Author: staff

It had been many years since I’d sat down and watched a livestock auction in person. I was pleased to learn that most things about sale barns hadn’t changed. My wife and I raise a few Jersey steers. We normally sell them as halves and quarters of hanging beef to friends and relatives. For some reason, I didn’t have the gumption this fall to get after that process. My recent cancer treatment might have had something to do with this. In any case, we had four steers that had grown quite large and were living large on our grain. I…

Top Third Ag Marketing helps farmers become better agricultural marketers with the goal of marketing crops and livestock in the top third of prices. Mark Gold and his team provide AGDAILY.com with the latest information and a look ahead in their audio commentary. Listen here! https://www.agdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/top-third-agdaily-2024-11-25.mp3 The post Markets in Minutes: Top Third looks ahead for week of Nov. 25, 2024 appeared first on AGDAILY.

As Americans prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving with family gatherings, National Farmers Union released the updated “Farmer’s Share of the Food Dollar” for items typically enjoyed during a Thanksgiving meal. These figures reveal how much family farmers earn compared to the amount consumers pay at the grocery store. “Consumers may notice higher prices this year for many of the ingredients used in their Thanksgiving meals as they prepare to gather around tables filled with cherished holiday dishes. These rising costs, however, often don’t translate to fair compensation for America’s family farmers and ranchers,” said Rob Larew, NFU President. Larew blames corporate…

DAILY Bites Dairy cows’ ability to transition between lying and standing is a key welfare indicator, traditionally monitored through time-consuming human observation. A Swedish study introduced a 3D pose estimation model that detects these movements with 88% accuracy, matching human observation without added bias. This automated tool offers consistent, objective data, paving the way for improved welfare monitoring and informed decision-making for farmers. DAILY Discussion Dairy cows typically rest for 10 or more hours a day, so a dry, clean, and comfortable place — such as a freestall — to lie down and rest is essential for their health, well-being,…

Have you ever wondered what the differences in tires really mean? What features are best for your specific applications? Read on for the tire showdown! Bias vs. Radial The key difference between bias and radial construction is in the tire carcass and the material construction of the tires, according to Greg Gilland, Business Development and Ag Segment Manager for Maxam Tire International. Maxam “Radial tires use a single radial casing as a spring to push the working belts onto the working surface. This creates a uniform contact patch for the tire tread to deliver both the necessary traction and friction…

DAILY Bite New World screwworm was found in a cow near Mexico’s border with Guatemala, prompting APHIS to intensify efforts to stop its northward spread. APHIS has restricted animal commodity imports from Mexico and urges vigilance among southern border producers to protect livestock. APHIS and partners are releasing sterile flies and collaborating to reestablish a barrier zone in Panama to halt screwworm’s advance. DAILY Discussion On November 22, 2024, the Chief Veterinary Officer of Mexico notified the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of a positive detection of New World screwworm in Mexico. The NWS…

What’s Happened Harvest has wrapped up for most of the Midwest. Corn that needed to be sold off the combine at harvest has come to town to be sold. The remaining harvested bushels are now secure in farmer bins at home. With year-end bills such as land rent, fertilizer costs, and seed purchases likely due soon, farmers may be considering whether they should sell some corn from the bin in the near future. Over the past month, corn futures prices have traded in a relatively lackluster 20-cent range. The market remains well supported by strong ethanol and export demand. Yet,…

March corn is down 2¼¢ this morning. January soybeans are up 5¼¢. March wheat contracts are lower. CBOT wheat is down 8¢. KC wheat is down 7¾¢. Minneapolis wheat is down 4½¢. This morning, USDA announced Mexico is buying 454,090 metric tons of corn — 364,792 metric tons for the 2024/2025 marketing year and 89,298 metric tons for the 2025/2026 marketing year. February live cattle are up $1.83 this morning. January feeder cattle are up $4.80. February lean hogs are down 28¢. January crude oil is down $1.12. The U.S. Dollar Index December contract is down to 106.71. December S&P…

Integrated agricultural software company Bushel recently completed the arc of its 2024 documentary series, which focuses on co-founder Ryan Raguse and his efforts to take over the family farm in Wheaton, Minnesota. Titled, The Unexpected Acre, the series is available for free on YouTube. Raguse had to step in and lead the farming operation following his father’s unexpected passing last summer. Though he grew up dedicated to farming with his family, taking the lead for the first time this season brought many new and unforeseen challenges. The series not only captures the hands-on aspects of farming but also the emotional…

Imagine a second set of eyes on your pregnant cows and receiving an alert, with a high degree of precision and accuracy, when a cow is about to give birth. Now imagine those eyes trained on your pregnant cows 24 hours a day, seven days a week, taking neither breaks nor being called away to perform other tasks. That is what Nikon is developing. The company, well known for its imaging technologies, is using its expertise to produce an advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system, using cameras to constantly monitor cows in individual calving pens. Employing advanced algorithms, the system can…