Author: staff

By Jonathan Coppess, Gary Schnitkey, Carl Zulauf, and Nick Paulson Since the tariff and trade conflicts that began in 2018, through the pandemic relief assistance efforts in 2020, American farmers have received an unusual amount of ad hoc and supplemental or emergency assistance (see e.g., Farmdoc Daily, April 18, 2018; July 31, 2018; Aug. 16, 2018; Aug. 28, 2018; May 22, 2020; July 10, 2020; Sept. 3, 2020; June 6, 2022; April 5, 2023). From 2018 to 2023, USDA reports a total of $77.8 billion in ad hoc and supplemental assistance to farmers, along with another $14.5 billion in non-USDA…

DAILY Bites Authorities dismantled a multimillion-dollar theft ring smuggling California farm equipment into Mexico. “Operation Tractor Pull” led to the arrest of seven suspects and the recovery of $1.3 million in stolen equipment. The theft ring impacted California’s agricultural community, with some equipment still unrecoverable across the border. DAILY Discussion The Tulare County Sheriff’s Office in California has dismantled what is being called a sophisticated criminal network responsible for the theft of heavy farm equipment in the San Joaquin Valley. The equipment, with a value estimated to be in the millions, was transported across the border into Mexico. Dubbed “Operation…

Eight years between nearly any two pieces of equipment — whether cars, trucks, combines, or tractors — normally means two completely different machines. Technology changes fast, and manufacturers constantly update what they bring to market.  But if you visit Stoller and Klein Farm in Illinois, you’ll see a 2014 and a 2022 planter sitting side by side, both equipped with virtually identical technology, allowing the farmers to stay on the cutting edge of production efficiency while keeping an eye on their bottom line.  In the early 2000s Stoller and Klein Farm started adding Precision Planting products to their planter, a…

Corn harvest in the country’s top three corn-growing states is nearly complete for 2024. Here’s a look at how farmers are wrapping up this season and preparing for the next, according to data from the latest USDA Crop Progress report and input from agronomists. Which State Is Closest to Finishing Harvest? Illinois leads these three corn growing states when it comes to being the closest to wrapping up harvest for 2024. Corn harvested in the Prairie State reached 95% the week ending Nov. 3, an increase of eight percentage points for the week. That’s 14 percentage points ahead of the…

DAILY Bites October saw a 27-point rise in sentiment, with higher future expectations despite ongoing concerns about current conditions. Input costs and output prices remain top issues, while fewer producers worry about interest rates.  The Farm Financial and Capital Investment indices rose, suggesting farmers expect stronger performance in 2025. DAILY Discussion October provided a surprising pre-election bounce in farmer sentiment as the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer index climbed to 115, 27 points higher than in September. The biggest driver of the sentiment improvement was an increase in producers’ confidence in the future, as the Future Expectations Index jumped…

December corn ended the day up 2¢. January soybeans were up 4½¢ at the close. December wheat contracts also closed higher. CBOT wheat was up 3¾¢. KC wheat was up 5¾¢. Minneapolis wheat was up 5½¢. “Today’s trade was choppy which was not unexpected,” said Karl Setzer, partner at Consus Ag Consulting. “All interest today was on the U.S. Presidential Election even though it may be days before we know the official results. “South American weather continues to improve and now soybean planting is moving at a rapid pace but there are still concerns over long-range conditions. Trade is also…

Much like the holidays, a complete U.S. corn harvest is right around the corner. According to the USDA Crop Progress report for the week ending Nov. 3, the country’s corn harvest progress has reached 91% across top growing states. That puts U.S. corn harvest 16 percentage points ahead of the five-year average.  With just 9% of the crop unharvested, farmers in top states have about 7 million more acres of corn to harvest. That’s based on June acreage data from USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Progress Ahead of Average in All States Considering respective five-year averages for corn harvest in…

If we allow internal divisions to persist, the only outcome is an erosion of trust — from within and from the public. The agriculture industry is a diverse and essential part of our society, feeding millions and contributing to local and global economies. Within this vast sector, there are countless ways to approach farming — from small, family-run operations to expansive commercial farms — each with its unique strengths and challenges. Yet, an unsettling trend has emerged where different segments within agriculture turn against one another, spreading misinformation and eroding trust in the industry as a whole. This in-fighting not…

By Ryan Hanrahan As Americans head to the polls today for election day, “one-fourth of the members of the House Agriculture Committee are in tight re-election races, according to political handicappers, a factor in the likely upheaval of the committee roster in 2025,” Successful Farming’s Chuck Abbott reports. “Turnover is a fact of life on the committee — only half of its current members served on the panel two years ago.” “While most Americans live in town, rural districts are expected to play a prominent role in deciding whether Republicans will continue to control the House or if Democrats will…

Nothing helps shake the cold of late winter like leafing through colorful garden catalogs, dreaming of beautiful flower beds and produce-filled vegetable gardens. This is the time of year to dream, to plan, and to start shopping! Paper catalogs are still wonderful for making wish lists, but the most well-known growers also offer their products online, and most have websites that will find items for you based on your preferences, soil, sunlight and growing zone. Choosing seeds or plants that fit your location helps ensure they will perform well and be less susceptible to pests and disease. One of the…