Author: staff

Alltech’s newly released Sustainability Report outlines the company’s environmental impact reductions, support for agri-food producers, and agriculture’s role in strengthening food system resilience. “Our vision of Working Together for a Planet of Plenty recognizes that thriving farms and food businesses are essential for a more sustainable planet,” said Dr. Mark Lyons, president and CEO of Alltech. “When producers are equipped to succeed — to be profitable, to build a legacy and reinvest in their land and communities — we all move closer to a world of abundance.” The 2024 report highlights a year of strong momentum and measurable impact: In…

Today, the USDA released the 2025 Acreage report, containing updated estimates of corn, soybean, and wheat planted acres for the 2025/2026 crop. The estimates were little changed from the agency’s March 2025 Prospective Plantings report. The report methodology said the planted acreage estimates were based mainly on farmer surveys conducted the first two weeks of this month. Altogether, the USDA estimated a total of 224.1 million corn, soybean, and wheat acres for 2025/2026, up from 223.8 million for 2024/2025. Corn In today’s report USDA pegged 2025/2026 planted corn acres slightly lower than the average trade expectation and the agency’s March…

Image courtesy of Kayla Eaton, Smithville Attendance Center FFA Advisor From pumpkin patches and corn mazes to sunflower fields and petting zoos, agritourism continues to grow as a dynamic bridge between agriculture and the public. For students involved in FFA, it presents a unique opportunity to showcase agricultural practices, generate income, and creatively engage communities. A recent infographic titled The Path to an Agritourism Enterprise breaks this journey down into five manageable steps designed for students pursuing a Supervised Agricultural Experience or chapter-wide project. Self-reflect: Before launching into business planning, the first step is personal. Students are encouraged to assess…

Just after 9:00 a.m. CT, September corn was down 1¼¢ at $4.10¼ per bushel. November soybeans were up 7¢ at $10.31¾ per bushel. Kluis Commodity Advisors managing director Al Kluis said, “The grain markets closed mostly higher Friday. One factor was fund short-covering, plus optimism that the U.S. and China are starting to talk again.” Kluis added, traders are ready for volatile trading ahead of the USDA Acres and Stocks report set to be released later on Monday, “Over the last five years, this report day has been volatile: on average, a 38-cent trading range for corn and 62 cents…

The United States is the world’s largest producer and exporter of corn, and corn farmers are bolstering the U.S. economy and building strong communities, according to a new study released by the National Corn Growers Association. Corn grower leaders say they could make an even bigger contribution to the U.S. economy through increased sales of ethanol and the cultivation of new foreign markets. The study, entitled The Economic Value of Corn Farming in the United States for 2024, noted the contribution of corn farming and its upstream linkages extended across 506 different industry sectors in all 50 states, generating an…

June is immersed with inspiring celebrations. Yet, with all the celebrations, a holiday in its infancy is emerging from its historical origins out into the world. “[Black filmmaker] Spike Lee and I are going to get together soon and discuss how we push this,” the Rev. Al Sharpton, a CNN correspondent and founder of the National Action Network said on a table chat with his fellow correspondents on a recent Wednesday morning while discussing the Black community’s involvement in politics. “More visibility needs to be on this holiday. … We need to push this.” For those in agriculture who do…

By Cami Koons A Thursday press release from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, about the department’s response to the highly pathogenic avian influenza, shows the nation imported more than 26 million shell eggs, counted by the dozen, since January, which is more than 10 times the amount imported during the same period in 2024.  Increasing egg imports, enhancing biosecurity, researching vaccine options, and providing financial relief to farmers were all elements of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins’ plan to combat HPAI and lower the cost of eggs.  Rollins said her five-pronged plan “has worked,” noting a 64% drop in wholesale egg…

By Cami Koons Across the state of Iowa, approximately 2% of planted corn acres are beginning to silk, and 13% of soybean acres are blooming, which is five days ahead of the five-year average, according to the Crop Progress and Condition report.  The report, put out weekly by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, showed Iowa corn rated 83% good to excellent and soybeans rated 77% good to excellent.  Iowa’s oat crop also rated highly with 85% good or excellent. Nearly all oats in the state, 81%, have headed and 27% are coloring. The first cutting of alfalfa hay was…

1. Wheat Futures Drop as Harvest Continues Wheat futures were lower in overnight trading as the U.S. winter harvest rolls on. Nineteen percent of the U.S. winter crop was collected as of Sunday, up from 10% a week earlier, the Department of Agriculture said in a report. That’s still behind the prior five-year average of 28%.  Growers in Kansas, the biggest producer of winter varieties, 20% of the crop was in the bin versus just 3% a week earlier, but still well behind the average of 31% for this time of year, the agency said.  About 49% of winter wheat…

By Galen Bacharier Republicans in North Carolina’s legislature are split on the details of hurricane relief for the western mountains. Almost a month ago, the House approved a new round of aid as the region continued to rebuild from Hurricane Helene. That aid bill then sat frozen for a month — until Monday. Senators fast-tracked it and sent it back to the House, with major changes. The last-minute Senate markup threw a wrench into plans to approve the aid before the legislature leaves Raleigh this week. The House on Tuesday unanimously voted to reject those changes, forcing lawmakers to go to a…