Author: staff

By Ryan Hanrahan Bloomberg’s Gerson Freitas Jr reported that “the latest US cattle tally offered little relief for consumers paying record beef prices, even as the cycle of herd liquidation seems to be coming to an end.” “There were about 94.2 million cattle and calves in the U.S. as of July 1, the lowest mid-year count on record in data going back to 1973, the Department of Agriculture said in a report,” Freitas Jr reported. “The number of animals placed in feedlots for weight gain before being sent to slaughter plunged to the lowest since 2017, the USDA said in…

By Cindy Gonzalez LINCOLN — A new soybean crushing facility that owners say brings a $700 million investment to Nebraska’s David City and will support 80 jobs is set to launch commercial operations by the end of August. On a site that spans nearly 275 acres, the Ag Processing Inc. plant at full speed is expected to process 50 million bushels of soybeans and produce 700 million pounds of refined soybean oil. Such byproducts are used for animal feed, cooking, and biofuel. The operation about an hour northwest of Nebraska’s capital city, will be the 11th soybean processing location for AGP,…

By Cami Koons EDDYVILLE – Iowa grown corn will soon end up in apparel like Spanx, and other products typically made with petroleum-based components, following the opening of a new processing facility.  Qore, the joint venture between Minnesota-based Cargill and Germany-based HELM AG, celebrated the opening of the $300 million facility Tuesday, and future growth it represents.  The facility will take sustainably grown corn from within the area, then grind it and process it into QIRA, which the company said is an “identical replacement” of 1,4-butanediol, a chemical component used to manufacture various polymers.  Officials with Qore and the partnering…

1. Soybean, Corn Futures Higher on Hot Weather Soybean and corn futures were higher in overnight trading amid ongoing extreme heat in much of the eastern Midwest.  Heat indexes in parts of Missouri and Arkansas will range from 110 to 115 degrees Fahrenheit this afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. Values in southeastern Missouri, counties in Kentucky and areas of southwestern Missouri will see temperatures around 110 degrees, the agency said.  Soil moisture levels are expected to decline in areas affected by the ongoing heat, which is forecast to last for at least another six days in the region,…

This week’s U.S. Drought Monitor shows improvements in drought conditions across areas of the Southeast, South, Midwest, Central and Northern Plains, Intermountain West, and Desert Southwest. The map shows the most significant rainfall accumulations were observed across northern Kansas and areas of the Midwest, including Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana, where accumulations ranged from 3 to over 10 inches. Drought intensity map of the U.S. as of July 22, 2025. Midwest Map of Midwest showing drought levels as of July 22, 2025. According to the Drought Monitor, storms during the past week delivered accumulations of 1–6 inches, with the heaviest…

Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins released the long-awaited USDA reorganization plan this week, including closure of some facilities and relocation of many staff to regional hubs across the country. Agri-Pulse Newsmakers spoke with Rep. April McClain Delaney, D-Md., about the plan, including the closure of the Beltsville Ag Research Center in her state, as well as rural broadband deployment.Plus, Eric Steiner with OFW Law discussed what to expect in the skinny farm bill that House Ag Chairman “GT” Thompson wants to move this fall, and Shirley Bloomfield from NTCA-The Rural Broadband Association explains what’s needed to continue expanding broadband connectivity. Watch…

When a farmer is no longer a farmer, it’s much different than when other people retire or change professions. Often, feelings of letting down previous generations and the question, “If I’m not a farmer, who am I?” lead to depression. Jeff Corle is no stranger to those feelings. Meet Jeff Corle Corle was the fourth generation to milk cows on the family’s farm in the Laurel Mountains of western Pennsylvania. “In the spring of 2022, the writing was on the wall,” he said. “We were just getting too small to compete.” He made the heart-wrenching decision to shut down, which…

By Leslie Bonilla Muñiz  Indiana’s capital city will serve as one of five new USDA regional hubs, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced Thursday. “American agriculture feeds, clothes, and fuels this nation and the world, and it is long past time the Department better serve the great and patriotic farmers, ranchers, and producers we are mandated to support,” Rollins said in a news release. The sprawling agency plans to relocate at least 2,600 employees away from the Washington, D.C. area. “President Trump was elected to make real change in Washington, and we are doing just that by moving our key services…

1. Soybean Futures Lower on China Concerns Soybean futures were lower in overnight trading on concerns about exports to China, as the Asian nation curbs hog production.  China plans to cut the number of breeding sows to reduce its overall hog population and bring prices down.  That, in turn, will limit soy meal consumption and imports.  Overcapacity in the Chinese hog market has led to oversupply and deflation. Cash hog prices have dropped almost 29% since last August, Reuters reported, citing consultancy MySteel.  Also weighing on prices are concerns about the ongoing trade war between the U.S. and China that…

By Joe Janzen Current USDA supply and demand projections for the upcoming 2025/26 marketing year show ending stocks at relatively low levels, the result of relatively tight carry-in stocks from the 2024/25 marketing year. This situation considered in isolation might suggest a return to higher corn prices and improved profitability for corn producers this year. However, new-crop December corn futures have been stuck in a fairly narrow range at price levels that are historically low. Since gapping lower following the Fourth of July holiday, new-crop December corn futures have traded in a fairly narrow range, between about $4.10 and $4.30…