Author: staff

Ryan Britt combines conservation practices, adaptive grazing, and dairy-inspired efficiency to improve both soil resilience and beef performance on his family farm in north-central Missouri. His focus on patience, testing, and data-driven management is boosting ROI across the entire operation. Watch our Conversation Meet Ryan Britt Britt grew up farming with his father, Randy, and is the fifth generation on the family farm in north-central Missouri. He grows corn, soybeans, and wheat, and has a cow-calf to finish beef operation. Conservation is a key motivator for Britt’s farming decisions, which earned him a Leopold Conservation Award from the Sand County…

The federal government shutdown has continued, resulting in another week without the USDA publishing a Crop Progress report. The Economics, Statistics, and Market Information System website, which houses the Crop Progress reports, “will not be updated during the funding lapse,” according to a site notification. According to a Reuters poll of 10 analysts on Monday, the U.S. corn harvesting progress lagged behind last year’s pace. On average, the analysts estimated that 44% of the U.S. corn crop had been harvested as of Sunday, with estimates ranging from 35–55% for corn. Without the USDA Crop Progress report, the Successful Farming team…

By Carl Zulauf and Jonathan Coppess This article compares economic loss with safety net payments for the nine large acreage crops that USDA, ERS (US Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service) reports a cost of production. This comparison is important in part because ad hoc assistance was provided during, not after the 2024 crop year. In-year ad hoc assistance increases the possibility of too much or too little public assistance for the sector and individual crops. 2024 crop safety net assistance is estimated to reduce the nine crop’s collective economic loss from 17% to slightly more than 3% of total economic cost. Coverage of individual crop economic loss…

While the USDA Crop Progress report remains on pause, here’s a closer look at the status of Wisconsin’s corn harvest in mid-October from an agronomist’s perspective. Nick Groth, agronomic service representative with Syngenta Crop Protection, shared that corn harvest is well underway in southern Wisconsin and just beginning in northern Wisconsin. “I would estimate around 15% of corn fields have been harvested across Wisconsin as a whole,” said Groth. Last year at this time, the USDA reported that 26% of Wisconsin corn had been harvested. Wisconsin Corn Quality “Almost all fields across the state have reached black layer now, and…

As we reach mid-October, the U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) reported that a late-season surge of tropical moisture brought heavy precipitation and areas of flooding to parts of the Four Corners States. Amounts of 4 inches to locally over 6 inches were reported in parts of interior Arizona and southern Colorado. Farther east, a coastal storm system brought gusty winds and heavy rains to parts of the East Coast. Drought designations improved by multiple categories in some of the wetter areas across interior Arizona, southern Colorado, and eastern South Carolina. Areas of 1-category improvement covered the central and southwestern Four Corners…

Following recent Iowa layoffs, John Deere has announced another significant restructuring move that will affect operations across the state. According to multiple Iowa news outlets, the company plans to relocate certain jobs from its Ottumwa and Des Moines facilities to other John Deere locations in Iowa and Illinois. The brand said this change is part of an effort to increase efficiency and reduce costs within its manufacturing and testing operations. KWWL reported that the relocation will specifically involve product verification and validation testing currently performed at Ottumwa Works and Des Moines Works. These functions will be moved to other John…

December live cattle ended the day down $6.05 at $241.83 per hundredweight (cwt). November feeder cattle closed down $9.25 at $371.70 per cwt. December lean hogs were down 23¢ at $82.38 per cwt. “Cattle futures were under heavy pressure today following statements from the White House that high beef prices are being looked at,” said Karl Setzer, partner at Consus Ag Consulting. “President Trump announced that he would like to see cheaper beef and has ‘magic’ that can make that happen. While high-priced beef is the result of low cattle numbers, the government’s own policy is a major factor, including…

The FARMCON event being held Jan. 7 and 8, 2026, in Kansas City, Missouri, is going to recognize farmers, entrepreneurs, and agribusiness professionals through its 40 Under Forty Awards. Nominations are open now and can be made at this link. Whether it’s creating new market opportunities, launching game-changing ag-tech, or transforming the rural landscape, the selected honorees are the kind of role models who are already making a difference. Nominees are those uniquely positioned to lead the new era of American agriculture, where tradition meets innovation, and the future is rooted in resilience, driven by technology and powered by unwavering…

When I talk to farmers about ag technology, I hear a lot of fear and confusion. Ag tech has come with a lot of promises with 30% yield gains here, 40% savings there, and over and over again. Many farmers have felt that implementing technology can be a burden at times and can cost too much without showing verifiable ROI.  While ag technology may feel like a burden, I’m here to tell you why I think it could be the savior you need to get through this downturn and set up your farm for the future.  History of Ag Tech…

Weeks after Florida rodeo teen Caden Rex Speight went missing and was found a day later, authorities have arrested the 17-year-old in connection with what investigators said had long alleged: the dramatic disappearance was a fabricated abduction. The Marion County Sheriff’s Office reported this week that Speight was arrested on charges of presenting false evidence, shooting into a conveyance, making a false report of a crime, and possession of a firearm by a minor. The arrest follows a two-week investigation that revealed the dramatic search began with what authorities say was a fabricated crime scene. According to the sheriff’s office,…