Author: staff

On Friday, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced the appointment of 50 new Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Rural Development state directors. “When America’s farming communities prosper, the entire nation thrives. This new group of USDA appointees will ensure President Trump’s America First agenda is a reality in rural areas across the country. I am grateful for the leadership of these new state directors and look forward to their work reorienting the agency to put farmers first again,” said Secretary Rollins. According to the press release outlining the appointments, “FSA state directors help implement President Trump’s America First agenda and…

At least 15,000 employees at the U.S. Department of Agriculture have accepted voluntary resignation offers from the Trump administration, according to a readout of a USDA briefing shared with POLITICO. The departures constitute a significant reduction of a department that oversees a wide range of programs, including farm lending, food safety, rural broadband, and key federal nutrition programs. The voluntary exit program was offered in two rounds. Just under 4,000 employees accepted during the initial phase in January, but a second offer drew more than 11,300 additional resignations, with more still possible. The program allows employees to receive full pay…

Shortly after 9 a.m. CT, July corn was up 2¢ at $4.56¼ per bushel. July soybeans were down 4¼¢ at $10.41¼ per bushel. July wheat contracts were mixed. CBOT wheat was up 5¼¢ at $5.36½ per bushel. KC wheat was up 4¢ at $5.36¾. Minneapolis wheat was down a penny at $6.08½. Yesterday afternoon, USDA released the weekly Crop Progress report. “USDA pegged this year’s corn planting progress [in the top growing states] at 40% [complete] as of Sunday, which was one point above the five-year average for the week,” said Arlan Suderman, chief commodities economist at StoneX. “Soybean planting…

When weighing the threat of tracking a potential African swine fever virus outbreak in the U.S., research has found that in-state sampling and laboratory capacity are areas of concern — particularly in areas with dense swine farm populations. ASF is a highly contagious viral disease in pigs, with a mortality rate that is often 100 percent. Infected pigs may not show symptoms before they die, potentially allowing the virus to spread before it is detected. The cost of a potential ASF outbreak in the U.S. has been estimated at $80 billion. The nation’s top three swine states are Iowa, Minnesota,…

This spring, the news was strongly bearish when the administration announced tariffs on most of the world, including most of our major ag export markets. The U.S. stock market, energy prices, and the grain markets were collapsing sharply. One late afternoon, a worried farmer called me. “Should I sell it all now?” he asked. “I am watching TV all day and — wow — are they bearish!” He told me everything he was reading on the internet was so negative. “I can’t stand it,” he said.  His call, and his reactions, reminded me of the Carter grain embargo in January…

Policy decisions in Washington, D.C., at on the state level affect everyone, but maybe agriculture more than most. From major efforts like the farm bill to more niche topics such as nutrition assistance, conservation, and rural development, policies play a huge role in agriculture and on the way our food system operates. It’s incredibly important that ag has a presence in the making of these decisions. We need to have a seat at the table, not just spend our time producing food for the table. It’s important to recognize that lobbying is not a dirty word. Lobbying tends to have…

By Anna Kaminski  TOPEKA — A water task force meant to ensure the “precious resource is available for generations to come” received its first members this week. The 16-member panel of Republican and Democratic legislators, state officials, and a handful of appointees from both parties will craft policy changes in an effort to evaluate Kansas’ current and future water supply, funding efforts for water projects, and potential impacts on the state’s economy. Republicans announced their appointments Wednesday, which included an official from utility company Evergy, an environmental consultant and the manager of a public groundwater management district in northwest Kansas.…

What Happened As confirmed by recent USDA crop progress reports (released on Monday afternoons), spring fieldwork is progressing about as anticipated, and in comparison with historical norms. The markets have reflected this in corn and wheat, as both have seen declines in futures prices for new crops. Typically, as planting uncertainty begins to decrease, so do prices. In the case of wheat, recent rain for the Wheat Belt, where hard red winter wheat is growing, suggests crop stabilization or improvement as the harvest season nears. Why This Is Important Farmers must prepare for market moves when making marketing decisions. Some…

Take look at these three farmland transactions that transpired in January and February 2025. 39.7 acres in Plymouth County, Iowa Date: Feb. 6, 205 Price: $22,600 Corn Suitability Rating Index (CSR2): 79.3 Farmland in northwest Iowa sold for $22,600 per acre, with a per-tillable acre price of $23,780, and a CSR2 value of $300 per point. The farm consisted of 39.7 gross acres, with 37.73 tillable acres featuring high-quality soil types. The auction was conducted on-site, with full possession granted at closing, making the land immediately available for the 2025 crop year. The final sale price, just under $900,000, reflects…

July corn ended the day down 14¾¢ at $4.54¼ per bushel. July soybeans closed down 12½¢ at $10.45½ per bushel. July wheat contracts also closed lower. CBOT wheat ended the day down 11¾¢ at $5.31¼ per bushel. KC wheat was down 8½¢ at $5.32¾. Minneapolis wheat was down 1½¢ at $6.09½. “Corn futures finished lower as warm, dry forecasts across the Corn Belt supported planting progress and kept selling pressure on the market,” said the Grain Market Insider newsletter by Stewart-Peterson Inc. “Soybean futures weakened in bear-spreading action, with the front months leading the decline and giving back Friday’s gains.…