Author: staff

After a decisive presidential victory on Nov. 5, 2024, Donald Trump and his transition team have been busy filling out his administration. Of the 15 cabinet heads, the secretary of agriculture will arguably be the most impactful for farmers. Trump’s USDA secretary “short list” was actually a long one before the official nominee, Brooke Rollins, was named. Who was on the list, and what will they do now? Here’s a look at what 16 individuals who were rumored to be in the running for the agriculture secretary role are up to now. Kelly Loeffler In late November it was widely…

Today, USDA released four major reports: the January World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE), Crop Production 2024 Summary, quarterly Grain Stocks, and Winter Wheat and Canola Seedings reports. Crop Production 2024 Summary In the Crop Production 2024 Summary, USDA lowered corn and soybean yield and production figures from what had been estimated last month. While the average trade expectation was for these numbers to go down, USDA went lower than expected. Yield (Bushels Per Acre)   January  Trade Expectation December Corn  179.3  182.7  183.1  Soybeans  50.7  51.6 51.7 Production (Billion Bushels)   January  Trade Expectation December Corn  14.867  15.090…

The stakes are high as agriculture producers hope the incoming Trump administration remembers the support it got from rural America. The New Year is upon us and with it comes a new presidential administration — one that will undoubtedly be compared to the term that began in 2017 with the same chief executive, President Donald Trump. By all accounts, the election of 2024 was a wild ride, to say the least, and agricultural stakeholders are now wondering what exactly is in store for the future. As usual, the U.S. farm bill is high on the mind of producers. Last approved…

The future of over-the-top (OTT) dicamba products in soybeans remains unclear for 2025.  Labels for OTT dicamba products (Xtendimax, Engenia, and Tavium) were vacated for the second time by an Arizona federal court in February of 2024. An existing stock order was put in place, which allowed limited use in 2024.  “As of right now, there are no labels approved for use of OTT dicamba on dicamba-resistant soybeans for 2025,” said Tommy Butts, weed scientist at Purdue University. “There is no label pre or post. They no longer exist as an option.” New labels were submitted to the EPA by…

1. Soybeans rise, grains slightly higher overnight Soybean futures gained overnight while grains were modestly higher as investors square positions ahead of today’s monthly supply and demand reports from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  The Ag Department likely will reduce its outlook for corn and bean stockpiles in its monthly supply and demand report scheduled for today.  The agency will probably project corn inventories at the end of the 2024-2025 marketing year on Aug. 31 at 1.675 billion bushels in today’s World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report, according to a Reuters poll.  USDA last month forecast ending stocks…

It’s hard to tell whether Geoff and Travis Postin are farmers first and tractor collectors on the side, or if it’s the other way around. Either way, Geoff says they’re basically “two farmers who are stuck in the 1980s.” Like many collectors, the two brothers have a vast collection of tractors between them. In this case it amounts to 30 or more Allis-Chalmers models. Unlike many of their counterparts, though, the Postins use every one of their tractors in their farming operation, which consists of about 700 acres of corn, soybeans, hay, and livestock near Ellisville, Illinois. “It all kind…

Since John Deere’s arrival in Las Vegas in 2019, ag tech has been carving out a space for itself at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES).  While many of these innovations are still years away from arriving at your farm, the technology shown off at CES presents a roadmap for the future of agriculture.  John Deere The driverless autonomy system will first be available for tillage functions, compatible with John Deere model year 2025 and newer 8R and 9R tractors. Select older Deere tractors will be compatible after further retrofitting. Alex Gray John Deere revealed the next stage in its autonomous…

Winter storm Blair has swept across much of the United States this week, leaving farmers and rural communities grappling with its icy impact. Heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures have disrupted operations from Kansas to the East Coast, providing challenges and opportunities for agriculture. The storm has been blamed as a contributing factor in at least six deaths, as winter’s grip spread across the country.  According to the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, over 110,000 electric cooperative members lost power due to heavy snow, strong winds, and ice. Crews in Kentucky, Missouri, Virginia, Illinois, and Indiana worked to restore power, aided…

DAILY Bites IFT’s Feeding Tomorrow Fund offers 90+ scholarships worth $200K; apply by Feb 28, 2025. Scholarships include food science fields and travel to IFT FIRST Expo. $25K Caldwell Fellowship supports advanced food system research. DAILY Discussion The Institute of Food Technologists, a nonprofit scientific organization committed to advancing the science of food and its application across the global food system, announced this week that applications are now open for more than 90 undergraduate and graduate scholarships totaling over $200,000. The scholarships are courtesy of IFT’s Feeding Tomorrow Fund, which encourages, promotes, and rewards the excellence of students pursuing careers…

Christmas shopping can be laborious when you don’t know what to buy for the farmer on your gift list. To help, I’ve done some preseason shopping, identifying innovative new tools that are sure to please any mechanically minded man or woman on your list. Welding level has magnet with an on-off switch Strong Hands Tools Here is the ideal level for any welding center. Turn the level’s magnet on and you get 70 pounds of pull force, which means this tool won’t come off any vertical or overhead metal surface. The 16-inch-long level has three vials to provide 45°, 90°,…