Author: staff

Just ahead of 9 a.m. CT, May corn was up 1½¢ at $4.70¾ per bushel. May soybeans were down 6¾¢ at $10.18¼ per bushel. May wheat contracts were higher. CBOT wheat was up 10¢ at $5.61¼ per bushel. KC wheat was up 12¾¢ at $5.77½. Minneapolis wheat was up 7¾¢ at $6.00½. “Grain and soybean futures were mixed at the end of early trading, with corn and wheat futures finding further support from a weak dollar, as traders watched for the latest tariff news and awaited Tuesday morning’s USDA [World Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimates] report,” said The Brock Report…

The 2021 documentary The Mustangs: America’s Wild Horses presents itself as a sweeping, visually stunning journey into the world of America’s wild (or feral) horse populations. With executive producers Robert Redford, Patti Scialfa Springsteen, and Jessica Springsteen, the film carries an air of prestige and passion. Now being aired for free by PBS, it has regained relevance, particularly as debates about wild horse management and pressure to include legislation by feral horse proponents such as the SAFE Act in the next farm bill continue. While The Mustangs succeeds in capturing the majesty and romance associated with these animals, it at…

One of the most consistent criticisms against Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins is her perceived favoritism toward commodity production and other larger-scale American farming operations. Those critics suggested during her confirmation hearing she would be “a setback” for small and family farms who are being squeezed out by “powerful food and agriculture corporations.” Those concerns have solidified themselves in an open letter to Rollins signed by roughly 750 growers from every state in the nation as well as from Puerto Rico. The letter is intended to promote the importance of diversifying the crops that American farmers grow and to improve the markets…

Even before winning the presidential election in November 2024, Donald Trump was vocal about his intent to levy tariffs against trade partners Canada, China, and Mexico.  President Trump’s escalation of trade tensions in recent months has led to uncertainty in the agriculture sector of the economy, as an already challenged farm economy may face reciprocal tariffs from some of its largest trading partners.  Below is a timeline of the situation and coverage from Successful Farming. Timeline Oct. 17, 2024 Prior to the election, a study commissioned by the American Soybean Association (ASA) and the National Corn Growers Association (NGCA) found…

By Carl Zulauf, Jonathan Coppess, Gary Schnitkey, and Nick Paulson The 1990 Farm Bill began allowing U.S. farmers to make planting decisions not constrained by government programs (USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture), December 1990). A “Flex Acre” provision gave farmers the freedom to plant crops other than the designated crop on a base acre without losing the base acre. Flex acres, which were 15% of base acres, were ineligible for commodity program payments. Fruits and vegetables were excluded as planting options. The 1996 Farm Bill extended planting flexibility to all base acres (payment acre reduction remained 15%) (USDA, September 1996).  This article documents the…

By Sky Chadde, Investigate Midwest  Mass terminations at the U.S. Department of Agriculture are “crippling” the agency, upending federal workers’ lives, and leaving farmers and rural communities without needed support, according to interviews with 15 recently fired employees stationed across the U.S. Since taking power Jan. 20, the Trump administration has quickly frozen funding and fired federal workers en masse. USDA terminations started Feb. 13, the day Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins was sworn in. Rollins welcomed the quasi-governmental Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, led by billionaire Elon Musk, to find parts of the USDA budget to cut. Terminated employees helped farmers…

By Tom Polansek CHICAGO, March 6 (Reuters) – A monthly U.S. Department of Agriculture supply and demand report due next week will consider trade policies in place when the forecasts for grains and soybeans are issued, an agency official said on Thursday, as President Donald Trump suspended tariffs he imposed this week on Canada and Mexico. Grain traders and farmers will look closely at how USDA adjusts its World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates, due on March 11, as tariffs have fueled worries the U.S. will lose export markets for farm products. The nation relies on exports and competes with rival suppliers, such as Brazil, for global…

Planting windows are narrow, so it’s important to hit the ground running by ensuring that you take care of all maintenance points — tires included. Tire failure during planting can be frustrating and costly. Firestone estimates that each hour a flat tire keeps a farmer from planting, it could cost the farm nearly $2,500. Inspection Points To begin the inspection, bring the tractor and planter into the shop and park on a concrete pad, so you can do a full walk-around. Check the tractor tires’ air pressure; the weight of heavy farm equipment can damage underinflated tires. Overinflating tires leaves…

Low commodity prices are driving interest in carbon market programs, according to Jarod Creed, owner of JC Ag Financial Services, and owner and partner of Elite Ag Insurance. That was evident at the 2025 Commodity Classic as farmers packed into the Successful Farming Main Stage to attend the panel “Finding the Right Carbon Program.”  In addition to Creed, panelists included Kelly Garrett, Pete Meyer, and Kaylynn Henkenius. In 2020, Garrett, a sixth-generation Iowa farmer with a 7,000-acre no-till operation, became the first farmer in the nation to sell carbon credits to a corporate buyer. In 2024, Garrett teamed up with…

Watching scientific principles come to life in the eyes of the farmers he works with is one of agronomist Travis Gustafson’s favorite parts of the job. That, and riding in combines. Gustafson is an agronomic service representative for Syngenta covering central and western Nebraska. On an almost weekly basis during the growing season, he contributes his expertise to Successful Farming’s coverage of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Crop Progress report.  Gustafson took some time to speak with Successful Farming about his science background, how Syngenta prioritizes farmer success, and why he enjoys harvest. SF: Tell us about your road to…