Author: staff

By Vallari Srivastava, Sumit Saha, and Pooja Menon in Bengaluru Aug. 29 (Reuters) – Grain trader Archer-Daniels-Midland ADM.N said on Friday it plans to cease operations at its plant in Bushnell, Illinois, as part of its plan to streamline its soy protein production network. The Chicago-based company added its recently recommissioned flagship facility in Decatur, Illinois, is expected to improve operating profit over time. ADM has been cutting jobs and downsizing certain operations since announcing in February that it planned to reduce costs by $500 million to $700 million over three to five years. The grain trader has been reeling from an accounting scandal last year…

By Michael Langemeier and Anil Balchhaudi There are numerous reasons a farm may want to expand, including the following: reduce per-unit costs, improve profit margins, improve asset utilization, bring in new family members, invest retained earnings, and more fully utilize the skills of key managers (Boehlje and Langemeier, 2016). In general, larger businesses have lower per-unit costs, higher profit margins, and can more fully utilize assets such as machinery and buildings, which improves their asset turnover ratio. Larger businesses also tend to retain more money in the business.   Langemeier and Mintert (2023) noted that farm operators who expect to grow are relatively…

The next generation of beef leaders is already putting in the hard work — on ranches, in classrooms and in research labs. The Colvin Scholarship Fund recognizes and supports their dedication, awarding 27 students across the country a combined $100,000 this year to continue their pursuit of innovation, growth and leadership in the beef industry. Each recipient is actively pursuing a career in production agriculture, industry research or other agricultural endeavors. With their aspirations for success in the beef business, they are continuing the legacy of Certified Angus Beef’s (CAB) co-founder and long-time executive director, Louis “Mick” Colvin. Since 2002,…

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service has approved three new vision grading instruments for use in its beef grading program. This technology helps ensure consistent, uniform application of USDA beef grades that drives payments for producers, value determinations for packers, and ultimately communicates quality to the U.S. consumer. The integration of these technologies will also help modernize grading operations, support data driven decision making, and improve the overall transparency and uniformity of carcass evaluation for customers and stakeholders. Technology is approved to predict marbling scores for the application of Prime, Choice, and Select grade shields, the application of…

December corn ended the day up 10¼¢ at $4.20¼ per bushel. For the week, the contract closed up 8¾¢. This was the second consecutive week December corn closed higher. November soybeans closed up 6½¢ at $10.54½ per bushel. Week-over-week, the contract closed down 4¢. December CBOT wheat ended the day up 5¼¢ at $5.34¼ per bushel. December KC wheat closed up 4¢ at $5.19¾ per bushel. December Minneapolis wheat was up 2¾¢ at $5.80. For the week, the contracts closed mixed, with CBOT wheat higher, and KC and Minneapolis wheat lower. October livestock ended the day higher. Live cattle were up…

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced new measures Thursday to tackle the critical shortage of rural food animal veterinarians across the country. The plan includes expanded grant funding, recruitment strategies, and new investments in rural veterinary practices, alongside the opening of a modernized U.S. Department of Agriculture office in Mississippi. “Rural veterinarians are vital for the agricultural economy in the United States,” Rollins said. “Our farmers and ranchers rely on these critical services to prevent the transmission of animal disease, protect our food supply, and support America’s rural economy. With these new investments in scholarships and pay incentives, USDA…

Key Takeaways Weather turning fall-like – The week ending Aug. 24 was cooler and drier with good sunshine.Corn is strong but stressed — Most corn is on track with average progress and in better shape than the national average, but disease pressure like southern rust is a major concern.Soybeans also face disease pressure — Soybeans look decent overall and better than the national average, but sudden death syndrome and white mold are spreading in fields. USDA published the latest Crop Progress report on Monday, Aug. 25. Here’s a closer look at recent weather and the status of Indiana’s most important…

JCB has launched the 109 hp 4TS Teleskid and 400T compact track loader (CTL), the largest models in its compact track loader lineup.  “These machines reflect our commitment to equipping customers with the tools they need to work smarter, not harder,” said Lee Tice, product manager for JCB North America. “The 4TS and 400T were developed with extensive customer feedback, incorporating updates that deliver more power, greater reach, and improved productivity. Whether you’re working cattle, clearing fence lines, moving feed or handling heavy materials around the farm, these machines are built to exceed expectations and adapt to the demands of…

As students return to school for the fall, millions of families will be relying on school lunches to provide a healthy, nutritious meal for their children. Whether their children will receive one is dependent on the state they reside in, as well as what type of response the state implemented as a result of the cancellation of funds for the pandemic-era programs that helped schools ensure they could provide lunches to students. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit back in 2020, and many schools moved to a virtual format, the consequence of losing access to these meals was profound” Only 15…

By Maximilian Heath BUENOS AIRES, Aug. 28 (Reuters) – Abundant rainfall and strong soil moisture levels are expected to benefit Argentina’s 2025/26 wheat crop, which is forecast to post above-average yields, the Buenos Aires Grain Exchange said on Thursday. According to the grains exchange, 99.5% of the 6.7 million hectares planted with 2025/26 wheat are in normal-to-excellent condition, supported by record rainfall in producing areas between July and August. “Although it is premature to estimate a yield, expectations remain above average,” the exchange said in a report. Last season, 6.3 million hectares of wheat were planted in Argentina, with a production of…