Author: staff

December corn ended the day up 4¼¢ at $4.24 per bushel. November soybeans closed up 18¾¢ at $10.20½ per bushel. September wheat contracts ended the day mostly lower. CBOT wheat closed up 3¼¢ at $5.41¼ per bushel. KC wheat was down a penny at $5.22¾ per bushel. CBOT spring wheat was down a penny at $5.80. Minneapolis wheat was down 1¾¢ at $5.99½.  “After a strong night session, futures started day trade mixed,” said Karl Setzer, partner at Consus Ag Consulting. “Soybeans were the leader as fresh buying interest surfaced in the complex. This was brought on by a 120,000-metric-ton…

In its latest Crop Progress report, the USDA rated 74% of the corn crop in the top 18 corn-growing states good/excellent. It’s the highest combined percentage for this time of year since 2016. Not all states are experiencing historically high numbers when it comes to the condition of their corn crops. Half the top 18 corn-growing states had good/excellent percentages below the 74% national average the week that ended July 13. Three of those had good/excellent percentages of 62% or less. Here’s a look at the nine states with good/excellent percentages below the national average, beginning with the worst. Michigan…

JAKARTA, July 16 (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald announced a trade agreement with Indonesia that would see Washington lower its tariff rates to 19% from a threatened 32%. The deal includes increased Indonesian purchases of U.S. airplane, energy and farm products to help offset the nearly $18 billion trade balance in favour of Jakarta. Here is what we know about the deal so far: Energy Trump said that the deal includes Indonesia purchasing $15 billion worth of U.S. energy products, without giving specific details. Indonesian state energy company Pertamina said on Wednesday it had signed memorandums of understanding with several U.S. companies to optimise feedstock and…

According to the latest Crop Protection Network map, positive cases of tar spot have been reported in 19 Nebraska counties so far this year. First reported in the Corn Belt in 2015, the disease has been confirmed in eastern portions of the state since 2021. This season tar spot has also been confirmed in neighboring Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri. Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and New York have reported positive cases as well. Weather Frequent rainfall through June and July has favored disease development and spread of plant pathogens, explained a CropWatch article published by Tamra Jackson-Ziems, Extension plant pathologist…

The Animal Agriculture Alliance is bringing back the College Aggies Online scholarship program for 2025. The program is set to begin on September 8 and will connect college students from across the country who are passionate about sharing agriculture’s story. Over the course of nine weeks, participants will gain the tools, training, and experience needed to become confident communicators about agriculture online and on campus. Collegiate students, clubs, and classes are invited to sign up. Last year, students were awarded $20,000 in scholarships and prizes for demonstrating exceptional creativity and impactful communication. This year, similar scholarship opportunities are available. The…

The 2025 New Century Farmer Conference is taking place July 20 to 24 in Indianapolis, bringing together 50 elite FFA alumni from 22 states to advance their leadership and career skills while learning about working in the industry of agriculture from several different experts. Nearly a third of the participants are first-generation producers, with the majority of them being interested in farm ownership or entrepreneurship as potential career paths. “There’s something powerful that happens when our New Century Farmers from across the country come together to learn about agriculture from people who live and breathe it every day,” said Emma…

As a heartfelt tribute to the dedicated farmers who help feed the nation, Culver’s has announced its 2025 To Farmers With Love Contest — a annual nationwide initiative running now through August 1. The restaurant chain is inviting guests to nominate a farmer making a meaningful impact in their community for a chance to win a trip to attend a Tim McGraw concert at the Field of Dreams Movie Site on Aug. 30, 2025, or the Velocity Music Festival on Aug. 31, 2025, both held in Dyersville, Iowa. To nominate a farmer, guests can visit the contest page and respond…

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced a new plan to strengthen the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s response to foodborne illness during the opening of the department’s updated Midwestern Food Safety Laboratory. The department says that the plan aims to improve the effectiveness of the Food Safety and Inspection Service, which oversees the safety and labeling of meat, poultry, and egg products. FSIS will continue coordinating with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to support a safer food supply chain. “President Trump is committed to ensuring American consumers have the safest, most…

USDA published the latest Crop Progress report on Monday, July 14. Here’s a closer look at recent weather and the status of Kansas’s most important crops in mid-July. Weather Kansas State Extension agronomist Logan Simon, in a recent Agriculture Today – Kansas State University podcast, said that South Central Kansas had significant storm damage recently that wiped out a good amount of clean-till cotton in the area.  In Monday’s Crop Progress report, USDA said farmers had 5.8 days suitable for fieldwork the week that ended July 13, compared to 6.3 days this time last year. USDA rated Kansas topsoil moisture…

Goat fans united in New York this past Saturday for an event that combined small ruminants, competition, and environmental conservation: The Great Goat Graze-Off. The unusual event took place at Riverside Park in Manhattan, and was the start of the sixth summer of the parks seasonal goat-grazing contest.  Five goats  named Romeo, Mallomar, Butterball, Kash, and Rufus faced off in what organizers called a “professional eating event,” each attempting to chow down the most mugwort, an invasive weed that regularly overwhelms parts of the park. According to ABC7/WABC, the animals were positioned north of the Ten Mile Playground along the…