1. Soybean Futures Lower on China Concerns Soybean futures were lower in overnight trading on concerns about exports to China, as the Asian nation curbs hog production.  China plans to cut the number of breeding sows to reduce its overall hog population and bring prices down.  That, in turn, will…

By Joe Janzen Current USDA supply and demand projections for the upcoming 2025/26 marketing year show ending stocks at relatively low levels, the result of relatively tight carry-in stocks from the 2024/25 marketing year. This situation considered in isolation might suggest a return to higher corn prices and improved profitability…

The U.S. cattle herd totaled 94.2 million head as of July 1, 2025, according to the latest Cattle report from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. This is the first mid-year inventory report since July 2023 and reflects a stabilized headcount after years of steady declines. Among the total herd,…

By Julia Payne and Milan Strahm BRUSSELS, July 25 (Reuters) – The European Union could hit the U.S. with counter-tariffs on 93 billion euros ($109 billion) worth of U.S. goods if the two sides fail to reach a trade deal by Washington’s Aug. 1 deadline for imposing import levies. The European Commission has prepared two sets of…

Soybean disease season has arrived early across much of the Midwest.  July is usually a quiet time for scouting, but this year, diseases such as frogeye leaf spot, Cercospora, sudden death syndrome, and red crown rot are all appearing sooner, and sometimes farther north, than usual. “With frequent rains this…

If you grew up in a rural community, you know the rhythms of farm life — the early mornings, families working long days, and the pride that comes from hard work. But behind those barn doors, many of our young people are struggling in silence. Suicide rates among rural youth…