Author: staff

Not all farmlands are created equal — some are flat, some are on a moderate slope, and some are hilly. On hilly agricultural landscapes, soil erosion can be a significant problem because soil properties and crop yields can vary throughout the field and often reflect the pattern of soil movement, resulting from the combined erosive effects of tillage and water. “Soil erosion is estimated to result in losses of about $44 billion each year in the United States alone, with similar losses throughout the world,” said Sharon Schneider, Research Leader at the Integrated Cropping Systems Research Unit in Brookings, South…

In many cases, the highest-yielding crops are coddled by a team of experts. Perfectly chosen seed, near-constant scouting, and spoon-fed nutrition are cornerstones of record-breaking production.  While applying the perfect nutrients at the perfect time may lead to high yields, that’s not economically viable for most production systems. The average farmer knows each pass across the field costs extra time and money when there’s often none to spare.  That’s not to say there are no lessons to be learned from highly managed acres. A scaled-back approach to maximizing fertilizer timing can offer production gains.  Know the Baseline and Target A…

By Ryan Hanrahan AgDaily reported last week that “the U.S. Department of Agriculture has begun listing planned lease terminations to impact 59 Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service offices as part of an effort to cut costs, according to the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) website.” “The move is part of the Trump administration’s initiative to reduce agency spending, affecting numerous office spaces across the country. So far, 748 lease terminations totaling 9.59 million square feet and approximately $660,000 in lease savings have been listed on DOGE’s website,” AgDaily reported. “…The USDA’s lease terminations zero in on 36…

The Agriculture Council of America has selected the 2025 National Ag Day video winners. The winners were chosen based on the theme, Agriculture: Why Food Security Equals National Security. The first-place winner, Tuongvy Nguyen of Saint Petersburg, Florida, receives a $1,500 prize. The second-place winner, Kristen Dallas from Las Vegas, Nevada will receive $1,000. Isabella Newell from Waltonville, Illinois is the third-place winner, and she receives $500. All three winning entries will be played during the Ag Day event at the U.S. Department of Agriculture on National Ag Day, March 18. Video Essay Contest First place winner receives $1,500 Tuongvy…

Just ahead of 9 a.m. CT, May corn was up 1½¢ at $4.70¾ per bushel. May soybeans were down 6¾¢ at $10.18¼ per bushel. May wheat contracts were higher. CBOT wheat was up 10¢ at $5.61¼ per bushel. KC wheat was up 12¾¢ at $5.77½. Minneapolis wheat was up 7¾¢ at $6.00½. “Grain and soybean futures were mixed at the end of early trading, with corn and wheat futures finding further support from a weak dollar, as traders watched for the latest tariff news and awaited Tuesday morning’s USDA [World Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimates] report,” said The Brock Report…

The 2021 documentary The Mustangs: America’s Wild Horses presents itself as a sweeping, visually stunning journey into the world of America’s wild (or feral) horse populations. With executive producers Robert Redford, Patti Scialfa Springsteen, and Jessica Springsteen, the film carries an air of prestige and passion. Now being aired for free by PBS, it has regained relevance, particularly as debates about wild horse management and pressure to include legislation by feral horse proponents such as the SAFE Act in the next farm bill continue. While The Mustangs succeeds in capturing the majesty and romance associated with these animals, it at…

One of the most consistent criticisms against Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins is her perceived favoritism toward commodity production and other larger-scale American farming operations. Those critics suggested during her confirmation hearing she would be “a setback” for small and family farms who are being squeezed out by “powerful food and agriculture corporations.” Those concerns have solidified themselves in an open letter to Rollins signed by roughly 750 growers from every state in the nation as well as from Puerto Rico. The letter is intended to promote the importance of diversifying the crops that American farmers grow and to improve the markets…

Even before winning the presidential election in November 2024, Donald Trump was vocal about his intent to levy tariffs against trade partners Canada, China, and Mexico.  President Trump’s escalation of trade tensions in recent months has led to uncertainty in the agriculture sector of the economy, as an already challenged farm economy may face reciprocal tariffs from some of its largest trading partners.  Below is a timeline of the situation and coverage from Successful Farming. Timeline Oct. 17, 2024 Prior to the election, a study commissioned by the American Soybean Association (ASA) and the National Corn Growers Association (NGCA) found…

By Carl Zulauf, Jonathan Coppess, Gary Schnitkey, and Nick Paulson The 1990 Farm Bill began allowing U.S. farmers to make planting decisions not constrained by government programs (USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture), December 1990). A “Flex Acre” provision gave farmers the freedom to plant crops other than the designated crop on a base acre without losing the base acre. Flex acres, which were 15% of base acres, were ineligible for commodity program payments. Fruits and vegetables were excluded as planting options. The 1996 Farm Bill extended planting flexibility to all base acres (payment acre reduction remained 15%) (USDA, September 1996).  This article documents the…

By Sky Chadde, Investigate Midwest  Mass terminations at the U.S. Department of Agriculture are “crippling” the agency, upending federal workers’ lives, and leaving farmers and rural communities without needed support, according to interviews with 15 recently fired employees stationed across the U.S. Since taking power Jan. 20, the Trump administration has quickly frozen funding and fired federal workers en masse. USDA terminations started Feb. 13, the day Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins was sworn in. Rollins welcomed the quasi-governmental Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, led by billionaire Elon Musk, to find parts of the USDA budget to cut. Terminated employees helped farmers…