Author: staff

The National Weather Service precipitation outlook shows an above average chance for rain across the Midwest. That comes as good news for Midwest farmers. According to Iowa State Climatologist Justin Glisan, Iowa experienced its driest September on record, and as of Oct. 21, was on track for its second-driest October on record. However, he said there is a chance for widespread precipitation throughout the Corn Belt before Halloween.  “Any moisture that we can bank now before we freeze up in winter is much needed for the next growing season,” Glisan said. National Weather Service Topsoil Moisture Glisan expressed concern about…

1. Soybean, Grain Futures Lower in Overnight Trading Soybeans and grains were lower overnight on favorable weather in parts of South America.  Rainfall in southern Argentina has “eradicated” most of the dryness in the region, Commodity Weather Group said in a note to clients.  Dry areas have been reduced to less than 10% of corn and wheat areas, the forecaster said.  Another round of precipitation is expected in northern Brazil, giving a boost to crop prospects, CWG said. Still, the week-two outlook is drier.  “Recent drier spots in southern Brazil corn (and) soy linger, but occasional showers limit concerns,” Commodity…

Thirty people have contracted bird flu from exposure to infected animals this year, and more cases are expected, said the Centers for Disease Control on Thursday. At the same briefing, the USDA said it was confident of eradicating the viral disease in dairy herds despite the ever-rising number of outbreaks in California. The No. 1 dairy state, California has accounted for 137 of the 339 infected herds nationwide, or 40%. In the past 30 days, it was home to 97 of the 101 outbreaks in 14 states nationwide. The other four were in Idaho. Some states have gone months without…

By Maximilian Heath BUENOS AIRES, Oct 24 (Reuters) – Recent rainfall over Argentina’s agricultural heartland will likely continue into November, allowing for the normal planting of soybeans and corn, a leading meteorologist told Reuters on Thursday. The expectation of healthy rainfall follows significant precipitation in recent weeks that reversed an earlier dry spell over the key farming area, home to much of the South American nation’s grains output. “The final days in October will be dry, but we’ll see a return to rain in November,” said meteorologist German Heinzenknecht, citing a trend that should cover top farmland with around 100…

Brad Wilson said if the U.S. Department of the Treasury doesn’t issue regulations on the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit soon, the 45-billion-gallon-a-year biodiesel plant he manages in northwest Iowa may have to idle. “You’re going to be selling at a huge loss and just rolling the dice, hoping when the final guidelines come out from Treasury the credit value is enough to cover the loss,” said Wilson, President of Western Iowa Energy, a biodiesel plant located in Wall Lake, Iowa. “There’s no way we are going to take that risk in today’s market.” Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Executive Director…

What happened According to the USDA weekly Crop Progress report released on Monday, Oct. 21, harvest is well beyond the midway mark, as dry weather has helped farmers advance at a rapid pace. As of Sunday, 65% of corn (five-year average is 52%) and 81% of soybeans (five-year average is 67%) in the top producing states were harvested. Farmers are focused on taking care of harvest and fall fieldwork. However, that same attention will quickly focus on what to do with a harvested crop now that it is in the bin. While it is easy to look back at what…

Eight winners of the 2024 National FFA Agricultural Proficiency Awards were named during the fourth session of the 97th National FFA Convention & Expo on Friday, Oct. 25, which is being held in Indianapolis. Agricultural proficiency awards honor FFA members who, through Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAEs), have developed specialized skills that they can apply toward their future careers. Students compete in areas ranging from agricultural communications to wildlife management. Proficiency awards are also recognized at local and state levels and provide recognition to members exploring and becoming established in agricultural career pathways. Today, awards were announced for eight of the…

Syngenta Group has earned recognition as the top agriculture employer worldwide, ranking among the top five global employers overall in Science Magazine’s 2024 Careers Top Employers Survey. This milestone marks the eighth consecutive year Syngenta has been named the leading employer in agriculture, reflecting the company’s strong commitment to research, innovation, and employee development. The ongoing recognition highlights Syngenta’s focus on fostering an environment of collaborative innovation, which has driven their consistent global reputation. “We are delighted to maintain our status as the world’s number one agricultural employer,” says Camilla Corsi, Global Head of Crop Protection Research. “This consistent recognition…

As October winds down, the XtremeAg farmers are balancing micronutrients, managing weather challenges, and preparing for the 2025 season. Kelly Garrett – Arion, Iowa Kelly Garrett is a fifth-generation farmer in western Iowa. Garrett farms 4,000 acres of corn, over 1,800 acres of soybeans, and 170 acres of winter wheat. At the beginning of the season, I was a bit nervous seeing how the crop looked different early on, but I was committed. I waited until the end, and as we reduced the nitrogen and increased our use of the airplane for various applications, especially during the R stages, we…

December corn is down 3¼¢ this morning. January soybeans are down 3¢. December wheat contracts are also down. CBOT wheat is down 10¾¢. KC wheat is down 9¢. Minneapolis wheat is down 3¾¢. “The corn and soybean buying spree continues as end users — foreign and domestic — seek to take advantage of the seasonal harvest low in prices to extend coverage,” said Arlan Suderman, chief commodities economist at StoneX. “The farmer doesn’t like current prices, so he’s a reluctant seller. In the background of all of this is the fund manager reluctant to be short the commodities due to…