Author: staff

Three years ago, I introduced you to the Bindner family from Marcus, Iowa.  My friend, Diane Williams, is Tom and Linda Bindner’s daughter. When Diane and her brother, Dean, visited the Century Farms Distillery booth at the Iowa State Fair in 2021, they knew they had found the perfect Christmas gift for their dad: bourbon whiskey made from corn grown on their 130-year-old western Iowa family farm. Siblings Don and Dennis agreed, corn was delivered, and the distilling process began. Diane and I drove to the distillery in Spencer, Iowa, about an hour northeast of the Bindner farm, in July…

The farm shop is the hub of the Tucker family’s farming operation. It is where Jennifer Tucker’s equipment is stored and repaired outside of Bowling Green, Kentucky. The barn hosts meetings between farmers, neighbors, dealers, and equipment technicians — the headquarters for the nearly 3,000-acre operation. Before 2023, all farm record-keeping was done in the home office. Equipment data was connected via Bluetooth or occasionally transferred using SD cards, and tasks often required a technician to visit the farm to download the information using a hotspot. Home and farm security were also concerns, with limited peace of mind when it…

As of 8:56 a.m. CT, December corn was down less than a penny at $4.14 per bushel. November soybeans were down 6¼¢ at $10.11¼ per bushel. September CBOT wheat was down 3½¢ at $5.44¼ per bushel. September KC wheat was down 4¼¢ at $5.18¼ per bushel. September Minneapolis wheat was down 1½¢ at $6.28¼.  “Grain and soybean futures showed limited movement in very quiet early trading as market participants watched for fresh news to drive price direction,” said The Brock Report, speaking of the overnight session. “Mostly favorable U.S. weather for corn and soybean growth and winter wheat harvest continued…

By Leah Douglas WASHINGTON, July 9 (Reuters) – U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said on Tuesday that there will be “no amnesty” for agricultural workers as President Donald Trump’s administration moves to deport all immigrants in the country illegally. Rollins said the administration wants a 100% American workforce and suggested some people receiving government aid could replace immigrant workers. “Ultimately, the answer on this is automation, also some reform within the current governing structure. And then also, when you think about, there are 34 million able-bodied adults in our Medicaid program. There are plenty of workers in America,” she said at a press…

Ever wonder which states make the list of top 18 corn-growing states, or which six states grow the nation’s spring wheat? From Iowa’s cornfields to North Dakota’s oat acres, these states lead the way in U.S. corn, soybean, wheat, and oat production. Top 18 Corn-Growing States According to the USDA, the following 18 states planted 92% of the 2024 corn acreage: ColoradoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyMichiganMinnesotaMissouriNebraskaNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioPennsylvaniaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasWisconsin According to the USDA’s June 2025 Acreage report, 90.6 million acres of corn were planted for 2024, and 95.2 million acres of corn were planted for 2025. Top 18 Soybean-Growing States According to the USDA,…

According to data compiled by the Successful Farming team, more than 735 acres of Iowa farmland are slated for auction in July 2025. Listings vary in size, from individual tracts under 25.5 acres, to parcels as large as 204 acres. While recent farmland sales have remained relatively strong, the broader market is showing signs of tightening, according to Luke Nissen, an accredited land consultant and Iowa land specialist with United Country Hawkeye Farm Management & Real Estate. “The market is interesting right now,” said Nissen, who grew up on a family farm in western Iowa’s Audubon County and remains involved…

With 1.3 billion individuals ages 15 to 24 globally, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has released a comprehensive report titled, The Status of Youth in Agrifood Systems, which examines and emphasizes the crucial role of youth in transforming agrifood systems to improve food security, nutrition, and economic opportunities. Notably, nearly 85 percent of global youth today live in low- and lower-middle-income countries, where agrifood systems are essential for livelihoods. Improving their inclusion in those systems could make a trillion-dollar difference in the global economy. The report delves into technical and policy initiatives designed to create decent…

At a press conference on Tuesday, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the National Farm Security Action Plan. As the second pillar of the USDA’s Make Agriculture Great Again initiative, the farm security plan seeks to protect American agriculture from foreign threats. The 12-page plan detailed three key areas of emphasis: Promote agricultural and economic prosperity by securing U.S. farmland, identifying gaps in the supply chain, and protecting the U.S. nutrition safety net.Protect agriculture research and innovation by enhancing research security and evaluating USDA programs. Strengthen domestic agricultural productivity by safeguarding plant and animal health and protecting critical infrastructure.  Rollins was joined…

During remarks Tuesday in Washington, D.C., Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins outlined a vision for the future of farm labor in the United States. Rejecting the possibility of legal status for undocumented agricultural workers, Rollins instead floated a plan for “mass deportations … in a strategic and intentional way” and suggested replacing the current labor force with “100 percent American participation.” Rather than relying on the estimated 50 percent to 75 percent of farmworkers who, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, are undocumented, many of whom perform seasonal, physically demanding labor, Rollins appeared to propose filling the gap by utilizing…

After solid June rainfall, Corn Belt crop conditions for corn and soybeans are sitting in a better spot than in 2024. As of the latest Crop Progress Report on July 7, 95% of the nation’s corn crop was listed in fair, good, or excellent condition — a sign of optimal growing conditions to this point in summer, said Paul Pastelok, AccuWeather’s lead long-range forecaster.  Ohio Valley Outlook Drought Monitor Even in areas where rains haven’t been as prevalent, such as sections of Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, and into the Ohio Valley, Pastelok has a positive outlook. Ohio sits drought free as…