed Companies on Tackling Tassel Wrap Challenges

Unbelievable Find Alert: 40-Year-Old John Deere Combine With 675 Hours Up for Grabs

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 18:35:48 GMT

If you had “40-year-old combine with under 700 hours” as this week’s “Pick of the Week” on your bingo card, go down to your local corner store and play your lucky numbers.

That’s because this week’s spotlight shines squarely on a relic of the past you just don’t see every day, or even every few years: a 1985 John Deere 6620 combine (shown below) with a pickup head and just 675 operating hours. The harvester is out of Baudette, Minn., and it spent a good chunk of its life in barn storage while the original owner used it to cut a small plot of wheat.

(MachineryPete.com)

This particular “Pick of the Week” is also unique because it isn’t listed with any of the major auction companies. Its new owner (the combine belonged to the listing agent’s uncle) quietly uploaded photos and listed it for sale by owner for $21,500 on MachineryPete.com.

That small act opened the proverbial online floodgates, and now interested buyers from all over the Midwest are reaching out to let Pete know they intend to bring that bad boy home to their own barn.

“We posted this (combine) across our social media this weekend and there were 5,000 clicks on it just last night,” Pete says. “I’ve got people that I know pinging me like, ‘Greg, I want to buy that thing’. It just shows you can’t find them like that (anymore). It was really kind of an interesting item.”

While some might view the price tag as a bit steep for a four-decade old machine, those that know about such things can spot a good deal in the wild, Pete says.

“I think $21,500 — I mean, that’s why I’m getting phone calls like, ‘My checkbook’s out, I want to buy it’. That’s what I suspected (would happen),” Pete says. “It’s difficult to price it now, and we always encourage people to go to our website to look for a (anything) comparable. But it’s hard to find a comparable on a 40-year-old combine with 675 (hours).”

If you’re interested in bidding on this week’s Pick of The Week, there’s still time. Head over to MachineryPete.com and get registered.

“You just don’t find them at that age and that nice,” Pete says. “So again, there’s a lot of heat when you find an older one that’s in great condition like that.”

This Week’s Auction To Keep An Eye On

Machinery Pete will be in Mt. Sterling, Ill., on Tuesday, July 29, for the conclusion of the Mt. Sterling Summer 2025 Auction. Kerr Auctions is handling the bidding, and owner Alex Kerr and his team have pulled together a nice auction docket featuring eight John Deere 8R tractors and a fleet of used harvest headers.

Check out the auction preview video above from Machinery Pete’s Facebook page and get registered to bid online over at KerrAuction.com.

Your Next Read: What Problems Are Showing Up In Your Corn Fields?

Machinery Pete and Casey Seymour Talk Used UTVs, Auction Bidding Styles and Fishing

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 17:21:17 GMT

While the big iron is undoubtedly the star of the show at used farm equipment auctions, there are often miscellaneous-but-still-useful machines that make their way onto the auction docket.

Utility Task Vehicles (UTVs), also known as side-by-sides, four-wheelers, etc., are one such machine that you’ll encounter, because farmers and ranchers use these versatile, lightweight Swiss Army knives for a wide range of tasks around the farm.

And even if you’re not farming, if you’re into outdoor activities like hunting, fishing or trail riding, UTVs are a great tool to get into some spaces and places where a full-size pickup truck can’t venture.

Machinery Pete recalls a pair of UTV transactions that stick out from his recent travels around the Midwest covering farm equipment auctions.

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

About six weeks ago, he says, a still-new-in-the-box 1984 Honda 250R ATC in New York sold for $200,000. And another Honda from the mid-80s, this one a 200 Series three-wheeler (shown above), sold for $14,500.

Besides Honda, Kawasaki, and John Deere with its iconic Gator series, Polaris is another manufacturer that Pete says is gaining traction selling four-wheelers to farmers and ranchers.

And if you consider yourself a bit of a UTV aficionado, you might be pleasantly surprised to learn MachineryPete.com tracks sales data and search traffic on used UTVs.

Pete says that data shows back in 2023, there was a big oversupply of the machines on the used market, but today that trend has flipped, and it’s actually a good time to sell a used side-by-side.

“One of the cool things about a side-by-side is that they have a big (depreciation) hit up front, but their mid-range life, that middle of the road dollar value that you see, it tends to linger a lot more than I think other pieces of equipment do,” adds Casey Seymour.

Pete has looked at the data on UTV sales and he’s found that sales and values at auction tend to spike when times are good in agriculture.

“If I were one of those ( UTV) companies, I would watch the price of corn and beans, and as soon as there’s a jump man, shift your ad spend into the ag space,” he says. “That’s what I would do, that’s my Machinery Pete recommendation.”

Our hosts then pivoted to a little fun and spent some time talking about anything other than used equipment values. If you’re into fishing, all of the different styles of bidding that farmers exhibit at auctions, or just having a laugh with two good ol’ boys like Seymour and Machinery Pete, you don’t want to skip the opening segment this week.

The Rest of the Episode
Economic analyst Rich Posson, RFPCO Group, gave an update on the state of the economy. He expects inflation to continue to trend higher going into 2026. Right now, we’re at about a 2.5% inflation rate compared to prices last year, Posson says.

Used equipment specialist Aaron Fintel, 21^st Century Equipment, took the last segment to take a deep dive alongside Seymour into the used farm equipment export market. The guys agree that one of the largest export markets for American machines, Ukraine, is down at the moment due to the conflict with Russia, while China is starting to come on strong as a buyer.

Head on over to YouTube to watch the full episode , and please give it a “Thumbs Up” and hit the “Subscribe” button to get new episodes as soon as they drop.

Your Next Read: Farmer Fred Pflugh’s Iconic Oliver 1855 Tractor Shines in Western PA

Red, White and Tractors: Machinery Pete’s Fourth of July Farm Equipment Highlights

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 16:59:16 GMT

Get ready to wave that flag, wave it wide and high!

It’s the official midway point of the summer growing season. The week of the Fourth of July is finally here, and Machinery Pete is feeling the USA Pride. He’s high-steppin’ like Uncle Sam with four “Picks of the Week” to share after a busy end of June on the used farm equipment auction market.

The first “Pick of the Week” comes to us from the Donald Bergquist farm retirement auction in Edmor, N.D. Pete recently talked about the high auction prices that well-maintained, pre-DEF equipment will often garner at retirement auctions, and this particular transaction set a new high for 2025.

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

Donald Bergquists’ 2011 John Deere 9770 STS combine (above) in “beautiful condition” with only 446 hours sold for $187,500. That’s the third-highest auction price of all time on a 2011 9770 STS, and the top result for that make/model over the last six months.

“You expect that to sell high, and of course that’s pre-DEF,” Pete says. “I’ve been writing and talking a lot for the last year or so about how late-model combines have been adjusting downwards pretty aggressively for a couple years now, yet despite that fact these older pre-DEF combines in good condition, wow, they are really hot.”

Pete says the “sparks were flying on that one” because the combine sparked a fiery debate among his Facebook followers. Some used equipment aficionados claim it is a bargain because many farmers today prefer the 10-to-15-year-old used combines in good condition versus newer, harder-to-DIY models. Others claim old machines that haven’t been used much of late are “problematic to put back in use.”

Pete’s second “Pick of the Week” set a new all-time record, and it came off a consignment auction in Dalton, Minn.

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

There, a one-owner 1982 Case IH 2290 tractor with 2,576 hours from the Glesne Farms retirement auction line out of Underwood, Minn., sold for $27,500. The previous record high for a Case IH 2290 was $26,250 set in 2023.

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

Pete’s third “Pick of the Week” also generated a lot of discussion on social media. On Saturday, in Huntertown, Ind., a 2003 John Deere 7810 mechanical FWD tractor with 12,110 hours on it sold for $137,000. That’s the seventh-highest auction price of all time on a 7810 mechanical FWD, Pete says.

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

And last but not least, Pete’s fourth Pick of the Week is a bit of a curve ball. At a Lake Benton, Minn., auction a unique, three-legged John Deere “Farm Implements” sign sold for $8,500.

Want more Machinery Pete? Check out the video segment above from “AgDay.” Pete highlights a pair of pre-DEF, used loader tractors he finds interesting.

Your Next Read: Essential Advice for Safely Buying Used Farm Machinery

Pete's Pick of the Week: Paying Homage to Fallen Auction Legends, John Deere Machines Fetch High Prices

Mon, 19 May 2025 16:59:51 GMT

Farm equipment industry legend Conrad Clement is Machinery Pete’s “Pick of the Week.” Clement, 80, passed away on May 6 at his home in Decorah, Iowa.

Conrad Clement

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

After getting his start as a mechanic at his local implement dealer in Iowa, Clement moved to Grand Meadow, Minn., where he founded the pre-internet auction house Midwest Auctions in 1969. Clement also purchased Featherline Trailers in Cresco, Iowa, in 1989 and then went on to own the Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa.

“We just want to send a shout-out and say thank you to Conrad for all his contributions to the ag community in Minnesota, Iowa and beyond,” Machinery Pete says. “And another shout-out to Carroll Olson from Atkinson, Neb. Now, Carroll passed away some time ago but his online estate auction was just last Wednesday by our friends at Big Iron. Carroll was quite a legendary figure out in Nebraska.”

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

Olson’s pair of Big Bud Tractors, both 1979 52550 models (one is pictured above), were auctioned off last week. One of the machines brought $77,500 and the other went for $78,000.

If you want to learn more about Conrad Clement’s legacy in the farm equipment world, check out the YouTube video above. Machinery Pete put it together last year during a visit to Minnesota.

John Deere 8285R, S780 Bring In Big Bids
Pete also highlighted a pair of used John Deere machines that caught his eye from last week’s auction results:

(Machinery Pete Facebook)

A 2012 8285R tractor with 975 hours (shown above) sold for $211,200 at a farm retirement auction helmed by Purple Wave Auction in Rogersville, Mo. Pete says that is the eighth highest auction price of all-time on a 8285R.

(Machinery Pete Facebook)
A 2024 S780 combine with 288 hours sold for $425,250 on May 14 at an online farm auction in Belleville, Kan.

Bonus Pete: If you missed Machinery Pete’s segment on “AgDay” talking about vintage farm equipment that recently sold at auction you can check it out at the video below.

Your Next Read: U.S. Tractor and Combine Sales Still Struggling, But Better Days Could Be Just Ahead

Farmers Race to the Planting Finish Line

Wed, 14 May 2025 02:56:47 GMT

With last week’s warm and mostly dry weather farmers sped ahead on planting across the Corn Belt.

USDA’s crop progress report showed Minnesota led the pace with 75% of the corn now planted, 14% ahead of the five-year average.

Soybeans are over half done and 15% ahead of normal.

Southern Minnesota Nearly Done Planting

2025 has been a record setting planting season for Mike Madsen and many farmers in Southern Minnesota.

“It will be the earliest planting in our in our location and I think if you go 50 miles around us to the west and the south it’s probably even quicker,” he says.

With extreme cold and very little snow cover over the winter, the Heron Lake farmer says spring field conditions couldn’t have been better, even for his no-till seed customers.

“Soil conditions are so good that they got in early and they finished their planting mostly in April I believe.”

Planting Season Stark Contrast to 2024

In 2024 Madsen got this same field planted late and then in June received 15 inches of rain in two days.

“The field that we’re in right now today is an 80 acre field and I think 40 of it we lost to flooding,” he explains.

That was followed by flash drought.

Yet, at the Madsen farm they still harvested close to average crops.

So he’s optimistic about yield potential with this spring’s faster start.

“We’re looking for record, I would say, trend line to record yields if we can get the moisture,” he adds.

Agronomically Shooting for Record Yields

Madsen also pushes his corn populations gunning for higher production.

“I’m pushing 37 (37,000) now on some of these varieties that that are a determinant ear that need the ear count out there.”

However, he and many of his customers kept their normal rotations. They’re bucking the trend as USDA estimates farmers in Minnesota intend to switch 400,000 acres of soybeans into corn.

“Personally, we stick with rotations. It just works better for both crops.”

With the recent above normal temperatures, Madsen’s early corn has already emerged.

“We have seen it pop out of the ground within a day or two from nothing to rowing the corn in two days. So, that that’s that’s huge for yield potential to get it out of the ground in the first week of May that’s almost unheard of.”

With the jump start he’s also hoping to beat heat stress and predicted drought for his area during critical reproductive stage for corn.

The soil profile is three-fourths full, so he thinks he’ll be okay for pollination.

And Madsen needs to bushel up to make up for even slimmer margins than in 2024.

“Currently, very tight. That’s why we’re all happy to see the crop in the ground and growing, hoping for a good yield to make up for the price that we can’t seem to get off where it’s been the last year or so,” he says.

Nationally Corn and Soybean Planting Has Sped Ahead of Average

Nationally corn planting is now well past the halfway mark with 62% of the crop planted, that’s 6% ahead of the five-year average.

Soybeans are also much further along with 48% now planted, that’s 11% ahead of the norm.

Many farmers on our “Plant Your Independence” tour have already wrapped up planting.

Rod Parkinson is seeing corn plants emerge in Illinois.

((Wyffels, Rod Parkinson))

Rod Parkinson, Wataga, Illinois

In Western Illinois, Rod Parkinson says corn is growing fast thanks to heat and plenty of GDUs at his farm near Wataga.

He says anything planted last week, is emerging in 6-to-7days.

He estimates 98% of the corn in his area is planted and nearly 100% of the soybeans.

Casey Kelleher farms in Whitewater, WI

(Wyffels)

Casey Kelleher, Whitewater, Wisconsin

Weather continues to be a roller coaster in Whitewater Wisconsin for Casey Kelleher.

We visited his farm last week, while he was stopped for rain.

Since then they’ve finished planting.

A lot of the corn is up with good stands and good color.

Ward Hunter farms in Ogden, IA

(Wyffels)

Ward Hunter, Ogden, Iowa

Heading into Iowa...as we told you last week, Ward Hunter in the central part of the state has also finished planting, and he says the crops look really good.

They’ve been fortunate to have no replant so far this spring.

However, he’s hearing a lot of crusting in west central and northwest Iowa, which is forcing replant on some soybeans in those areas.

Temperatures are forecast to reach near 90 degrees on Wednesday... and if they don’t get any moisture this week, they’ll definitely need a good rain by next week.

Jeff Reints

(Wyffels)

Jeff Reints, Shell Rock, Iowa

In the northeast part of the state...Jeff Reints says he finished planting at the end of last week.

Most farmers in the area are done with corn and have only 10%-to-15% of the soybeans left to seed.

With above normal temps crops are emerging quickly, but he says there will be about 5% replant in fields hit by heavy rains that sat in saturated soils too long.

Brent Johnson farms in Ashland, IL

(Wyffels)

Brent Johnson, Ashland, Illinois

And Brent Johnson in Ashland, Illinois says he finished planting earlier this week.

Out of all the farmers we talked to on the tour this year, he’d normally be one of the first ones to finish.

But it’s been an odd spring with very sporadic rains. That’s caused planting to happen in small doses, versus one long stretch.

Midwest Farmers Dodge Spotty Rains as Planting Season Jumps Ahead of Schedule

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 20:40:40 GMT

Timely rains and great conditions have farmers racing to put seeds in the ground. USDA’s latest crop progress report shows 24% of the corn crop is now planted. That’s 2% ahead of the five-year average. For soybeans, 18% is now in the ground, which is 6% ahead of normal.

The weather and soil conditions are cooperating for the farmers on the “Plant Your Independence Tour” this spring. In Iowa, despite some rains, corn planting is 6% ahead of the five-year average at 34% complete. Soybeans are a quarter of the way done.

Jeff Reints farms near Shell Rock, IA

(Wyffels)

Jeff Reints farms in northeast Iowa near Shell Rock and has received 5" to 7" of rain across his ground since Easter Sunday. Right now, he still has about half of his acres left to plant. He’s hoping to get back in the field later this week to get back on schedule.

“We could still be completed with planting by May 10, which is a good, normal goal for us,” Reints says.

Ward Hunter farms in Ogden, IA

(Wyffels)

In Ogden, Iowa, farmer Ward Hunter said planting got off to its earliest start ever, but dry weather had him concerned. Now things have flipped. Hunter says he didn’t turn a wheel last week, and his fields have seen anywhere from 2" to 4" of rain.

In Minnesota, corn planting stands at 26% done, which is 5% ahead of average. Soybean planting sits at 13% this week and 7% ahead of normal.

Mike Madsen farms in Heron Lake, MN

(Wyffels)

Mike Madsen farms in Heron Lake, Minn., and saw 1.5” of rain between Friday and Monday. He’s planning to resume planting this week and expects to finish the last of the corn.

“Our farm has 150 acres of corn left to plant. No soybeans are in yet,” Madsen explains. “We have a little way to go, but it’s OK. It’s still April.”

Six hours southeast in Whitewater, Wis., Casey Kelleher says the ground is warm and working up beautifully. He says once they got started, the crop is going in quickly.

Casey Kelleher farms in Whitewater, WI

(Wyffels)

“About 50% of our corn, or roughly 1,200 acres, is in,” Kelleher says. “We’re just getting going on soybeans, and we’re in our first field now.”

Across the border in Illinois, some farmers were able to plant around the rain. Brent Johnson says they planted Wednesday, Thursday and over the weekend around Ashland, Ill. He has about 22% of his soybeans left to plant and 45% of his corn.

Brent Johnson farms in Ashland, IL

(Wyffels)

USDA says overall, 22% of soybeans are in the ground across Illinois. That’s 2% ahead of average. Corn is at 16% planted, which is 10% behind the usual pace.

The shift in planting pace is happening as more farmers put soybeans in first for agronomic reasons.

That’s a similar story for the Parkinson farm in Wataga, Ill. Their beans are done despite dodging storms on their way toward completion.

Rod Parkinson farms near Wataga, IL

(Wyffels)

“We’ve had a little over an inch of rain in the last week,” says Brian Parkinson.

He farms with his brother, Rod,, who says rain on April 17 kept them on the sideline for a few days.

“We hadn’t planted any corn, and I have a lot of friends, neighbors and customers in the same boat,” Rod says. “They got their beans planted but are waiting to start corn.”

The Parkinson brothers are the fifth generation on this family farm. Rod’s son, Austin, is the sixth generation.

“There’s been a lot of generations and a lot of hard work and effort to get to where we are today,” Austin says as the trio checks soil conditions once more. “This ground condition isn’t far off. It really just needs a full day of sun, and then guys will be able to get back in.”

With beans done, their focus is turning to corn, which currently offers better potential for returns.

“Corn does pencil a lot better this year,” Rod says. “With beans, you need an 11 in the front of them, and I don’t know that we’re going to get there. So, we did switch an 80-acre parcel to corn.”

This year their operation is roughly a 60/40 split between corn and beans.

As morning grey turns to midday sun, corn planting on their corner of Illinois commences.

“This winter was different than last because we had a lot of freezing and thawing. That’s why the soil is so good,” Rod says. “A year ago, we never had one freeze, and it stayed heavy all spring.”

Even with the delay, they’re in good shape agronomically.

“Last year, our Wyffel’s data showed April corn through May 15 corn really had no yield drag,” Austin says. “After May 15, you have a little bit. But it’s really all about planting conditions. If you can plant when the conditions are good that’s going to be the best way to go.”

Patience with the planter is key as the Parkinsons dodge raindrops.

“I think guys are feeling pretty optimistic right now,” adds Rod as he watches Brian put the first corn rows into strips.

He’s optimistic the planting will get done, even as the growing season is just beginning.

Tractor Tales: Rediscover Classics from John Deere and International Harvester

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 21:31:23 GMT

If you love antique and unique farm tractors, then Machinery Pete’s Tractor Tales segment is right up your alley. You can find the videos on YouTube. The segments are also featured each weekend on U.S. Farm Report.

Here’s a roundup of some of the latest Tractor Tales videos.

John Deere Tractor Tales

Ohio farmer Chris Durham has one of only 39 John Deere 435 diesel tractors on his McClure, Ohio, farm. Making this tractor even more special is the original engine Deere planned to use for this model was swapped out for a General Motors 253 hp “Detroit Diesel” two stroke engine. Durham said that Deere did not like how the engine sounded or its rough starts in cold weather, so large-scale production was scrapped.

Manlius, Ill., farmer Kim Sanden and a couple buddies took the time to painstakingly restore this 1970 John Deere 4070 diesel tractor, which Sanden purchased from a lady in Springfield, Ill. The old workhorse tractor was pretty beat up when Sanden and his friends first got to wrenching on it, but you’d never be able to tell looking at it today. That is one sweet, sweet looking restored John Deere tractor.

Colorado farmer Tyson Hanson and his family have restored a John Deere GP tractor that has been in the family for over 50 years. It’s the first tractor Hanson ever drove as a kid growing up on the farm, and it’s not one you’d easily forget due to the unique clickity-clackity-sputtering cadence of its engine. It was owned by Hanson’s great-grandfather, who owned 200-plus two-cylinder tractors during his life. Apparently, the old tractor is still a beast when it comes to tractor pulls: The Hansons have only lost a handful of pulls with the GP.

Fun with Farmall

You’re going to start picking up on a theme with these: Farmers love to go back and buy the first tractor they ever drove, and that’s exactly the case with Saint Mary’s, Kan., farmer Dan Kennedy and his candy-apple red Farmall BN tractor.

Kennedy purchased the tractor from a farm in Shanksville, Penn., that was right next to the field where United Airlines Flight 93 crashed on 9/11. Kennedy says he still gets choked up even today talking about this special tractor. That’s one farmer who will truly never forget.

Adrian, N.D., farmer Lee Miller has a beautifully restored 1949 M-D Diesel that also takes unleaded gasoline. He says the diesel engine is more powerful than the gasoline combustion engine, so most farmers would take the tractor to a local machine shop and have them widen the original rims a few inches so they could use wider footprint tires to take advantage of that additional torque to the ground.

Northfield, Minn., farmer Jeremy Sevcik bought and restored a 1946 H Series tractor as part of a 4-H project during high school. He fixed a broken gear box, sandblasted all the sheet metal and gave it a fresh coat of paint. It turned out to be a pretty solid school project: Sevcik bought the tractor off his Dad last fall, and he uses it for pulling trailers and moving around hay racks.

Your Next Read: Casey Seymour and Machinery Pete Join Forces on the Moving Iron Podcast

FTC vs. John Deere: Two Experts Answer Key Questions

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 21:30:00 GMT

On Jan. 15, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court accusing John Deere of creating and presiding over a monopolistic and anti-competitive repair and dealer service system that puts farmers and independent repair professionals at an unfair disadvantage.

The news of this legal action has sent shock-waves through the ag equipment world. Deere has since offered an official statement condemning the action as “meritless…baseless…brazen partisanship.”

Incoming FTC chair, commissioner Andrew Ferguson, who has been appointed to head up the agency under President Trump, issued a statement that simultaneously recognizes the importance of allowing farmers to diagnose and fix their machines while indicating he disagrees with the decision to file the lawsuit. Fergusons’ statement was cosigned by fellow FTC commissioner Melissa Holyoak.

What happens next?
According to a post at FTC.gov, once the agency files a lawsuit the respondent – in this case, John Deere – has the right to contest the charges. FTC may then issue a final order, which can be appealed to the courts. The agency may also seek civil (i.e. financial) damages or request an injunction against Deere.

Plaintiff’s counsel have requested an injunction against John Deere. The lawsuit expressly asks for “a permanent injunction and other equitable relief against Deere to prevent its unlawful conduct in or affecting commerce in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act” along with several state statutes in Illinois and Minnesota.

The Interviews
Now that we’ve set the stage, here is what two experts who have paid close attention to the case have to say about it:

James Kovacs is an antitrust attorney with Shinder Cantor Lerner (SLC), a national litigation firm that specializes in antitrust law.

Q: Is what FTC is accusing Deere of difficult to prove in a court of law?

A: “This is actually a very interesting topic that has been going on now for a number of decades, called right to repair. And right to repair within the antitrust space, which is where I practice, has to do with whether or not restrictions placed by the original equipment manufacturer, in this case John Deere, and what we call an aftermarket, which are the areas in which people compete for repair or service, whether those, you know, aftermarkets are being harmed. And so looking at whether people cannot either independently repair their own equipment or whether independent retailers or repair centers are also restricted as well. With these cases, really any monopolization case is challenging, but here I will say that the practices of John Deere, I think, are quite open and notorious.

“For a long time, people have been aware that farmers have been restricted from repairing their farm equipment. There are a variety of means, most of which are sort of technical issues in which the data and information necessary to perform the repair or the tool, which I believe is called the Service Advisor, has been restricted. And so, when the farmer or the independent repair center goes to fix the John Deere equipment, they are not able to access the necessary technical information to complete the job. And now the farmer can only do those types of repairs through a John Deere retailer, an authorized retailer.

“And so, this type of conduct within the right to repair market dates back to cases in the 1990s, in particular, with Kodak printers. And it can be found to be anti-competitive, wherein there’s an entity with basically complete control over the repair market who applies these types of restrictions. So, this is not something that is uncommon. And it’s something that’s seen quite an uptick in interest since the Biden Administration made it a priority. And when the FTC issued their initial report, called Nixing The Fix, that sort of got the ball rolling on the FTC’s interest in these types of cases.”

Q: In your opinion, does FTC have a strong case here?

A: “In my experience, the FTC does not bring complaints unless they feel like there are strong grounds to do so. Again, I also think there are a couple key factors at play here. One, I think the public is becoming quite aware of John Deere’s practices. I know that there are several reports and public sources out there who have spoken about these issues and their impact on farmers and their farming equipment.

“The second aspect to keep in mind is there is also a private litigation against John Deere alleging the same practices. That case has proceeded past a motion to dismiss. And so, what that means is the allegations have been proven to be sufficient to allow the parties to proceed into discovery. And I think that gives credence to the fact these claims are not necessarily merit-less at all. But in fact, people who have been looking at these issues believe there are merits to these claims. And I think the FTC does not typically act unless they believe strongly that an issue could be problematic.”

Q: FTC, through their legal team, has requested an injunction against Deere along with their co-plaintiffs, the state attorney generals in Illinois and Minnesota. Let’s say I’m a farmer in Illinois or Minnesota, and I’m using Deere equipment. I may be looking to have some repairs made before spring planting by a John Deere dealer. Could there be implications at play for those users?

A: “I think it’s important to note that the FTC’s jurisdiction is nationwide. And so, what the FTC is seeking through its injunctive relief, as I understand it, is access to what they call the ‘full function Service Advisor (program).’ As of right now, there is sort of an incomplete Service Advisor that the independent repair pros and the farmers have access to, but that doesn’t give them the full suite of options to repair all the needs of their farming equipment. And the allegation is that John Deere has withheld some of this technical information out of a desire to sort of capture the repair market under the injunctive relief.

“As I understand it, if the FTC were to be successful in any litigation and a jury ultimately found in their favor, then ultimately the farmers would be able to get access to this full Service Advisor tool and therefore be able to complete more repairs. Whether or not John Deere comes up with additional ways of restricting repairs is going to be open to interpretation, but at least this is a very specific injunctive relief. And there’s also sort of broader language to sort of prevent them from continuing this unlawful conduct. And so, I think it could be substantial relief.”

Willie Cade is a Washington, D.C., lobbyist and Right to Repair advocate. His grandfather was on the board at John Deere and worked for the company as a chief engineer. He can be reached by email at willie@graceful.solutions .

Q: What have you learned about this legal action that sticks out to you?

A: “A couple of things really stick out in my mind. No. 1, deep into the filing, around paragraph 111, they talk about how this monopolization of repair actually affects all repairs.

“Yes, it’s not monopolization of every repair, but it affects the price of every repair, which is remarkable. And they really call it a monopoly. They’re flat out about it. I love the way they took the time – we initially filed the complaint with the FTC and I worked on that with the attorneys that filed it three years ago. So they did their homework and they’ve done a really good job. And I really recommend to the farmers who really care about this issue, that they read the complaint because it reads really well. It reads like they know the industry, like they know what they’re talking about and that kind of thing.

“The other thing that was kind of interesting is, is they have lots (of evidence). They have a number of John Deere executives on record saying that, yeah, we knew we were doing this. So, I mean, they’ve really nailed it from that point of view. And when you look at the dissenting opinion from the two Republican commissioners, it’s a non-dissent dissent. There really was no objection to the substance of the suit, just the timing.”

Q: Are you aware of any other major farm machinery companies that might be engaged in similar conduct?

A: “They’re all doing it. They all use the same similar kind of technology — the CAN bus. Caterpillar is a little different because it’s not a CAN bus, it’s a hub. But those are just technical details. They’re still wanting to, I assert, illegally control the consumer after they sell the product. That’s a legal concept called tying. And tying has been illegal for almost a century now. And the electronics allow you to do it today where you weren’t able to do it before, other than physically. So we’re going to nail this. It’s going to take a year or two and then we’re going to move on. We’re going to move on to some even more important issues in agriculture. But I won’t tell you what that is yet.”

Q: Could you see this becoming sort of a win-win situation, where the farmers win out on this and even Deere comes out of this looking somewhat okay and maybe better for the long term?

A: “Well, here’s the interesting thing. Due to the lack of rights to repair their own farm equipment, farmers stand to lose $4.2 billion a year. About 20% of that is realized in higher prices for repair and services. The rest is in lost yield. So, could you imagine if farmers could get that rough number, that $3.8 billion back or even $3.7 billion back? And it’s all profit, by the way. By the time you get the yield, it’s all profit. If they could get that as profit, of course John Deere is going to do better with sales.”

Watch this video for additional coverage from the Jan. 18, 2025, episode of U.S. Farm Report.

Your Next Read: How a Con Man Pulled the Evilest Agriculture Fraud in History

Cargill to Terminate About 475 Employees in Minnesota

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 17:32:51 GMT

Global trading house Cargill has told Minnesota it will permanently lay off about 475 employees from facilities in the state starting on Feb. 5, a state agency said on Tuesday.

Cargill has said it plans to cut around 5% of its staff after revenue slumped in its most recent fiscal year as crop prices hit multi-year lows.

Agricultural merchants, including privately held Cargill, are under pressure as prices of the commodity crops they trade, such as wheat, corn and soybeans, have dropped to near four-year lows and crop processing margins have shrunk.

Cargill’s Minnesota employees work at an office center in Wayzata or are “tagged” to the facility but live elsewhere, the company said in a letter to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.

“Cargill is undergoing a business restructuring that is resulting in a reduction in force of certain roles at the Wayzata Office Center,” the letter said.

(Reporting by Tom Polansek; Editing by Lisa Shumaker and Chizu Nomiyama)

West Central Ag Membership Affirms Merger With CHS

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 22:41:53 GMT

Yesterday, West Central Ag Services’ membership voted to affirm the merger with CHS.

This comes after weeks of campaigning for the cooperative to consider a resubmitted offer for purchase by The Arthur Companies, which resulted in CHS increasing its original offer by $25 million.

The total votes exceeded 1,100 active patrons, of which more than 70% voted in favor with the CHS merger (two-thirds approval was required to affirm the merger.) The transaction will officially close in the coming weeks.

“The West Central Ag Services board is pleased that our members agreed that CHS is the best fit for our cooperative. Joining CHS connects our farmer-members in northwest Minnesota and eastern North Dakota to the global marketplace efficiently,” says Duane Brendemuhl, West Central Ag Services Board president and chair. “By becoming part of the CHS supply chain, we’re providing strength and long-term value for owners and the cooperative system.”

West Central Ag Services offers grain and agronomy services to more than 3,000 members and has 14 locations in west central Minnesota. CHS says its footprint extends to more than 450 communities across 16 states.

“We are excited to move forward as one cooperative and welcome West Central Ag Services members and employees to CHS. Together, we will directly connect more producers to the global ag supply chain, providing broad market access for all our farmer-owners,” says Rick Dusek, executive vice president of ag retail, distribution and transportation at CHS.

In the days leading up to the vote, members were offered meetings hosted by both West Central and Arthur Companies. Additionally, members posted on social media about receiving multiple calls and text messages from the West Central board encouraging them to vote and vote in support of the merger.

The original vote was scheduled for Nov. 7, however, when official documents were made public about the offer from CHS, The Arthur Companies revealed itself to be another bidder for the West Central Ag business, and they resubmitted their offer for acquisition.

“The Arthur Companies hopes we’ve raised awareness on the full range of options available to maximize growers’ bottom line when cooperatives are considering their future,” says James Burgum, CEO of the Arthur Companies.

Previous Coverage:
Merger Vote Proceeds For West Central Ag and CHS

Co-Op Board Delays Merger Vote, Farmers Will Consider Two Offers

Can A Last-Minute Campaign Derail An Ag Retail Merger?

Merger Vote Proceeds For West Central Ag and CHS

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 13:53:00 GMT

The board of West Central Ag Services has announced it will put one offer for acquisition in front of its membership on Nov. 26. The board said the vote to continue with the process to merge with CHS was unanimous.

As reported by the Red River Farm Network, West Central board chair Duane Brendemuhl described the CHS bid as “superior.”

This announcement comes after the West Central Ag board and business leadership met with The Arthur Companies to explore their resubmitted bid, which led to the member vote being delayed and rescheduled.

“We appreciate the chance to sit down with West Central’s leadership this past week,” says James Burgum, CEO of The Arthur Companies. “The Arthur Companies remains willing to work out a deal that prioritizes the growers’ bottom line while maintaining competition and great customer service for future generations. We’re looking forward to meeting with growers this week and we encourage patrons to get out and vote on November 26,”

This week, West Central Ag is hosting patron meetings across five locations.

Also this week, The Arthur Companies is continuing its campaign highlighting its own offer with meetings in four locations across Minnesota.

The vote on Nov. 26 will require 2/3 of the membership to vote to affirm the merger with CHS.

It’s been an interesting two weeks since The Arthur Companies disclosed they also submitted a bid for acquisition along with CHS for West Central Ag Services, a co-op based in western Minnesota with 14 locations.

Three things have made this story unique in the ag retail business:

Typically, when a company does not get chosen as the winning bid, they don’t reveal themselves
Not only is Arthur Companies making it known they sought to acquire West Central, they are actively asking farmers to reconsider a resubmitted indication of interest
This represents a family-owned business (The Arthur Companies) looking to acquire a cooperative

Previous Coverage:
Co-Op Board Delays Merger Vote, Farmers Will Consider Two Offers

Can A Last-Minute Campaign Derail An Ag Retail Merger?

Can A Last-Minute Campaign Derail An Ag Retail Merger?

Tue, 05 Nov 2024 18:38:10 GMT

There’s another vote this week getting attention in farm country across Minnesota.

As announced in May, CHS and West Central Ag Services have signed a nonbinding letter of intent for acquisition. The farmer member vote is Thursday, Nov. 6.

“We believe strongly in the value of the cooperative system and think CHS is a great home for West Central Ag Services. CHS is a farmer-owned cooperative that connects farmers to a global supply chain while providing patronage back to owners,” says Rick Dusek, EVP, ag retail, distribution and transportation at CHS.

However, on Nov. 4, The Arthur Companies disclosed they had put in an unsolicited bid for West Central acquisition in April. When the details of the merger with CHS were revealed in the voting paperwork received by farmers, Arthur Companies’ CEO James Burgum launched an unprecedented outreach effort.

“We know, after reviewing the proposal, that our alternative proposal is a stronger proposal for growers’ bottom line,” he says. “We wanted them to make sure as they go in to vote this Thursday and make a decision about the future of their cooperative, they have all the information and all the facts about The Arthur Company’s proposal about who we are and why we’re excited and interested to put ourselves in front of the patrons as an alternative path.”

Three things make this unique in the ag retail business:

This represents a family-owned business looking to acquire a cooperative
Typically, when a company does not get chosen as the winning bid, they don’t reveal themselves
Not only is Arthur Companies making it known they sought to acquire West Central, they are actively asking farmers to reconsider a resubmitted indication of interest

As detailed on ArthurAdvantage.com , the company outlines what is different about the proposals and posts the letter Burgum sent to West Central farmer members, which includes his contact information for direct outreach, and he says there has been a lot of inbound calls.

“This is important that they know there are still alternatives for them as they think about the future of their cooperative,” he says.

West Central Ag Services was founded in 2000, is headquartered in Ulen, Minnesota and has 14 locations.

How Pro Farmer's 2024 Yield Estimates Compare to USDA Expectations

Fri, 23 Aug 2024 19:39:45 GMT

For four days this past week, more than 100 crop scouts sampled 2,000 to 3,000 fields in seven Midwest states as part of the one-of-a-kind Pro Farmer Crop Tour . Building on the boots-on-the-ground data and observations, Pro Farmer considers crop maturity and historical differences in Crop Tour data versus USDA’s final yields to release its national production estimates.

“One of the major questions heading into Crop Tour was whether the corn and soybean crops could live up to the lofty expectations,” says Brian Grete, editor for Pro Farmer. “Of the two crops, I was more impressed with soybeans than corn, and the corn crop is stellar.”

Here are the 2024 Pro Farmer National Production Estimates.

Corn Yield Estimates

“The first two days of the tour all we did was move bushels from South Dakota and Nebraska to Ohio and Indiana compared with USDA estimates,” says Chip Flory, host of “AgriTalk.” “We had laid the groundwork for a really good crop in Iowa, but in northwest Iowa, we ran into problems, which we anticipated after too much rain during the planting season. In our final day running the routes, we’ve got a nice crop in Iowa, but Minnesota is another story.”

On the eastern side of the Corn Belt, Grete and fellow scouts found a strong corn crop.

“USDA put a record yield on corn for five of the seven states,” he says. “Ohio isn’t one of those — but if we weren’t talking about last year’s record crop in Ohio, this year would be up there. This year is comparing to last year’s gold standard.”

Indiana: Trouble spots are few and far between. The corn crop posted higher numbers across the board for ear count, grain length and the number of kernels around the cob compared to the 2023 crop.

Illinois: While scouts saw variability in Illinois, the high-yielding fields far exceeded those that fell short, and the state is holding a big crop . Plant health looks good, and even the lower leaves are still green.

Iowa: Yield potential looks promising , especially in the southeast corner, the garden spot, of the state. The corn in east-central Iowa looks good, but the variability is more noticeable in the northeast.

Minnesota: The corn crop in Minnesota doesn’t look too good from the road, and it seems to have ran out of gas . Record rainfall during planting hurt the crop out of the gate, causing drowned out spots and yellow corn, followed by a dry summer.

Nebraska: Despite hail damage and fewer ears, the Nebraska corn crop looks promising with better numbers for grain length and kernels around the cob compared with 2023. Some dryland corn looks as good as irrigated acres thanks to cooperative weather.

Ohio: Despite drought conditions this year (59% of Ohio is currently seeing some level of dryness), the corn crop is proving to be resilient .

South Dakota: Historic flooding that occurred right after Father’s Day in the southeast part of the state left its mark. Scouts found fields with fewer ears , but grain length was up compared with 2023. It’s obvious the corn crop had two very different planting dates, so there’s two very different crops growing in the state.

Soybean Yield Estimates

“Soybeans could be spectacular as long as there isn’t a weather event that derails the crop ahead of harvest,” Grete says. “Typically, there’s some concern with either the corn crop, soybean crop or both coming out of Crop Tour. There aren’t concerns this year.”

Indiana: If soybeans can get a rain or two, yields should finish strong .

Illinois: Uniformity, heavily podded plants and good soil moisture — Illinois has all the ingredients for a big yield , which is a pleasant surprise. “For beans that don’t look that impressive, they certainly have a lot of pods on them,” says crop scout Mark Bernard.

Iowa: Soybean fields are consisten t and show minimal pest and weed pressure across the state, boasting big pod increases versus last year.

Minnesota: Soybeans seem to have handled the excess water better than the corn crop, but yield will be lucky to top 50 bu. per acre .

Nebraska: More pods and pods with three and four beans are good signs.

Ohio: The pod factory is still working. Plants are heavily podded and recent rains pumped moisture into the pods. The drought seems to have had little impact on yield potential.

South Dakota: Soybeans are inconsistent and could go either way this year. The crop is still filling out and has a ton of work to do to realize its potential, Flory says. If it doesn’t get it done, then it’s probably not going to be last year’s bean crop.

Tyne Morgan, host of “ U.S. Farm Report ,” sits down with Chip Flory and Brian Grete to recap the highlights and lowlights from the 32nd Pro Farmer Crop Tour.

Your Next Read — Take Our Poll: How Are Your Yields Shaping Up This Year?

Harris Taps Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz As VP Pick, Can He Now Help Boost the Rural Vote?

Tue, 06 Aug 2024 18:52:45 GMT

Vice President Kamala Harris has chosen Minnesota governor Tim Walz as her 2024 vice presidential pick. The Harris campaign revealed the choice via an online message to supporters before a rally in Philadelphia, where Harris and her VP pick will make their first joint appearance. They will then tour other battleground states.

Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, is also set to campaign in Philadelphia following a joint rally in Georgia on Saturday.

Who is Tim Walz?

— Walz, aged 60, has been the Governor of Minnesota since 2018. He also serves as chair of the national Democratic Governors Association. He previously served six terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. Walz’s background includes a diverse range of experiences:

• He was born in West Point, Nebraska.
• A graduate of Chadron State College in Nebraska, Walz served in the Army National Guard, and then worked as a teacher, first on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, where he met his wife Gwen, a fellow teacher, and then in China and later as a high school teacher in Mankato, Minnesota, south of Minneapolis.
• He spent several decades as a high school educator, coaching football and serving as a faculty advisor for the school’s gay-straight alliance.
• Walz initially entered politics as a member of former Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry’s 2004 presidential campaign.
• In Congress, Walz focused on veterans’ issues and agricultural policy, reflecting his roots in rural America.
• As governor, some of Walz’ political accomplishments include ensuring tuition-free meals at participating state universities, enshrining abortion rights into state law, banning conversion therapy and providing protections for gender-affirming healthcare.
• Walz signed a bill last May expanding voting rights in Minnesota for an estimated 55,000 formerly incarcerated residents, and in 2020, oversaw the state’s response to both the Covid-19 pandemic and police brutality protests in the wake of George Floyd’s death at the hands of police, though he faced criticism from state Republicans over his delayed response to protests following Floyd’s killing.

— Walz’s selection is seen as a strategic move to appeal to rural voters and progressives, given his track record of progressive policy achievements and his Midwestern charm.
Perspective: His appeal to rural voters could be challenged. Sources say once he became governor, Walz was more attuned to city and suburban voters, not the rural sector, telling one contact that “I don’t need the Ag vote any longer.”

— Kamala Harris has taken the lead over Donald Trump in the Economist’s poll tracker ( link ), marking the first time a Democratic contender has led in the national popular vote since October 2023. Harris is currently ahead with 48% compared to Trump’s 45%. This represents a significant improvement from Joe Biden’s position, as he was trailing Trump by about three points when he ended his presidential campaign. Winning the nationwide popular vote is not enough to win the presidency, as Hillary Clinton and Al Gore can attest. Harris must win battleground states, such as Pennsylvania and Michigan, which have leaned to the right of the country in recent elections.

New Survey Shows Labor is Serious Challenge for Ag Industry

Thu, 28 Dec 2023 18:00:19 GMT

A new survey from the Minneapolis Fed found ag bankers rank labor availability as a top concern for their farm clients.

The survey, which was conducted with ag bankers from the ninth district (Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin), found the issue is viewed as a “serious challenge” for 63% of respondents and a minor challenge for the majority of the remaining 37%.

“It’s becoming more and more difficult to obtain the labor needed to operate,” a Minnesota-based banker told the Minneapolis Fed.

The availability of livestock workers was seen as more limited than crop workers and those surveyed also shared that finding long-term help is more difficult than temporary help due to the seasonal nature of the ag industry.

As far as how this compares to past conditions, 39% of respondents said labor availability has gotten “much worse” over the past five years and 44% said it’s “a little worse”.

The Minneapolis Fed attributes this challenge to the region’s low influx of migrant workers and aging workforce.

According to U.S. Census Bureau data, 10% of animal production employees in the area are foreign born, compared to 18% nationally. The number is even lower for crop production with just 5% of workers being foreign born, compared to 32% nationally.

The region also has some of the lowest unemployment rates in the U.S.

At the same time, the median age of workers in the region rose from 51 to 56 in 2021. The number of workers between 45 to 54 has declined over the past decade with a small increase of those between the ages of 25 to 44 and a large increase of those over 55.

Three Midwestern Farm Credit Associations Announce Collaboration

Thu, 28 Dec 2023 15:26:50 GMT

AgCountry Farm Credit Services, Frontier Farm Credit and Farm Credit Services of America announced they have signed a collaboration contract. The three boards will share leadership, planning and technology responsibilities, while local boards, offices and programs will be retained.

“Continual improvement is vital to the long-term success of any farm or ranch,” said Shane Tiffany, chair of the Frontier Farm Credit board. “Our financial cooperatives are no different. As agriculture gets more complicated and our risks and costs as producers increase, we need to know we can count on our lender. This collaboration better positions us for the future.”

Combined, the organizations have a reach of over 85,000 producers in eight states: Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

“There are many examples of successful collaborations in the Farm Credit System,” said Nick Jorgensen, chair of the FCSAmerica Board. “This one is unique in allowing each association to share functions where it makes sense, yet retain the local experience we all have come to value from our individual cooperatives and financial teams.”

At the end of 2022, AgCountry, based in Fargo, ND, had a reported loan volume of $11.6 billion. Frontier Farm Credit, based in Manhattan, Kan., had a volume of $2.6 billion and FCS America, based in Omaha, Neb., reported $38.3 billion.

“Our three boards are comprised mostly of farmers and ranchers. We were elected by our fellow member-owners to make decisions ensuring our associations fulfill their mission to current and future producers,” said Lynn Pietig, chair of AgCountry’s board of directors. “Each association enters this collaboration in a financially strong position. By working together, we can achieve benefits of scale that make us even stronger.”

The collaboration is expected to take effect no later than April 1, 2024.

Here’s How Pro Farmer's 2023 Yield Estimates Stack Up to USDA Expectations

Fri, 25 Aug 2023 22:17:31 GMT

It’s Friday in Pro Farmer Crop Tour week, which means the highly anticipated production estimates for the 2023 U.S. corn and soybean crops are now available.

These estimates are based on Crop Tour data and observations collected this past week by more than 100 crop scouts who sampled 3,000+ fields spanning Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota.

Corn yield estimates

“We built record corn yields ahead of these extreme heat-indexed days. That’s the key point as we looked across the Corn Belt as a whole this week—we got ahead on yield early-on in order to hit average after the losses to heat,” Brian Grete of Pro Farmer says.

Indiana: Corn plants in Indiana look good , but kernel counts around will take a bite out of yield. With incidences of tar spot popping up all over the state, the yield could quickly change. Without tar spot, Indiana could hit yield average.

Illinois: Wildfire smoke and overnight temperatures won’t stop Illinois corn from hitting average yield. Tar spot, however, could blow up in pockets in coming weeks, which would pack a punch in the kernels’ starch and test weights.

Iowa: Five days with 103° heat index equated to five weeks of stress on corn crops in Iowa. The crops clearly ran out of energy and will see a just-below-average yield.

Minnesota: Burn is eating up the state’s corn crop up to one leaf below the ear . Kernel depth will push the crop below average yields.

Nebraska: The Nebraska corn fields had plenty of ear s, but they are already hanging. Irrigated acres will hit average, but non-irrigated will take a hit.

Ohio: A surge of moisture saved the crop this week. Despite being behind on growing degree days, the crop is more consistent than 2022 and looks to yield above average.

South Dakota: Rain in many regions of South Dakota resulted in a 180° from 2022’s crop. There’s no tip back in the Southeast corn for the state, yet. Final weeks of the season could shrink grain depth, but with little effect.

Soybean yield estimates

“We saw extremely stressful conditions this week. Thanks to the management put on the crop, hybrid and varieties available, the ability of both the corn and soybean crops to build a yield in these conditions has been unbelievable,” Chip Flory, AgriTalk host says. “The question now is whether or not they can hold on to it.”

Indiana: Moisture deficiencies are playing out heavily in Indiana ’s soybeans. However, the plant is proving resilient with high pod and seed counts. The state will yield higher than last year.

Illinois: Months-long drought followed by a derecho caused whiplash in Illinois soybeans. But the storm caused more good than bad, resulting in short nodes and short beans, with high pod counts. The state will see slightly above-average harvest numbers.

Iowa: Dry conditions produced yellow-green marbled fields . Despite dry conditions, pod counts in Iowa will trump Illinois. But seed size and count will cause a yield penalty.

Minnesota: Heat stress and drought are throwing punches at soybean yield in Minnesota. The state is patchy, with two-bean pods spotted in the state’s Southwestern corridor while other areas will have an average-yielding crop.

Nebraska: The bean crop appeared to be dying out instead of drying out. With no chance of rain in the forecast, the crops won’t have a chance to fill.

Ohio: Rains this week in Ohio greened-up crops at a pivotal growth stage. The state’s soybean crop won’t be better than 2021, but it will be better than 2022.

South Dakota: Pod counts are above normal for what scouts would usually see in the state, thanks to late-season moisture. Yield will likely come out average, or slightly above.