Author: staff

Whether it’s the growers he supports or the sales reps he trains, Chad Threewits works hard to see others succeed. Threewits is an agronomic service representative for Syngenta Crop Protection covering the state of Indiana. A Purdue University alumnus with a degree in agricultural economics with a focus in agronomy, Threewits has been in this role for 14 years and has 28 years of industry experience. He shares his expertise as a contributing agronomist for Successful Farming’s coverage of USDA’s Crop Progress report.  In this interview, Threewits shares his rich agricultural heritage, the way his background shapes how he trains…

Construction equipment is earning its place on the farm. Tools like skid steers, telehandlers, and excavators have multiple uses that can make jobs faster and easier. Due to the seasonality of construction work, at certain times of the year these machines are widely available at a range of price points. However, buyers should do their due diligence when purchasing a used piece of construction equipment. Construction use is different than farm use, and certain components may wear differently based on how a machine was run. Andy Campbell and Dave Mowitz discuss what to watch for, where to find deals, and…

1. Wheat Futures Decline in Overnight Trading Wheat futures were lower in overnight trading amid calls for favorable weather in some growing areas of the world.  Rain is in some weather models toward the end of the week for parts of the U.S. southern Plains where hard red winter wheat is growing.  The area has been dry in recent weeks with 55% of Kansas, the biggest producer of winter wheat in the U.S., was suffering from drought conditions in the seven days that ended on April 8. That’s down from 59% the week prior, but up from 25% three months…

Recent threats of drastic cutbacks in federal funding for agricultural conservation programs have prompted me to recall a campaign I worked on at Successful Farming many years ago, “Conservation on Your Own.” The idea, which was developed in cooperation with a colleague at USDA, involved promoting eight conservation practices that farmers could accomplish more or less without any outside financial or technical support.  The do-it-yourself practices in the “Conservation on Your Own” package of stories and video production featured detailed steps for managing (and measuring) crop residue, establishing contour buffer strips, planting field windbreaks, maintaining cropland terraces, and more. The…

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in Chicago intercepted three shipments of the dangerous veterinary sedative xylazine on April 12, stopping the drug from making its way into American communities. The seizures were made by CBP’s Anti-Terrorism Contraband Enforcement Team at an air cargo facility, where the powder-filled packages, all arriving from China, raised immediate suspicion. The packages were headed to three separate addresses — one in Cleveland and two in Philadelphia. Officers flagged the shipments for inspection and used a handheld elemental isotope analysis tool to confirm their instincts. The device quickly identified the powder as xylazine, a sedative…

The Office of the United States Trade Representative on Thursday released final actions related to Section 301 fees on Chinese-made vessels arriving at American ports, making significant changes from the initial proposed actions. The National Corn Growers Association had called for USTR to consider the impacts that the fees would have on farmers and provided suggestions for improvement. While direct impacts on agriculture are still being determined, the final proposal is a step in the right direction to mitigate impacts on shipments of commodities, which directly impact corn growers, say agricultural leaders. “Our concern all along has been that any…

The USDA’s second Crop Progress report of the season, released April 14, shows winter wheat heading steadily progressing in select states. As of April 13, California, Texas, and Arkansas are leading the nation with the highest percentage of winter wheat headed among the top 18 states that account for 90% of the nation’s acreage.  California  California winter wheat is 60% headed, significantly ahead of the 38% five-year average and up 20 percentage points from the previous week. Crop condition ratings in the state remain strong, with 70% of winter wheat rated excellent and 25% rated good. Only 5% of the…

The entire state of South Dakota is facing moisture stress, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor published April 17.  Current Drought Conditions The latest drought monitor indicated nearly 3% of the state reported extreme drought. The D3 conditions cover portions of Custer, Fall River, and Oglala Lakota counties in the southwest corner of South Dakota. More than 30% of the state reported severe drought. Moderate drought spans more than 56% of South Dakota. Over 10% of the state reported abnormally dry conditions. U.S. Drought Monitor The Crop Progress report, published April 14 by USDA, noted statewide topsoil moisture supplies were…

A storm system will move through multiple states in the Midwest that may impact Easter celebrations and cause potential planting delays. The system will start in Texas and move up through the Mid-Mississippi Valley. Paul Pastelok, senior meteorologist for AccuWeather, said this system will be beneficial for areas experiencing moisture deficits, but could cause more flooding and planting delays for others.  “There’s an area of low pressure that forms late Saturday in Texas, and that’s when the heaviest will come in from late Saturday through Sunday through the Mississippi Valley and then up into the Great Lakes Sunday night into…

So it begins. This week Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. launched a sweeping initiative to investigate potential links between environmental toxins — such as pesticides, food additives, and mold — and chronic conditions such as autism. In a speech he delivered in Indiana, Kennedy announced he’ll find the “cause” of autism by September (that alone contradicts the scientific process — you’re supposed to start with a hypothesis, not a conclusion). Yet this aggressive approach is unsurprising as Kennedy has long blamed these “toxins” for a whole host of health issues, despite no evidence to support his…