Author: staff

By Gary Schnitkey, Nick Paulson, Carl Zulauf, Bradley Zwilling Between 2021 and 2023, prices of new agricultural equipment increased by over 20%, resulting in similar increases in machinery costs on farms. To remain competitive, farmers may wish to reassess machinery management strategies, particularly when older machinery needs to be replaced. Combines typically represent the single largest investment on farms. Harvesting over 3,000 acres per combine will lower costs. The number of tractors, tillage implements, and planters also significantly impact costs. Increases in Machinery Prices and Costs An index of tractor prices paid, calculated by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), illustrates…

Mississippi State is partnering with tech giant Amazon and leading agricultural technology company Arable in helping farmers conserve water and save money. The Mississippi Delta initiative is one of more than 30 worldwide projects Amazon has announced for its campaign to be water positive—contributing more water to the environment than the company consumes — by 2030. Drew Gholson, a scientist with the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station and irrigation specialist with the MSU Extension Service, attributes the intensifying pressure on the Mississippi River Alluvial Aquifer, or MRVA, to increasing demand for permitted wells and irrigated acres. “The concern is…

By Ella Cao and Naveen Thukral BEIJING/SINGAPORE, Oct. 16 (Reuters) – China has yet to secure much of its soybean supply for December and January as high premiums for Brazilian cargoes discourage buyers, a development that could prompt Beijing to tap state reserves to meet near-term needs, three trade sources said. China still needs to purchase about 8–9 million metric tons of soybeans for December-January shipment after covering cargoes through November with hefty purchases of Argentine beans in recent weeks, the sources said. Escalating Washington-Beijing trade tensions continue to shut out U.S. supplies. “China is not buying U.S. beans because of the trade war…

New research has found cover crops that are viable in Washington’s normal “off season” don’t hurt the soil and can be sold as a biofuel source. After harvest, farmland often sits fallow and unused until growers seed in the next crop. Soil can erode, weeds can take root, and farmers don’t make any money during that time. Cover crops can eliminate or reduce some of those issues, but many farmers have concerns about their effects on soil quality, a reduced growing window for their primary crop, and the inability to sell the cover crop. In a paper recently published in…

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is accepting nominations for the 2026 Environmental Stewardship Awards. Established in 1991, the Environmental Stewardship Award Program annually recognizes outstanding stewardship practices and conservation achievements of cattle producers across the country. “Since its inception 35 years ago, this prestigious program has recognized 235 cattle operations for their stewardship efforts,” said NCBA President Buck Wehrbein. “We look forward to finding the next deserving stewards and sharing their stories.” Any individual, group or organization is eligible to nominate one individual or business raising or feeding cattle. While individuals and families may not nominate themselves, they should be…

By Ryan Hanrahan The Washington Post’s Lauren Kaori Gurley reported that “the Trump administration said that its immigration crackdown is hurting farmers and risking higher food prices for Americans by cutting off agriculture’s labor supply.” “The Labor Department warned in an obscure document filed with the Federal Register last week that ‘the near total cessation of the inflow of illegal aliens’ is threatening ‘the stability of domestic food production and prices for U.S. consumers,’” Gurley reported. “‘Unless the Department acts immediately to provide a source of stable and lawful labor, this threat will grow’ with increased funding for immigration enforcement…

University of Maryland researchers discovered the gene that makes a rare form of wheat grow three ovaries per flower instead of one. Since each ovary can potentially develop into a grain of wheat, the gene could help farmers grow much more wheat per acre. The special trait of growing three ovaries per flower was initially discovered in a spontaneously occurring mutant of common bread wheat. But it wasn’t clear what genetic changes led to the new trait. The UMD team created a highly detailed map of the multi-ovary wheat’s DNA and compared it to regular wheat. They discovered that the…

As of 9:10 a.m. CT, December corn was up 2¼¢ at $4.19 per bushel. November soybeans were up 4½¢ at $10.11 per bushel. December CBOT wheat was up less than a penny at $4.99¼ per bushel. December KC wheat was down 1¼¢ at $4.87 per bushel. December Minneapolis wheat was down 1¼¢ at $5.49¾. “Corn and soybean futures may trade in a lackluster price pattern in the coming weeks until more is known regarding yield,” said Naomi Blohm, senior market advisor with Total Farm Marketing. “Should yield be perceived to be in the low 180’s for corn, that would likely…

1. Wheat Futures Decline in Overnight Trading Wheat futures were lower in overnight trading amid strong global production and favorable weather in the U.S. southern Plains.  Global output was projected last month at 816.2 million metric tons in the 2025-2026 marketing year, up from 800.9 million tons in the previous season, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said last month.  Russian output at the time was seen at 85 million metric tons, up from 81.6 million tons a year earlier.  Consultancy SovEcon said it now expects wheat production in Russia, the world’s largest exporter of the grain, at 87.8 million metric…

By Ana Mano SAO PAULO, Oct. 14 (Reuters) – Brazilian farmers are expected to harvest a record 177.64 million metric tons of soybeans in the 2025/26 season, virtually the same as forecast last month but around 6 million tons more than in the previous year, crop agency Conab said on Tuesday. Conab cited an expected 3.6% rise in the size of the area being sowed with the oilseed, to 49 million hectares (121.081 million acres), and noted Brazilian exports may surpass 112 million tons in the new marketing year as the U.S. is expected to reduce its own soy exports amid a trade war with China.…