At farm bill listening session in South Dakota members of the Senate Ag Committee expressed optimism about getting a farm bill done yet in 2024 and putting more farm in the farm bill.
The availability of livestock workers was ranked as more limited than crop workers and finding long-term help seen as more difficult than temporary help due to the seasonal nature of the ag industry.
Nebraska, Minnesota and Iowa corn projections fall below USDA's August estimates. Soybeans are on par in all scouted states, including Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and South Dakota.
This time last year, more than 36% of South Dakota was covered in drought. This year, that number dropped to 14%. Dry conditions did improve in the east, but some fear early season dryness could play out in coming weeks.
USDA's weekly Crop Progress Report shows 14% of the nation's corn crop and 9% of the soybean crop is planted. Farmers in Missouri and Tennessee are planting at a rapid pace, but the upper Midwest is already behind.
As the market balances its focus between increased planting progress and the reality of saturated soils and more chances of rain and snow in the northern tier of states, commodity prices could sway planting decisions.
Two to three feet of snow is forecast to fall over parts of the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest this week. Some market watchers are beginning to question if 92 million acres of corn can actually get planted this year.
Secretary Vilsack announced USDA will offer $20 million to producers in Kentucky, Minnesota, South Dakota and surrounding areas to rebuild grain storage facilities affected by recent natural disasters.
USDA reports this week it expects more than 9 million acres of prevent plant for 2020. This comes during a time when the department is calling for record yields for the corn and soybean crops.
South Dakota is on pace for the smallest crop in the Midwest, which could mean big problems for its ethanol industry.
NuGen Energy in Marion, South Dakota talks with AgDay about it.
National Pork Board president Steve Rommereim urged producers to review the successes of the past in order to best meet the needs of the present and adapt to the changing needs of the future.
Although pea aphid populations can vary quite a bit from field to field it is important to monitor their populations to ensure that loss due to their feeding doesn’t occur.
A big reason data from the Farm Journal Midwest Crop Tour is comparable to previous years is because of consistency. Scouts always travel the same routes, but pick fields at random. In South Dakota, scouts only take samples in the southeast corner of the state. But this year, the western and central portions of the state are facing drought.
Already short on hay and forage after a hard winter, ranchers in North and South Dakota are continuing to reduce herds in response to severe drought conditions.
There are 31,000 farms or ranches in South Dakota, according to the South Dakota Department of Agriculture website. And, according to the USDA, there are 103 certified organic operations.
Egg production in South Dakota continues to suffer as the state's largest producer works to recover from last spring's outbreak of deadly bird flu virus.
All nine of the turkey farms in South Dakota that were affected by the deadly bird flu virus during the spring have restocked and are raising birds again, though the lone chicken farm has yet to recover.
