Author: staff

What Happened Since late September, the U.S. dollar has surged, gaining 8% in value. There are many reasons the dollar can rally, often related to expectations for stronger interest rates or increased confidence in the U.S. economy. In this case, it is likely the latter. Interest rates have moved lower in 2024, yet confidence in the U.S. economy — and perhaps in the new administration — may have helped propel the desire to own U.S. dollars. Why This Is Important From the perspective of agricultural exports, a rising dollar increases the cost of imports for foreign countries. When the dollar…

A Thanksgiving talk between President-elect Donald Trump and Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo may have stymied tariff threats between the two countries.  “We discussed Mexico’s strategy on the migration phenomenon, and I shared that caravans are not arriving at the northern border because they are being taken care of in Mexico,” wrote Sheinbaum on her Twitter account. “We also discussed strengthening collaboration on security issues within the framework of our sovereignty and the campaign we are carrying out in the country to prevent the consumption of fentanyl.” Tuve una excelente conversación con el presidente Donald Trump. Abordamos la estrategia mexicana…

March corn is down a penny this morning. January soybeans are down 8¼¢. March wheat contracts are lower. CBOT wheat is down 1¼¢. KC wheat is down 1¾¢. Minneapolis wheat is down 2¢. “Grain and soybean futures are mostly in the red at the end of early trading, with corn and soybean futures under pressure from strong South American crop prospects and a strong dollar,” said The Brock Report following the overnight session. “Wheat futures have also been pressured by the strong dollar, and by stiff export market competition, with wheat from Russia, Ukraine, and Argentina being offered at low…

As the leaves fall and the crisp air signaled the arrival of Thanksgiving and the holidays to follow, FFA chapters across the country have been taking a moment to reflect on the values that unite them. Gratitude, service, and community are at the heart of the FFA mission, making this time of year an especially meaningful time for members and advisors alike. Many chapters hold special meetings or events during November leading up to Thanksgiving to focus on gratitude, often incorporating it into their programs of activities. The Springville Lisbon FFA chapter in Iowa has a Thanksgiving tradition of helping…

Listen to the Podcast Meet Hannah Klitz Hannah Klitz is a Nebraska producer and entrepreneur who markets and ships her farm’s beef directly to consumers and sells locally at a retail store. She is also monetizing her knowledge of the process through an online course she has developed for other producers. The course started as a way for Klitz to answer the many questions she was receiving from other producers on social media, including those with complex answers. Lesson topics cover everything from finding customers, to meat inspection laws, to packaging with dry ice. Hannah Klitz People message me on…

President-elect Donald Trump, who declared, “I am a tariff man,” in 2018, selected Jamieson Greer, an important figure in the Sino-U.S. trade war, to serve as U.S. trade representative (USTR) in his second term. Trump announced the choice during a string of days in which he threatened high import duties on a dozen countries, including Canada, Mexico, China, India, Brazil, and South Africa. The Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, met Trump in Florida over the holiday weekend to discuss potential 25% duties on Canadian products. Canada is the second-largest supplier of food and ag imports to the United States and No. 2…

In 1839, Simon Wyckoff bought 172 acres of what is now Warren County in central New Jersey. More than 100 years later, in 1958, the fifth and sixth generations of Wyckoffs, who had transitioned to dairy farming, planted 1,000 Norway spruce seedlings on a difficult piece of ground. Their first harvest was in 1967, when they sold six trees for $5 each. In 1970, they sold the cows, and the family became full-time Christmas tree farmers. John Wyckoff is the seventh generation to run the family farm. Today, Wyckoff’s Christmas Tree Farm has more than a dozen species planted on about 70 acres.…

The sprayer market has undergone notable shifts in 2024, with critical insights emerging from platforms such as TractorHouse, Machinery Pete, and Tractor Zoom. These changes reflect broader trends in the agricultural equipment industry and offer an in-depth look into the state of the sprayer market. The availability of self-propelled and pull-type sprayers has been a defining market factor, with notable supply, demand, and pricing shifts. These trends are not only shaped by technological advancements and market needs but also by evolving purchasing behaviors and economic factors affecting farmers and agriculture professionals. Market Overview: Increased Inventory and Availability A significant trend…

Two “agri-dreamers” believe agrivoltaics promise a highly profitable harvest for many North American farmers and ranchers.  Joshua Pearce and Ethan Winter lead efforts to understand the impact and encourage large-scale solar power generation on farmland. Agrivoltaics, a relatively new term, unites cropping practices and solar panels on the same fields.  Installed solar panels can provide a perennial electrical energy harvest, feeding directly into the power grid. Lease payments for the dual land use could offset increasing price stress from extreme weather, variable harvests, and lower commodity prices.  Well-established programs exist throughout Europe, as well as in Japan and China. “Agrivoltaics has…

Grain futures are mixed to start this holiday shortened session. Grain futures will end trading today at 12:05pm Central Time. Corn is up 2 to 3¢, soybeans are down 3 to 5¢ while the wheat complex is steady to up 3¢. The USDA Weekly Export Sales report was released this morning due to the Thanksgiving holiday yesterday. Wheat posted net sales of 366,800 metric tons, corn had 1,062,900 metric tons reported net sales for 2024/25 and 67,200 metric tons for 2025/26 and soybeans sales were reported at 2,490,500 metric tons for 2024/25 and 18,000 metric tons for 2025/26. It is worth…