Author: staff

Nationwide is introducing a new tool designed to help farmers get ahead of the increasing tide of extreme weather that continues to disrupt agricultural operations across the United States. The insurer has partnered with a third-party provider to launch a weather alert system for its farm policyholders, offering timely text notifications and prevention tips whenever damaging hail or high winds are in the forecast. The goal is to give farmers an early warning so they can proactively protect property, equipment, and livestock. Farmers who sign up for the program will receive alerts when sustained winds exceed 50 miles per hour,…

December corn ended the day down less than a penny at $4.21½ per bushel. November soybeans closed down 3¼¢ at $10.10½ per bushel.  December CBOT wheat closed down less than a penny at $5.19½ per bushel. December KC wheat was up 2¾¢ at $5.08¼ per bushel. December Minneapolis wheat was up 1½¢ at $5.69¼. December live cattle ended the day down 48¢ at $233.83 per hundredweight (cwt). November feeder cattle closed down 60¢ at $353.88 per cwt. December lean hogs were down 70¢ at $90.35 per cwt. Ahead of 2:30 p.m. CT, November crude oil was down $2.53 at $63.19…

In a dual set of announcements, the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Agriculture agencies unveiled a new Memorandum of Understanding on competition enforcement and a major round of food assistance purchases that will deliver relief to U.S. producers. On September 26, the DOJ’s Antitrust Division and USDA signed an MOU that they say strengthens collaboration on antitrust enforcement in agricultural markets, from feed and fertilizer to fuel, seed, and farm equipment. The goal, an announcement reads, is to ensure farmers and ranchers have competitive access to essential goods while protecting consumers from inflated prices. Image by…

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service released its Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report in recent days, showing a slight year-over-year decline in the nation’s swine inventory. As of September 1, there were 74.5 million hogs and pigs on farms across the United States. That number is down 1 percent from September 2024 but marks a 1 percent increase compared with the June 1, 2025, inventory. Breaking down the figures, market hogs made up the overwhelming majority of the total at 68.5 million head. Breeding animals accounted for 5.93 million. Between June and August, producers weaned 34.1 million…

Key Takeaways Corn harvest reached 18%, with one top state still reporting 0% progress.Soybean condition improved week-over-week, with harvest reaching 19%.Winter wheat planting reached 34%, with emergence at 13%. Today, the USDA published the 26th Crop Progress report of the 2025 growing season. Here’s a look at the latest corn, soybean, and winter wheat numbers. Corn As of Sept. 28, 95% of the corn crop across the country’s top 18 growing states had reached the dent stage. Progress is 1 percentage point shy of the five-year average. Across all states, 71% of the crop had reached maturity, putting progress 3 points behind the five-year average.…

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved the registration of Norroa, the first-ever RNA-based treatment for varroa mites, the leading threat to honeybee colonies. The new product from GreenLight Biosciences comes as existing chemical acaricides and miticides become less effective and reliable against varroa mites, creating a threat to the broader agriculture system. Norroa’s RNA interference technology precisely targets varroa mites, breaking down safely in the hive and environment within days. Field trials demonstrated over 90 percent success in mite prevention, supporting hive health and more resilient pollination across more than 100 U.S. crops. A product like this couldn’t come…

What’s Happened In August, I wrote about five fundamentals to monitor regarding corn and soybean futures, as that month can be a significant turning point for corn and soybean prices. We discussed how prices were at a tipping point where either a rally may begin to occur, or a lack of friendly fundamental news could send prices capitulating lower.  The fundamentals we monitored then led to a rally for August into September. Now is time to shift focus for the next big fundamentals to monitor as the calendar flips to October. From a Marketing Perspective Here are the three fundamentals…

The National FFA Organization, hosted its third Next Gen Conference of the year in Fargo, N.D. from September 9-13. Next Gen Conferences provide FFA members the opportunity to explore career options within the industry of agriculture. The September conference brought together 70 high school sophomores, juniors and seniors from 21 states to learn more about emerging technologies in the agricultural space through informational sessions, panel discussions, and tours. The Next Gen Conference: Emerging Technologies tour locations in Fargo included: CNH Industria John Deere Cargill Grand Farm Innovation Campus (Demos with Autonomous Nation Conference)Each tour stop is carefully planned to provide…

Daniel Gross normally changes tires on his sprayer three times during the growing season, a job that normally requires two people.  “We usually use the massive hoist in our large shop, but the hoist is in use 80–90% of the time, so I had to come up with a different solution,” he said.  He constructed a basic frame for the load forks to engage. Then he added a swiveling tube long enough to handle his largest tire. He made two grapples to grab the tire. Two 16-inch cylinders squeeze the tire, and a 12-inch cylinder on one side of the…

By Peter Hobson and Tom Polansek CANBERRA/CHICAGO, Sept. 29 (Reuters) – Australian beef has replaced U.S. supply in China since President Donald Trump returned to the White House, funneling hundreds of millions of dollars that have in previous years gone to the U.S. cattle industry into Australian pockets. U.S. shipments to China, worth around $120 million a month, collapsed after Beijing in March allowed permits to expire at hundreds of American meat facilities and as Trump unleashed a tit-for-tat tariff war. Other U.S. farm exports to China, the world’s biggest food importer, have also suffered since Trump retook power. On soybeans alone, U.S. farmers have lost out on shipments worth billions…