Author: staff

When a farmer is no longer a farmer, it’s much different than when other people retire or change professions. Often, feelings of letting down previous generations and the question, “If I’m not a farmer, who am I?” lead to depression. Jeff Corle is no stranger to those feelings. Meet Jeff Corle Corle was the fourth generation to milk cows on the family’s farm in the Laurel Mountains of western Pennsylvania. “In the spring of 2022, the writing was on the wall,” he said. “We were just getting too small to compete.” He made the heart-wrenching decision to shut down, which…

By Leslie Bonilla Muñiz  Indiana’s capital city will serve as one of five new USDA regional hubs, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced Thursday. “American agriculture feeds, clothes, and fuels this nation and the world, and it is long past time the Department better serve the great and patriotic farmers, ranchers, and producers we are mandated to support,” Rollins said in a news release. The sprawling agency plans to relocate at least 2,600 employees away from the Washington, D.C. area. “President Trump was elected to make real change in Washington, and we are doing just that by moving our key services…

1. Soybean Futures Lower on China Concerns Soybean futures were lower in overnight trading on concerns about exports to China, as the Asian nation curbs hog production.  China plans to cut the number of breeding sows to reduce its overall hog population and bring prices down.  That, in turn, will limit soy meal consumption and imports.  Overcapacity in the Chinese hog market has led to oversupply and deflation. Cash hog prices have dropped almost 29% since last August, Reuters reported, citing consultancy MySteel.  Also weighing on prices are concerns about the ongoing trade war between the U.S. and China that…

By Joe Janzen Current USDA supply and demand projections for the upcoming 2025/26 marketing year show ending stocks at relatively low levels, the result of relatively tight carry-in stocks from the 2024/25 marketing year. This situation considered in isolation might suggest a return to higher corn prices and improved profitability for corn producers this year. However, new-crop December corn futures have been stuck in a fairly narrow range at price levels that are historically low. Since gapping lower following the Fourth of July holiday, new-crop December corn futures have traded in a fairly narrow range, between about $4.10 and $4.30…

The U.S. cattle herd totaled 94.2 million head as of July 1, 2025, according to the latest Cattle report from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. This is the first mid-year inventory report since July 2023 and reflects a stabilized headcount after years of steady declines. Among the total herd, 38.1 million were cows and heifers that have calved. The report also breaks down the numbers by category, with 28.7 million beef cows and 9.45 million milk cows counted nationwide. The 2025 calf crop is projected at 33.1 million head, while 13 million cattle are currently on feed. To compile…

By Julia Payne and Milan Strahm BRUSSELS, July 25 (Reuters) – The European Union could hit the U.S. with counter-tariffs on 93 billion euros ($109 billion) worth of U.S. goods if the two sides fail to reach a trade deal by Washington’s Aug. 1 deadline for imposing import levies. The European Commission has prepared two sets of possible counter-tariffs, which would be combined into one and submitted for approval to EU members. They would not be imposed until Aug. 7. For the full list of tariffs and items, please see here. Ban on Scrap Metal Sales The EU would also ban direct and indirect sales of scrap aluminium and scrap ferrous waste, which…

Soybean disease season has arrived early across much of the Midwest.  July is usually a quiet time for scouting, but this year, diseases such as frogeye leaf spot, Cercospora, sudden death syndrome, and red crown rot are all appearing sooner, and sometimes farther north, than usual. “With frequent rains this year, some of the typical August diseases are arriving early,” Daren Mueller, soybean plant pathologist at Iowa State University, wrote in a recent update. Understanding Risk and the Disease Triangle While many growers associate disease outbreaks with heavy rainfall, Stephanie Porter, outreach agronomist with the Illinois Soybean Association, cautioned against…

If you grew up in a rural community, you know the rhythms of farm life — the early mornings, families working long days, and the pride that comes from hard work. But behind those barn doors, many of our young people are struggling in silence. Suicide rates among rural youth are nearly 74 percent higher than those in urban areas, according to the Rural Health Information Hub. These rates are growing at a faster pace than in urban areas. We owe it to our youth to do better. Yet more than half of agricultural youth directors — such as Extension…

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act made key changes to the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit, a tax credit created under the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022 to encourage the production of low-emission fuels. While 45Z primarily benefits fuel producers, the recent updates offer new clarity and opportunities for U.S. farmers — if challenges can be addressed in time. The 45Z credit applies to clean fuels produced after December 31, 2024, and was originally set to expire in 2027. Under OBBBA, it’s now extended through 2029, giving biofuel producers more time to invest in clean fuel technology. But the real…

Agriculture industry leaders expressed optimism following the announcement of multiple trade pacts and updated trade frameworks this week. Since President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on the majority of U.S. trading partners, trade negotiations have been underway with multiple countries. The announcements this week included Indonesia, Japan, and Australia. These were the details specific to ag products: Indonesia will “address and prevent barriers to U.S. agricultural products in the Indonesian market,” according to a White House fact sheet. That includes buying around $4.5 billion of soybeans, soybean meal, wheat, and cotton. Indonesia is already the U.S.’s fifth largest soybean trading partner…