Author: staff

Brooks McCormick had great expectations for International Harvester but realized he was facing an uphill battle. The direct descendant of Cyrus McCormick sat at the top of the company in 1971 and yearned for IH to introduce new tractors, painfully aware that their chief rival, John Deere, had claimed the number one spot in ag equipment sales the previous decade. Despite being saddled by debt and an overly diversified book of manufacturing entities (some of which were drawing down the company), McCormick invested in ag R&D. IH had a history of innovative advances, having introduced the revolutionary Axial Flow combine…

In our culture, being busy is too often considered a mark of accomplishment. You ask someone how they’re doing, and the response is, “Busy, busy, busy.” As we embrace the holiday season, that answer just keeps getting another “busy” added on to it as holiday parties, shopping, year-end activities and all the “normal” things for this time of year take place. We think there’s never enough hours in the day and something has to slide. Harsh reality: There’s always time. Everyone gets the same 24 hours. Our priorities may be different than the next person, so while you think eating…

DAILY Bites Farmer sentiment surged in November, with both sub-indices seeing significant increases, with optimism fueled by expectations of a favorable regulatory and tax environment following the U.S. presidential election. 33% of farmers expect better financial performance for their farms in the next year, up from 19% in October. While 55% of respondents predict less restrictive environmental regulations under the new administration, 42% fear a potential trade war could harm U.S. agricultural exports, underscoring the balance of optimism with caution. DAILY Discussion Farmer sentiment jumped again in November, with the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer climbing 30 points to…

DAILY Bites Cargill is cutting 8,000 jobs, or 5% of its global workforce, amid declining profits and restructuring efforts. The company is consolidating into three core divisions to streamline operations and improve competitiveness. Falling crop prices and a shrinking U.S. cattle herd have significantly impacted Cargill’s margins. DAILY Discussion Cargill is making a 5 percent workforce reduction — approximately 8,000 jobs — amid a “strategic shift” to streamline operations and adapt to changing market conditions.  The company made the announcement as profits for the fiscal year ending May 2024 fell to $2.5 billion, marking a 36 percent drop from the…

We had a fabulous autumn weather-wise, nothing to complain about. Although, that didn’t prevent many of us from doing so. First it was too warm and too dry; then, when it started to rain, it was too cold and too wet. There’s no pleasing some people. In our neck of the woods, every snow-free day in November is a bonus. We were in the fourth week of the month before we saw our first flakes and they only amounted to an annoying dusting. This was a generous bonus indeed. If you live in my area long enough, you’re going to…

DAILY Bites Sen. Boozman urges Congress to swiftly provide emergency economic assistance to help producers recover and secure funding for 2025. Farmers nationwide face an estimated $29 billion in losses for 2024, driven by high input costs, rising interest rates, and low commodity prices. Established and beginning farmers alike are at risk of losing their operations without immediate federal support, warns Boozman. DAILY Discussion U.S. Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.), the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, has urged Congress to take swift action to support agricultural producers grappling with significant market losses. Speaking on the…

A vegan California student who wanted to promote plant-based milk at her high school felt that federal nutrition guidelines were undercutting her ability to speak freely. So in May 2023, she sued the school district and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, arguing that her First Amendment rights were violated. While the school settled about a year ago, the USDA keep defending its dairy data and initiatives. Over the weekend, U.S. District Judge Fernando Olguin in Los Angeles put an end to that lawsuit, saying that the student, Marielle Williamson, lacked standing to sue because she has already graduated. The USDA…

by Tim Carpenter U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas said he was disappointed Tyson Foods would permanently close a meat plant in Emporia employing more than 800 people. Tyson Foods said its ground beef and value-added marinated protein plant would be shuttered in February 2025 to help the company operate more efficiently. In the fiscal year ending in September 2023, the company’s beef unit had income of $233 million. The unit reported a loss of $291 million in the 2024 fiscal year that closed in September. “The news of Tyson’s closing its plant in Emporia breaks my heart,” said Marshall,…

ABZ Innovation, a drone innovation and manufacturing company based out of Hungary, has unveiled an advancement for its agricultural sector machines that incorporates LiDAR-based situational awareness sensors. LiDAR generates a high-resolution 3-D map of the field in real time and is vital to accurately following terrain and avoiding obstacles such as electrical wires, poles, and trees, while maintaining the right distance from crops for efficient spraying. “This allows ABZ drones to detect obstacles with unforeseen accuracy and continuously adjust their height to meet the specific needs of each treatment,” the company said in its announcement. “The result is a safer,…

March corn is up less than a penny this morning. January soybeans are up 3¼¢. March wheat contracts are also higher. CBOT wheat is up 4¼¢. KC wheat is up 5¾¢. Minneapolis wheat is up 6¾¢. Naomi Blohm, senior market advisor at Total Farm Marketing, said grains have a tendency to rally in December but that rally can be limited when ending stocks are perceived to be sufficient. February live cattle are up 83¢ this morning. January feeder cattle are up $2. February lean hogs are up 88¢. January crude oil is up $1.39. The U.S. Dollar Index December contract…