Author: staff

Corn was domesticated from its ancestor teosinte in central Mexico beginning about 9,000 years ago by humans selectively breeding the wild plant, transforming its small, hard-shelled kernels into the large, palatable ears of corn we know today. Over the centuries, root traits of corn — now the most widely planted crop in the U.S., and second globally (by acreage) — evolved in response to both changing environmental conditions and human agricultural practices. Because the role of roots in crop domestication in response to shifting circumstances remains unclear — and because it may be relevant to the present when a warming…

New Holland is expanding its PowerStar tractor series with two new PowerStar models with Electro Command semi-powershift transmissions. The new transmission option provides operators with more power, higher automatic transmission lift capacity, and better comfort features. “It’s the most comfortable and highest-performing tractor ever put into this series. Whether you’re in the livestock or crop segment, the PowerStar Electro Command is designed to make long days in the cab feel shorter and more productive,” said Lena Patton, product marketing manager for New Holland.  Performance The PowerStar Electro Command models are intended for crop, dairy and general livestock operations. These utility-sized…

DAILY Bites Secretary Brooke Rollins announced that the USDA will no longer support large-scale renewable energy projects on productive farmland. Rollins said subsidized solar farms drive up land costs and threaten agricultural heritage; supporters praised the decision as safeguarding farmland for future generations. Environmental advocates argue solar and wind can coexist with farming and provide revenue for landowners. DAILY Discussion Farmers are not inherently against renewable energy sources, such as solar. What they do tend to be against is the creation of solar facilities on prime farmland, especially as the United States is already seeing a rapid depletion of arable…

During a recent trip to the Outer Banks, a 200-mile-long string of barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina, my sons and I saw the mother of all grapevines. The “Mother Vine,” as it is known, is estimated to be more than 400 years old. Believed to be the oldest cultivated grapevine in North America, it grows along the Roanoke Sound on North Carolina’s Roanoke Island. The island is where the first English settlers landed in July 1587 and later disappeared. The group — including the first English-born child in the new land, Virginia Dare — is still known as “The Lost…

In the USDA Crop Progress report released on Aug. 18, seven states reported mature corn. The five-year average for the mature growth stage this time of year is 3%. Here’s a closer look at the states that reported. Texas Texas is leading the pack with the most mature corn being reported at 65%. That’s up 5 percentage points from the prior week. Texas is five points ahead of the five-year average for this point in the season.  Texas corn was rated 2% very poor, 6% poor, 30% fair, 40% good, and 22% excellent for the week ending Aug. 18. North Carolina The…

By Jonathan Stempel and Bhargav Acharya Aug. 15 (Reuters) – The U.S. government said on Friday it sued California to stop the state from enforcing stringent emissions standards for heavy-duty trucks that President Donald Trump recently declared void. In complaints filed this week in two federal courts, the U.S. Department of Justice said federal law preempts the California Air Resources Board from enforcing various emissions rules governing heavy-duty trucks and engines. These include the Clean Truck Partnership, a 2023 initiative with manufacturers designed to advance California’s goal of lowering emissions, while giving the truckmaking industry flexibility to meet emissions requirements. The Justice Department sued after a House of Representatives committee…

Claas has announced the new Jaguar 1000 series of self-propelled forage harvesters with the company’s widest crop flow channel to date. The series is launching with four models: the Jaguar 1080, 1090, 1100, and 1200, ranging 850–1,110 hp with throughput rates of up to 500 tons per hour. “We didn’t just tweak the old platform — we reimagined everything,” said Matt Jaynes, product manager at Claas of America. “These machines feature a truly ground-up engineering approach, with wider crop flow, a more intelligent drive system, and significant advancements in chop quality and cab comfort.” Performance Claas Jaguar 1000 series forage…

By Cami Koons Last week marked the first time since mid-June that statewide precipitation levels were below normal, while temperatures were 2-4°F above normal for the period, according to State Climatologist Justin Glisan. Despite the diminished precipitation levels, soil moisture remains high. Crops rated highly during the Aug. 11–17 reporting period, though developments for corn and soybean acres are slightly behind the five-year average, according to the crop progress and condition report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  Twenty-seven percent of corn has reached the dent stage, one day behind the average. Nearly 80% of Iowa corn is in the…

USDA published the latest Crop Progress report on Monday, Aug. 18. Here’s a closer look at recent weather and the status of Wisconsin’s most important crops in mid-August. Weather Nick Groth, agronomic service representative for Syngenta Crop Protection covering the state of Wisconsin, said, “On the morning of Aug. 12, a storm brought heavy wind and rain to southern Wisconsin. There were several fields south of Madison that showed significant lodging after this event. I have seen significant corn rootworm damage in that area this year and wonder if that may be part of the issue.” A continuation of this…

What Happened On Aug. 12, the USDA released the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report. The report contained many surprises, including a significant increase in corn acreage as well as yield. Planted acres increased by 2.1 million acres to 97.3 million. Yield increased from 181 bushels per acre to an eye-popping record 188.8 bushels per acre. Production rose from 15.705 billion bushels to 16.742 billion. Demand also improved, with increases noted to feed usage (up 250 million bushels), ethanol (up 100 million bushels), and exports (up 200 million bushels). The net of all these numbers was an increase in…