Author: staff

By Julie Ingwersen, Karl Plume GLENDALE, Kentucky, April 24 (Reuters) – Kentucky farmer Drew Langley got an early start planting soybeans this spring, hoping to boost yields to help soothe the sting of slumping prices after U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war with China put demand from the world’s top importer in doubt. Then the rains came. Up to 15 inches fell on farms along the southeastern edge of the U.S. Midwest farm belt from April 2-6, flooding Langley’s fields and swamping thousands of acres across the rolling hills of the Bluegrass State where farmers contribute a small but meaningful portion of the nation’s…

Corn has started to emerge in five of the top 18 corn-producing states, according to the USDA’s Crop Progress report released Monday, April 21. These states account for 92% of the U.S. corn acreage. As of April 20, 2025, 2% of the nation’s corn crop had emerged, matching the five-year average.  Texas  According to USDA’s Prospective Plantings report published on March 31, Texas farmers are expected to plant 2.45 million acres of corn in 2025. Texas leads the nation in corn emergence, with 63% of its corn crop out of the ground. That’s a 13-point increase from the previous week…

SAO PAULO, April 24 (Reuters) – Brazil will export more soybeans to China and more soymeal to its main clients in Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia in 2025 amid the trade war between the United States and China, a director at industry group Abiove said on Thursday. A record soy harvest of nearly 170 million metric tons in Brazil will also contribute to the boost in shipments, Daniel Amaral, director of economics and regulatory affairs at Abiove, said. “Regarding the trade war, the hope is that Brazil, based on its good relationship with trading partners… and as a major food…

North America’s first locally produced commercial-grade green ammonia fertilizer is undergoing testing on farmland in Boone, Iowa. The effort will be a key step in evaluating whether green ammonia can be a cost-competitive and reliable fertilizer supply for U.S. growers. Anhydrous ammonia is a well-recognize important nitrogen fertilizer, prized for its high nitrogen content and cost-efficiency — making it especially effective for boosting corn yields. “Green ammonia” is chemically identical to conventional anhydrous ammonia, but it’s produced using on-site solar power, air, and water. This locally based production model — being done by Landus, Iowa’s largest farmer-owned cooperative, and Talusag, an…

Brazilian meatpacking giant JBS has secured approval from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to list its shares on the New York Stock Exchange, overcoming vocal opposition from environmental advocates and congressional lawmakers who cite the company’s troubled track record on climate, corporate governance, and market competition. The SEC issued a declaration of effectiveness on Tuesday, clearing the way for JBS — the world’s largest meat producer — to proceed with a shareholder vote scheduled for May 23. The company plans to list through a new parent firm, JBS NV, based in the Netherlands, and also intends to seek a…

By Tom Polansek CHICAGO, April 24 (Reuters) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture is withdrawing a proposal aimed at reducing risks from Salmonella in poultry products, according to a notice published on Thursday that increased concerns about oversight of the food supply under President Donald Trump. The withdrawal represents the administration’s latest missed opportunity to protect public health, food safety experts said. The USDA last month eliminated two committees that advised it on food safety, while the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently suspended a quality control program for testing of fluid milk and other dairy products. The proposal, which the Biden administration announced last summer,…

Herd mentality. We usually hear the term in reference to finance, politics, or even high school social circles. But rarely do we pause to recognize just how dangerous it can be when the herd turns on one of its own. It’s the thing that makes us click “share” before reading, and follow the loudest voices even when they’re wrong. Social media has made it easier than ever to join a movement, to add your voice to a chorus of outrage, or to throw a stone without ever seeing the target. In its most extreme form, this collective behavior becomes something…

A little past 8:30 a.m. CT, July corn was up less than a penny at $4.80 per bushel. July soybeans were up 3¢ at $10.53¼ per bushel. July wheat contracts were lower. CBOT wheat was down 1¼¢ at $5.42¼ per bushel. KC wheat was down 6¾¢ at $5.43½. Minneapolis wheat was down 4½¢ at $6.02½. “The recent selling pressure in the corn market is likely tied to the quick planting pace across the Midwest, combined with solid rainfall totals for April,” said Bob Linneman, commodities broker with Kluis Commodity Advisors. “The wet forecast was expected for April, but May and…

Through the first part of 2025, Black farmers have found themselves continuing to grapple with the long-standing effects of discrimination while also facing ongoing disruptions caused by recent decisions within the U.S. Department of Agriculture. USDA budget cuts, now amounting to $1.2 million promised money to minorities in agriculture, have left Black farmers scrambling to adapt. These financial setbacks have disrupted operations and forced nonprofit organizations and support systems to reduce services or shut down entirely. This all comes at a time when institutional support is more necessary than ever. The situation is further aggravated by increasing tariffs and trade…

When you think of a farmer, you probably don’t imagine someone driving a school bus, teaching in a classroom, or managing a bank. But for most U.S. farm households, off-farm jobs are the lifeline that keeps their farms afloat. According to Daniel Munch, an economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation, “In 2023, just 23 percent of farm household income came from farming itself — meaning a remarkable 77 percent came from other sources.” That other 77 percent — known as off-farm income — includes wages, salaries, pensions, investment returns, Social Security and other non-farming income. “At the median, farm…