Author: staff

Greg Rowe is an independent consultant at Perdue AgriBusiness and serves as chairman of National Grain and Feed Association’s Safety, Health, and Environmental Quality Committee. He says out-of-condition grain is often a leading factor in grain entrapment situations. Proper Condition as Prevention Grain is much more prone to crusting and cliffing when it is stored at the wrong moisture level or without proper aeration. Taking the proper steps to store grain long term can go a long way in preventing potentially hazardous situations. It is important to note ground piles may also be prone to cliffing. Materials like woodchips and…

Case IH has added some heft to its new lineup of Farmall C utility tractors for the 2025 model year.  There are four models in the updated lineup, ranging 90–117 hp. A 12-speed PowerShuttle transmission is available for the new Farmall 100C, 110C, and 120C models. The 24-speed Hi-Lo transmission option is available for the Farmall 90C, 100C, 110C, and 120C models.  “The new Farmall C not only offers heavy-duty performance and maneuverability, it delivers an improved operator experience,” said Leo Bose, customer segmentation lead at Case IH. “With the new ActiveClutch II brake to clutch feature, greater visibility, and…

What Happened in the Market Corn and soybean markets took out the January highs in February led by strong demand and declining crop conditions in Argentina due to a dry weather pattern. The new administration’s tariffs have yet to show any teeth as far as grains are concerned. Corn demand remains strong. And now a short covering rally has begun in wheat due to dryness and lack of snow cover with extreme cold prompting concern for winter kill.  March corn rallied in January and continued upward in February taking prices right up to the $5 mark before finding resistance. Support…

In 1985, Congress passed the Food Security Act, a comprehensive framework to administer agriculture and food programs. It included establishment of the Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation and Reserve Program. The conservation and reserve components are affectionately (or perhaps unaffectionately) referred to as “Sodbuster” and “Swampbuster,” respectively. Swampbuster’s purpose is to conserve and preserve wetlands and to protect natural resources for a public purpose, including to, “assist in preserving the values, acreage, and functions of the nation’s wetlands.” Keeping Wetlands Wet To achieve those conservation goals, Swampbuster bars producers who convert wetlands to tillable cropland from receiving certain USDA benefits…

Today, March and May grain contracts ended the day higher. March corn closed up 5¾¢ at $5.02 per bushel. This was the first daily close above $5 for the nearby corn contract since October 2023. May corn ended the day up 7¢ at $5.15¾ per bushel. March soybeans closed up 2½¢ at $10.38½ per bushel. May soybeans were up 2¾¢ at $10.55½ per bushel. For CBOT wheat, March was up 4¾¢ at $6.04¾ per bushel, while May was up 4¼¢ at $6.17¾ per bushel. March KC wheat was up 6¢ at $6.27¼ per bushel. May KC wheat was up 6½¢…

Researchers tempted grazing cattle with sweet molasses feed to discover whether cows would roam far and wide to graze or stick close to the herd, water supplies, and feed stations. The findings by animal scientists at the University of California, Davis, and published in the journal Scientific Reports, offer a low-cost way for ranchers and others to identify the best cows for their landscapes to optimize grazing while meeting the nutritional needs of cattle. This is the third in a series of papers about research seeking to better understand the grazing personalities of cattle. The first studies established that the…

It had been quite a while since I last attended a winter farm show, and it felt like I was long overdue. The only problem with going to a winter farm show is the “winter” part. It’s unfailingly cold in this neck of the woods when those particular events are held, but duh, it’s wintertime. Strolling around and perusing the booths and exhibits, it pleased me to see numerous young parents with children in tow. I thought, “Why aren’t those munchkins in school?” but then it dawned on me that it was Saturday. Time flies when you don’t know what you’re…

Farmers are at the center of politics in Europe, where stakeholders push individual stances toward decarbonization and market competitiveness. BRUSSSELS, Belgium — Mass protests in European capitals have captured global attention — not for their sheer size, but for their striking photos of tractors lined up for miles long, deliberately moving slowly, creating traffic chaos in the streets of Paris. In Belgium, farmers sprayed manure on government buildings, and in London, protesters waved brightly colored signs reading, “No farmer, no food, no future.” The largest gatherings took place in spring 2024, protesting a long list of grievances on diesel subsidies…

Lawmakers in Montana and Wyoming are pushing to outlaw lab-grown meat, joining Alabama and Florida in banning the production and sale of cultivated meat products. In Wyoming, House Bill 168, which prohibits “the manufacture, sale, and distribution of cultivated meat for human consumption,” has already passed the House and is awaiting a vote in the Senate. Meanwhile, Montana’s House Bill 401 remains under consideration but saw no opposition during a February 11 hearing. HB 401 explicitly bans the manufacture, sale, and offering of lab-grown meat, defining it as meat produced from cultured muscle cells, fat cells, connective tissue, blood, or…

Investing in the next generation of agricultural leaders is a point of pride for Culver’s — especially during National FFA Week (which takes place now through Feb. 22). To celebrate in 2025, the restaurant chain will be introducing a new fundraiser on Give FFA Day, Feb. 20, as well as launching the second year of the FFA Ambassador Program. On February 20, more than 900 Culver’s restaurants across the nation will come together to support local FFA chapters — and all guests have to do to get involved is dine at their local restaurant. When guests enjoy their favorite menu…