Author: staff

Jon Kinzenbaw’s historic antique tractor auction is over. More than 100 machines from his extensive collection are headed to new homes across the country. A lifelong builder and inventor, Kinzenbaw has been an avid collector for decades, amassing more than 600 tractors and filling two-story barns near Williamsburg, Iowa. A Nov. 4 auction handled by Sullivan Auctioneers, a BigIron company, was the first time any of his collection had been offered for sale. Here’s a closer look at the 10 tractors that brought the most, and where they’re headed next. 1971 John Deere 4020 Monster Truck A 1971 John Deere…

Because time and distance are so crucial during medical emergencies, hospitals in rural Kansas, North Dakota, and other states are working with private industry and government officials and agencies to clear a path that would allow drones to autonomously deliver critical medical supplies, equipment, and medicine to rural communities more quickly. Kelly Hills, a drone technology business in northeast Kansas, is looking for ways to use unmanned aerial systems to help critical industries such as healthcare, public safety, and agriculture. Its CEO, Lukas Koch, contacted Community HealthCare System (CHCS) to gauge interest in collaborating on a long-range drone test flight…

Kawasaki has released two new models in its Mule side-by-side lineup, adding to a more than 30-year history. The Mule Pro-FX 820 and Mule Pro-FXT 820 feature 812cc three-cylinder engines, four-wheel independent suspension, and one-ton towing capacity, and are backed by a three-year limited warranty. They will be available from Kawasaki dealers in early 2026. Mule Pro-FX 820   Along with the 812cc engine, this model includes cast aluminum wheels. The cargo bed measures 54.1 x 53.3 x 11 inches and supports up to 1,000 pounds, large enough to fit a standard size pallet. It’s available in two colors and starts…

When choosing the crops you grow, consider rotational impacts. These could affect yields as well as inputs, helping or hurting your bottom line. “Farmers tend to do what they’ve done in the past, particularly in the Midwest, causing rotations to become fixed,” said Gary Schnitkey, Extension agricultural economist at the University of Illinois. “But we need to think about rotational impacts of crops. For instance, yields of corn after soybeans will be better than yields of corn after corn. There is also likely to be more disease and more need for [nitrogen] in a corn-corn rotation than in a corn-soybean…

Most herbicides are formulated with some form of residual activity, extending the life of their weed control. But when herbicides persist in the soil too long, they can cause problems for the following year’s crop.  “We want residual control, in some of our herbicides, to control our weeds for three to five weeks,” said Wesley Everman, an Iowa State University Extension weed specialist. “We usually don’t want [control] to last beyond a couple [of] months. It really becomes an issue if it persists for 10 or more months because then, we’re impacting next year’s crop, and its growth, and potentially…

1. Soybean Futures Drop in Overnight Trading Soybean futures plunged in overnight trading after China reportedly bought soybeans from Brazil, the world’s largest exporter of the oilseeds.  Buyers purchased 10 cargoes of soybeans from the South American country, Reuters reported, citing three traders familiar with the transaction.  The U.S. and China agreed last week to a deal under which the Asian nation would buy at least 12 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans in the last two months of 2025 and a minimum of 25 million tons of soybeans in each of the following three years.  Still, Brazilian soybeans are…

U.S. farmer sentiment edged higher in October, buoyed by strength in the livestock sector, according to the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer. The index rose three points to 129, though it remains 29 points below its May peak. The Index of Current Conditions climbed eight points to 130, while the Index of Future Expectations increased just one point to 129. “The fact that those two indexes are essentially the same tells me that farmers expect the tight net return scenario we’re in now to persist,” said Dr. Michael Langemeier, professor of agricultural economics at Purdue University. “Livestock producers are…

By Michael Langemeier, James Mintert, and Joana Colussi When thinking about the adoption of conservation practices, like cover crops, it is important to note two things. First, adoption rates have ebbs and flows; in other words, adoption does not necessarily follow a steady trend. Second, sometimes conservation practices are disadopted, which may happen due to the termination of incentive payments and/or lack of profitability. This article examines trends in the adoption of cover crops, cover crop experience, and percentage of acres planted to cover crops using data from the September Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer (AEB) surveys for the last five years. The AEB…

Rep. Harriet Hageman, R-Wyo., and Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., have reintroduced the Country of Origin Labeling Enforcement Act, which would reinstate mandatory country-of-origin labeling (MCOOL) for beef.  “American consumers deserve accurate information on the products they buy, and U.S. ranchers deserve honest and fair competition in the marketplace. The U.S. abandoned MCOOL for beef in 2016 following a World Trade Organization ruling. This change lifted the profit margins of monopolistic big packers at the expense of the American rancher. The domestic market is finally providing the means for our producers to keep family ranches alive, and we must protect these…

Milk futures prices have struggled for the past year, as increased production has kept steady pressure on product values. Herd expansion, efficiency, increased revenue from breeding for beef calves, and technical selling have all played a part in weaker prices.  World global dairy trade prices have slid as well. The dairy processing industry is expanding, with some estimates as high as $10 billion dedicated toward either revamping or building new processing plants. If demand increases, can the dairy herd respond in a timely fashion to meet demand? Or will a limited supply of dairy heifers and cows help push milk…