Author: staff

By Mary Steurer North Dakota and 11 other states are advocating for the U.S. Supreme Court to consider the arguments of North Dakota ranchers in a dispute with an energy company. WBI Energy used eminent domain to take a portion of the northwest North Dakota landowners’ property for a pipeline project in 2018. The ranchers were compensated for their land under a confidential settlement with WBI in 2021, though the parties disagreed as to whether the group was also entitled to legal fees. A North Dakota federal judge initially ordered WBI to pay the landowners about $380,000 in legal expenses,…

By Julie Ingwersen CHICAGO, Sept. 12 (Reuters) – High levels of fungal disease are lurking in corn fields across the U.S. Midwest, threatening to reduce yields of a record-large crop and cause headaches for farmers during the autumn harvest, growers and crop experts said. The outbreaks are a blow to farmers in the world’s biggest corn-producing country as they struggle to make money due to low grain prices and rising costs for fertilizer, seed and other inputs. Farmers had hoped to produce the biggest possible yields to offset low prices, and crop diseases put that plan at risk. “I’ve never seen disease as…

1. Grains, Soybeans Little Changed Ahead of WASDE Grain and soybean futures were little changed in overnight trading as investors square positions ahead of today’s supply and demand reports from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  The government is expected to slightly reduce its new-crop production forecasts when it releases its monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report at noon in Washington.  USDA will likely forecast corn production at 16.516 billion bushels on yield of 186.2 bushels an acre, according to analysts polled by Reuters. That would be down from the August forecast for 16.742 billion bushels on yield…

When her grandparents were curious about her work in a seed production business during college, Emma shared her experience by filming videos. That was the beginning of Ag With Emma. Today, her YouTube videos have had more than 54 million views, and hundreds of thousands of people follow her on Instagram and TikTok. Her motto: Bringing you along in the buddy seat. Watch Our Interview Meet Emma Agriculture was always a part of Emma’s life. She has fond memories of tagging along as her grandfather fed cows on the family’s Wisconsin dairy farm, and when she moved to southern Idaho…

The Make America Healthy Again Commission unveiled a final report which suggests easing some regulations on farms, increasing research on precision agriculture technology and removing restrictions on whole milk sales in schools. Agri-Pulse Newsmakers asked Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall about the report and how MAHA could expand through states in the future. Then, T.A. Hawks with Monument Advocacy and Mike Stranz with the National Farmers Union discuss trade, concerns about brain drain at USDA and the prospects for emergency farm assistance as well as a skinny farm bill this fall. Watch the Episode Want to receive Newsmakers in your inbox…

by Cami Koons Cattle at a nature preserve in eastern Iowa appear to roam the land freely — no fences or cowboys on horseback patrol their movement.  Instead, these cows wear special collars that keep them from grazing beyond the boundaries their owners designate via a phone or computer.  The Nature Conservancy has studied this form of virtual fencing with cattle at its Land of the Swamp White Oak Preserve for the past three years with the hope that the technology can be integrated into other ranchers’ operations.  Amy Crouch, The Nature Conservancy’s Little Sioux project director who headed the virtual fencing…

By Joshua Haiar A South Dakota economic development board this week approved up to $2.8 million in tax relief for a solar farm, a $10 million state loan for a cheese factory and a $7,500 state grant to help local businesses grow.  Officials expect the projects to result in a combined $395 million in private investment and create 163 jobs. “We’re supporting a major expansion in food production, investing in renewable energy, and fueling local economic development,” Gov. Larry Rhoden said in a press release. “Each project strengthens our communities and ensures long-term growth for our state.”   The Board of…

By Brooklyn Draisey A study by Iowa State University (ISU) researchers shows the viability of using bio-oils to plug abandoned oil wells, an application that could drive economic growth for Iowans with farm and forest waste. ISU mechanical engineering professor Mark Mba-Wright led a “techno-economic assessment” of technology that uses oil created from plant waste to fill orphan oil wells, or abandoned wells that need to be filled in, and sequester carbon dioxide. Mba-Wright, who has studied bio-oils and their applications for more than a decade, said he was surprised to learn about this use of the materials when the…

USDA published the latest Crop Progress report on Monday, September 8. Here’s a closer look at recent weather and the status of North Carolina’s most important crops as September started out. Weather North Carolina has dried out since early June. In June, the Iowa Environmental Mesonet reported precipitation several inches above average during the month of May. North Carolina’s precipitation departure shows a drier than normal pattern. Iowa Environmental Mesonet More of the eastern side of the state is now abnormally dry, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.  The eastern half of North Carolina is abnormally drought. U.S. Drought Monitor…

DAILY Bites Corn: Forecast at 16.8 billion bushels, up 13% from 2024; planted area at 98.7 million acres (+9% YoY); yields at 186.7 bushels/acre, with multiple states expected to hit record highs. Soybeans: Production at 4.30 billion bushels, down 2% from 2024; planted area at 81.1 million acres (-7% YoY); yields projected at 53.5 bushels/acre, with record yields in several states. Cotton: Output forecast at 13.2 million bales, down 8% from 2024; planted area at 9.3 million acres (-17% YoY); yields averaging 861 pounds/acre, below both last month and last year. DAILY Discussion Corn production is up, while soybean and…