Author: staff

Ranchers and agricultural advocates warn the nation’s cattle industry is in dire straits as Walmart and Brazilian-based JBS expand in the U.S. market. To Mike Schultz, Kansas ranchers are stuck in velvet handcuffs. Walmart, the nation’s largest grocery retailer and private employer, recently expanded into the U.S. beef industry with its own processing plant in Olathe, Kansas, a suburb of Kansas City. The opening of the Walmart-owned plant in July marked a turning point for the company and the nation’s cattle industry. Schultz, a cattle rancher in Brewster, Kansas, a state that accounts for roughly 4 percent of the nation’s…

By Cami Koons Iowa farmers are near the end of harvest season for corn and soybean crops following yet another week of above-average temperatures in the state.  While crop progress and condition reports from the U.S. Department of Agriculture have not been issued since the start of the current government shutdown, reports from past years show farmers are typically more than halfway done with corn harvest and more than 80% complete with soybean harvest at this point in October.  In 2024, Iowa farmers had harvested 68% of corn acres and 91% of soybean acres for the mid-October reporting period.  Iowa Secretary of…

For American agriculture, trade is not just policy; it’s an economic necessity. U.S. farmers, ranchers, and workers in the agriculture supply chain depend on global markets to stay competitive, grow their operations, and support millions of jobs across America’s heartland. Approximately 20 percent of all U.S. agriculture production is exported each year, making access to international agriculture markets a cornerstone of economic health. Despite these facts, for decades, U.S. agriculture has endured the consequences of unresolved trade disputes and market distortions. Today, thanks to the courage and conviction of President Donald Trump and others in the Trump Administration, those longstanding…

The For Farmers Movement, a nationwide organization that champions small and mid-sized farms, has opened nominations early for its annual grant program. Community members can nominate farmers through the For Farmers Movement website until October 31, 2025, with 100 grant recipients set to be announced on December 3, 2025. The grant initiative provides direct financial support to farmers who need help repairing equipment, recovering from natural disasters, expanding operations, or maintaining productive land. Nominating a farmer offers communities a way to recognize the essential role producers play in feeding families and sustaining rural economies. The organization was founded on a…

1. Soybean Futures Higher in Overnight Trading Soybean futures were again higher in overnight trading on continued optimism about trade with China. Talks between Washington and Beijing on Friday were constructive, according to Chinese state media.  More negotiations are expected ahead of a planned meeting between presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping who are expected to talk during an economic forum in South Korea later this month.  Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said last week that he plans to meet this week with Vice Premier He Lifeng in Malaysia to engage in “frank and detailed discussions.”  Trump said over the weekend…

The Farmers 2050 app isn’t just a virtual farm game. This fall, it’s a chance for FFA members nationwide to raise real money for their chapters while learning how to sustainably feed the world. Nutrien Ag Solutions has launched the FFA Global Event Contest, open to all FFA chapters across the United States. From now until November 2, 2025, chapters can compete in the digital farming challenge to earn donations of up to $1,000 for their local programs. Through the Farmers 2050 game, players build farms, make management decisions, and explore the economics of sustainability. To qualify, FFA participants must…

By Ian Karbal UNIONTOWN — Mike Reskovac was starting the harvest at his family farm in Uniontown, Fayette County, later than he’d hoped. Late-season rain meant he had to delay it about a week, since soybeans need to be dry when they’re harvested. Then, Thursday morning, Reskovac discovered two bearings that needed replacing in his combine. That meant calling dealers and suppliers, driving four hours round-trip to pick them up, shelling out $200 and installing them himself. He’d get to the field in the afternoon, and be at the harvest until after the sun went down. “They always say farmers wear…

By Tess Vrbin Arkansas lawmakers expressed concern about the state of the agriculture industry Friday and agreed to urge the federal government to provide financial aid to keep farmers afloat. Commodity crop farmers are facing one of their worst periods in decades as a result of skyrocketing production costs and stagnant demand. Agriculture industry leaders told lawmakers last month in Stuttgart that 25–40% of farmers are likely to leave the industry after this season unless they receive aid. Rep. DeAnn Vaught, R-Horatio, chairs the House Agriculture subcommittee that met in Stuttgart and has worked as a farmer herself. She said Friday during…

On Sunday, President Trump made waves with a proposal for dealing with high U.S. beef prices. “We would buy some beef from Argentina,” he said from Air Force One during a flight from Florida to Washington, according to the Associated Press. “If we do that, that will bring our beef prices down.” His comments came after a report Friday that the administration was working on lowering beef prices for U.S. consumers. That news alone greatly impacted the market, with feeder cattle closing more than $9 lower to end the week.  The Commstock Report said, “Behind the scenes, sources close to…

The smell of fresh coffee wafts through a friendly meeting room overlooking a busy street in Rocky Ford, Colorado. A plate of glazed doughnuts sits on the table. The welcoming space features a large, rectangular table, comfortable chairs, plants, notice boards, and dozens of wooden plaques emblazoned with the brands of several local ranchers. Some of the men and women behind those brands make the drive to town on a Monday morning. They grab a mug of coffee and a doughnut, greet each other warmly, laugh, and talk about the things ranchers talk about: the weather, cattle prices, and what’s…