Author: staff

The chronicle of the Co-op tractor during its 16-year existence takes many twists and turns and features an extensive cast of companies. The following narrative tries, as best it can, to follow a consistent timeline. However, the confusing number of manufacturing and marketing arrangements that were created and then were ceased will cause some overlap in this time line. The Original Co-ops The roots of the numerous tractors that would bear the Co-op name can be traced back to the Farm Bureau cooperatives in Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan. These three groups were already selling implements made for them by B.F.…

December corn ended the day down 2¼¢. January soybeans closed up 12¼¢. December what contracts closed higher. CBOT wheat was up 2¾¢. KC wheat was up 1½¢. Minneapolis wheat was up 2½¢. “Futures were mixed for much of today’s session with corn seeing both sides of unchanged while soybeans and wheat favored the upside,” said Karl Setzer, partner at Consus Ag Consulting. “Corn is still feeling the negative impact of harvest pressure, and this weighed on that market today. This pressure is lifting on soybeans, and with borrowed strength from the energy complex, [soybeans were] able to post solid gains.…

On Monday afternoon, a large grain bin on La Prairie Road in Camden, Illinois, collapsed, spilling approximately 750,000 bushels of grain. Fortunately, no injuries or fatalities were reported. The cause of the collapse remains unknown, and officials are investigating while operations at the farm have been temporarily suspended. With about 80 percent of the spilled grain expected to be saved, Western Grain Marketing told TV station WGEM that it is focusing on containment and recovery efforts. This incident is a reminder of the importance of adhering to best practices in bin operation and maintenance to prevent collapses and protect both…

The 2024 Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue is a three-day high-level conference focusing on cutting-edge issues in food security and agriculture. The 2024 event — going on Oct. 29 to 31 in Iowa and themed Seeds of Opportunity: Bridging Generations and Cultivating Diplomacy — will gather world leaders and top experts in development, agriculture, economic policy, resource management and nutrition. It also features a formal award ceremony celebrating the 2024 World Food Prize Laureates and their role in fighting global hunger. Below is a media statement signed by 13 World Food Prize Laureates and released today calling for the current…

A fully implemented ban on genetically modified corn in Mexico could disproportionately affect that nation’s lower-income consumers, according to a recently published study by agricultural economists with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. It would also have a negative impact on American farmers. Over 90 percent of corn grown in the United States is genetically modified, and Mexico is the second-largest importer of U.S. corn after China. Eggs and poultry meat account for about half of protein intake, and tortillas provide 13 to 20 percent of caloric intake for Mexicans, according to articles and studies cited in the…

The second annual Iowa Farmers of Color Conference will be held Saturday, November 10, at Living History Farms in Urbandale. The event aims to bring together farmers of color from throughout the Midwest. Last year, 120 people attended, and the goal for this year is 150, according to event co-founder Todd Western III. The conference will offer networking opportunities, direct access to state agencies and farm allies who can offer resources and guidance, insights into the latest developments with the Farm Bill, and information on cost-sharing programs and other resources for farmers. Representatives from the USDA, NRCS, FSA and U.S.…

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has confirmed the first U.S. case of H5N1 avian influenza in a pig on a small, backyard farm in Oregon. The discovery is a significant development in the ongoing management of this virus. The infection on this farm, which houses a mix of poultry, pigs, and other livestock, raises concerns due to pigs’ unique ability to serve as “mixing vessels” for different influenza strains. When pigs are infected with both human and bird flu viruses, there is a potential risk that the viruses could exchange genetic material, possibly creating a more transmissible or virulent strain…

Chevron announced today that the Grand Champion winner of this year’s 27th annual Chevron Tractor Restoration Competition is Tyler Billings of Floresville, Texas, for restoring a 1980 John Deere 4440. Teens across the United States competed in this STEM initiative last week in Indianapolis during the 2024 National FFA Convention and Expo. The Chevron TRC is an initiative that inspires high school students to engage in hands-on learning while honing critical thinking, budgeting, time management, and collaboration skills. This program goes beyond the classroom to help students cultivate a deep understanding of engineering, mechanics, and the agricultural industry. Here are…

On Election Day, North Dakota residents will vote on Measure 4, a ballot initiative that would eliminate the state’s ability to levy property tax on citizens. The measure has been met with a mixed reaction from farm owners and farm organizations. Multiple organizations expressed concerns that passing the measure would have more benefits for out-of-state landowners than North Dakota residents.  North Dakota Farm Bureau Daryl Lies, president of the North Dakota Farm Bureau, expressed clear support for the initiative in a statement on the NDFB website.  “Last November, during the NDFB Annual Meeting, NDFB members passed a policy advocating for…

As of Oct. 27, 65% of Wisconsin’s corn was harvested, said USDA in its latest Crop Progress report. That’s a striking 30 percentage points ahead of the five-year average. In context, that means corn harvest is 15 days ahead of normal, said USDA in Wisconsin’s Crop Progress and Condition report.   At 96%, the state’s soybean harvest is 23 percentage points ahead of the five-year average. That translates to nearly four weeks ahead of typical progress. Shot of Rain ‘Not Enough to Slow Down Harvest’ It was continued dry weather that factored into the productive week of harvest across the state.…