Author: staff

Tractor Supply Company announced this week that it had raised more than $1 million to support the Tractor Supply FFA Future Leaders Scholarship fund. In total, the annual fundraiser has generated a total of more than $3 million over three years. Tractor Supply FFA Future Leaders Scholarships are awarded to FFA students pursuing studies in the skilled trades and agriculture-related majors. “Our customers share our commitment to the next generation of leaders Out Here, a fact they make evident through their continued support for this impactful scholarship fund,” said Marti Skold-Jordan, executive director of the Tractor Supply Foundation and National…

DAILY Bite A single mutation (Gln226Leu) in H5N1 could enable human-to-human transmission by binding to upper respiratory tract receptors. H5N1, detected in North America in 2021, has spread to 282 U.S. dairy herds and caused human infections without documented human-to-human transmission. While the CDC assures that the current risk is low, the virus’ potential for mutations that favor upper respiratory tract transmission makes monitoring necessary.  DAILY Discussion A recent study suggests that a single mutation in the H5N1 strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza could enable the virus to attach more effectively to human cell receptors, significantly increasing the risk…

Nope, it’s not a Farmall Cub. It sort of looks like one from a distance, but it’s not. This little fella is an Ohio-built tractor called the Leader Model D. I think they’re neat, and there’s a nice one coming up on an online-only auction in east-central Illinois. Leader is a company that has kind of an interesting story, but with a real weird ending. It all started in a repair shop in north-central Ohio back in the 1930s. Let’s get into it, shall we? 1948 Leader Model D A Leader Emerges I’m going to try to keep the puns…

While there has been no sign of person-to-person spread of bird flu, researchers said on Thursday that a single mutation in the H5N1 avian influenza virus could enhance the virus’ ability to attach to human cells. That could potentially increase the possibility of transmission among humans, said the study, led by a team of scientists at the Scripps Research Institute. “These findings highlight the need for continuous surveillance of emerging mutations in avian and bovine clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 viruses,” said the study, published in the journal Science. An editor’s summary attached to the study said, “In nature, the occurrence of…

Christmas tree growers nurture family memories and the tradition that comes with picking out a real tree each year. When the holiday season gets into full swing, people across the United States begin searching for just the right centerpiece to display in their home: a Christmas tree. Displaying Christmas trees in homes has been an American tradition since the 1820s, and today, approximately 25 million to 30 million real Christmas trees are sold each year in the U.S. Despite the sheer number of trees sold, the trees are predominantly grown in just a handful of states such as Oregon, North…

March corn is up 2¼¢ this morning. January soybeans are down 3¾¢. March wheat contracts are also lower. CBOT wheat is down 2½¢. KC wheat is down less than a penny. Minneapolis wheat is down 2½¢. February live cattle are up 50¢ this morning. January feeder cattle are up $1.35. February lean hogs are down 35¢. January crude oil is down 93¢. The U.S. Dollar Index December contract is up to 105.90. December S&P 500 futures are up 18 points. December Dow futures are up 49 points. Published: 9:15 a.m. CT

Dogs and farms go paw in hand. A capable dog can be a big asset on a country property as a livestock guardian, home protector, or herder. With so many dogs in shelters (over 3 million enter shelters a year), it makes sense to look there for the farm dog of your dreams.By Karen Weir-Jimerson Finding a Farm Dog “What kind of dog do you want?” is the first question you’ll be asked at a shelter or rescue, so identifying traits beforehand will help you be matched with the best breed/mix for you. The type of dog you want may…

1. Wheat Futures Higher in Overnight Trading Wheat futures were higher in overnight trading on reports that a sizable percentage of Russia’s crops are in poor condition.  About 37% of Russian grain — mostly wheat — is in poor condition, the highest in at least a decade, said Andrey Sisov, the managing director of SovEcon and author of The Sizov Report.  Last year at this time only 4% was in poor condition, he said.  Also boosting prices is adverse weather in Australia, the world’s fourth-largest exporter of wheat, which has led to quality issues.  Excessive rain has fallen in major…

By North Dakota Monitor staff The first cases of bird flu during the fall migration have been confirmed in three North Dakota counties.  The North Dakota Department of Agriculture on Wednesday said it has received confirmation of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a backyard chicken flock in McHenry County, a commercial turkey flock in Ransom County, and a backyard mixed flock in Bottineau County.  The department said the results were confirmed at the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa.  The department said facilities have been quarantined and flocks have been depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease that…

The largest U.S. farm group would prefer negotiation, rather than a salvo of tariffs, as the first step in resolving U.S. disputes with other nations, said the American Farm Bureau Federation’s chief economist on Wednesday. “I think it’s important, when we’re talking about friends like Mexico and Canada, that we talk first,” said economist Roger Cryan. “And think about shooting later.” President-elect Donald Trump, who started a trade war with China during his first term, has threatened to impose tariffs of 25% on imports from Mexico and Canada and an additional 10% on Chinese imports on his first day in office unless…