Author: staff

By Tom Polansek August 7 (Reuters) – Nebraska cattle rancher Craig Uden bought 200 extra mother cows and their babies over a few weeks in May to expand his herd as dry weather gave way to rain that rejuvenated land used for grazing. In South Dakota, Troy Hadrick kept 16 more young female cows, known as heifers, on his farm than he did last year to be used for breeding, rather than sending them to be slaughtered for beef. More than 1,400 miles south in Texas, the biggest cattle-producing state, Fausto Salinas was also preserving heifers to increase his herd. In major…

Governor JB Pritzker and Illinois State Fair officials unveiled the 2025 Butter Cow in the Dairy Building today. Inspired by this year’s fair theme of “Adventure Awaits,” sculptor Sarah Pratt’s creation captures the spirit of the fair through the eyes of an adventurer. While the Butter Cow is the undisputed star of the show, the cow has a delightful companion – an adventurer seeking hidden treasures across the fairgrounds. As in years past, 13 hearts have been hidden between the two displays to signify the 13 essential nutrients found naturally in milk. Pratt was joined this year by her husband…

Ten innovation-driven enterprises will go head-to-head for the top prize of $100,000 in the 2026 Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge. The American Farm Bureau Federation, in partnership with Farm Credit, continues to encourage agricultural innovation through the challenge. The challenge is an opportunity for entrepreneurs to present to a panel of judges their emerging ideas and businesses in the agricultural industry, with a chance to earn $100,000 in startup funds. Farm Bureau is offering a total of $145,000 in funding throughout the course of the competition. “With the world around us changing at a rapid pace, there’s a near-constant need…

A 6-year-old boy was killed recently after he was struck in the head by farm machinery while helping clean a Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, barn. Pennsylvania State Police said authorities were dispatched around 3:32 p.m. Thursday to Paradise Township following reports of a farm accident involving a child. Investigators determined that the victim and a 14-year-old boy were operating a skid steer inside a barn during cleaning operations. According to the news release sent out by state police, as the 14-year-old was operating the vehicle and going down with the machine’s arms, the younger child attempted to exit the skid steer. He…

Today, the USDA published the 19th Crop Progress report of the 2025 growing season. Here’s a look at the latest corn, soybean, wheat, and oat numbers. Corn As of Aug. 10, 94% of the corn crop across the country’s top 18 corn-growing states had reached the silking stage. Progress is just shy of the five-year average of 95%. The USDA said 58% of the nation’s corn crop had reached the dough stage, on track with the five-year average. Fourteen percent of the crop across 15 states had reached the dent stage by Aug. 10, which is one percentage point ahead of the five-year average.…

Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin and Discover Dairy are inviting educators to register for the popular Adopt a Cow program, now open for the 2025-26 school year. This udderly delightful, and completely free, experience connects students with a real Wisconsin calf and her farm family, turning agriculture education into an unforgettable adventure. “Adopt-A-Cow provides an engaging way to connect elementary school students to agriculture and learn about their farmer next door,” said Erika Schade, DFW’s School & Community Programs Manager. “Last year, we reached 55,000 students in over 1,500 classrooms, helping them gain a better understanding of how dairy products reach…

by Bradley Zwilling Each year the National Agricultural Statistics Service of the USDA releases estimated average farm real estate values by state. The estimates are based on surveys of farmers from selected geographical areas. The surveys follow strict statistical guidelines. Estimated values may be revised the following year based on additional information. Revisions may also be made based on data from the 5-year Census of Agriculture. The methodology and timing of the study have changed over time, but the statistical information provides some insight as to the changes in farm real estate values from year to year. Average Illinois Farm Real Estate Value The average…

Just before 9:30 a.m. CT, December corn was up 3¢ at $4.08½ per bushel. November soybeans were up 19½¢ at $10.07 per bushel. “Any Chinese new-crop demand for any commodity would be favorable as there are no sales listed from the U.S.” Karl Setzer, partner with Consus Ag Consulting, said,” Trade is also overlooking the fact U.S. new-crop corn sales are over twice last year’s pace at this time. Instead, the market remains wholly focused on production, and until this changes, upside potential may be limited. The majority of the session will be spent getting positions in place ahead of…

By Ryan Hanrahan Punchbowl News’ Samantha Handler reported late last week that “a farm bill battle is brewing for the fall when a set of key agriculture programs that GOP leaders neglected in their massive reconciliation package will expire.” “Agriculture Committee Republicans cleared away most of the farm bill in their One Big Beautiful Bill, but now they need Democrats’ help to do the rest. And the OBBB’s deep cuts to SNAP only make bipartisan negotiations more difficult on a short timeline,” Handler reported. “‘Getting a bipartisan farm bill done, that’s the number one question I’ve been asked since I’ve…

Roger Wenning shares how tiling, grid sampling, no till, cover crops, and nutrient management helped him transform multiple types of tough soils on his Indiana farm. The once erosion-prone hills and ‘crawdad ground’ have seen yields climb from 30 bushels below to 40 bushels over the county average. Watch Our Interview Meet Roger Wenning Wenning’s soil challenges began more than 100,000 years ago, when the Illinoian glacier came to a stop in the middle of what is now his 900-acre southeast Indiana corn, soybean, and wheat farm. The glacier left behind drastically different types of soil on either side of…