Author: staff

DAILY Bites Food sovereignty: Sheinbaum’s plan aims to boost domestic corn and bean production and cut imports. 30% bean production increase: The government plans to develop high-yield seeds and improve self-sufficiency. Consumer habits challenge: Shifting away from processed foods and imports poses difficulties for the plan. DAILY Discussion Mexico’s new president, Claudia Sheinbaum, unveiled an agriculture plan Tuesday that could reshape the country’s food production and distribution to what many are saying will resemble the 1980s, when meals were centered on tortillas, beans, instant coffee, and affordable hot chocolate. Sheinbaum pledged to revive government stores that sold basic goods, continuing…

DAILY Bites Two former Taylor Farms employees were arrested for allegedly embezzling over $3 million between 2019 and 2023. Karen Rodriguez and Elizabeth Vargas allegedly cashed fraudulent checks made out to former employees. Both were arrested in Arizona and await extradition to Monterey County, with $200,000 bail each. DAILY Discussion MONTEREY COUNTY, California — Two Arizona women have been arrested in connection with a multi-million-dollar embezzlement scheme targeting Taylor Farms, a major Salinas-based fresh food company. Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced on Monday that Karen Rodriguez, 38, and Elizabeth Vargas, 34, both former employees in the Human…

DAILY Bites The NCBA criticizes the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s recommendation to replace beef with plant-based proteins. Concerns arise over the impact of reducing red meat intake on the 80% of the population that identifies as meat eaters, as beef provides essential nutrients. The committee also hesitates to address ultra-processed foods and alcohol, citing insufficient data while pushing for changes in red meat consumption. DAILY Discussion The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is criticizing the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s recent recommendations. The committee proposes substituting beef with plant-based proteins such as beans, peas, and lentils. The NCBA describes this suggestion as…

According to USDA’s Crop Progress report released earlier this week, soybean and corn harvest in Illinois are solidly ahead of the five-year pace as of Oct. 21. Here’s a look at the season so far, according to an agronomist and three simple pie charts. Corn Harvest and Yield Corn in Illinois is 67% harvested, according to USDA. This leaves 3.55 million acres of corn left to be harvested, based on data from the agency’s Acreage Report released in June. As of Oct. 20, the Land of Lincoln is eight percentage points ahead of its five-year average and slightly ahead of…

GREENSBORO, N.C. — The presence of soybean cyst nematode is well known to cause plant stunting and yellowing, with some estimates showing the financial toll across the U.S. to be as high as $1.5 billion annually — or worth more than 100 million bushels. To help address this, Syngenta is on the cusp of commercially releasing a fungicide with a new active ingredient that will be marketed as TYMIRIUM technology. “For our U.S. soybean grower, among the top five issues that they face, soybean cyst nematode is by far and away number one,” Katie Jaeger, U.S. Soy Seedcare Product Lead…

Claas has announced an expanded Disco mower line and three wider Volto tedders will be coming to North America in 2025.  Disco Mowers Claas is launching four new mower-conditioner combinations with the Disco 9300 C Comfort, Disco 9300 RC Comfort, Disco 9300 CAS Business, as well as an updated Disco 1100 with Comfort features.  The first three mowers are available in working widths of 29 feet and 10 inches; or 29 feet and 2 inches, with two rows of eight counter-rotating mower discs.  Farmers can choose from a standard tine conditioner (C), a double-roller conditioner (RC), or tine conditioner with…

December corn is down 1½¢ this morning. November soybeans are down 2¢. December wheat contracts are also lower. CBOT wheat is down 5¼¢. KC wheat is down 5½¢. Minneapolis wheat is down 4¼¢. For the third day this week, USDA announced new export sales this morning: China is buying 130,000 metric tons of soybeans for the 2024/2025 marketing year. Unknown destinations are buying 100,000 metric tons of corn and 259,000 metric tons of soybeans for the 2024/2025 marketing year.  December live cattle are down 33¢ this morning. January feeder cattle are down 60¢. December lean hogs are up 3¢. December crude…

1. Grains, Soybeans Mixed in Overnight Trading Grain and soybean futures were mixed overnight as investors weigh harvest progress against signs of demand for U.S. supplies.  About 65% of U.S. corn was harvested as of Sunday, up from 47% a week earlier and well ahead of the prior five-year average of 52%, the Department of Agriculture said in a report.  Eighty-one percent of the soybean crop was in the bin at the start of the week, up from 67% the previous week and the average of 67% for this time of year, the agency said.  Winter wheat planting is also…

Four workers tested positive for the avian flu virus after culling chickens at an egg farm in southeastern Washington State — the first human cases reported in the Pacific Northwest. The diagnoses potentially raise the U.S. total to 31 since late March, though “the number of cases under investigation may change” as more people are tested, said the state Department of Health. State and local public health officials were monitoring exposed workers for symptoms of avian influenza and providing tests and treatment for ill workers. Samples from the four workers were sent to the CDC for confirmatory testing. At present,…

By Cami Koons Iowa saw “meager” to no rainfall this week, causing pasture conditions and soil moisture to continue to slip as the state nears record low, monthly levels of precipitation and harvest season chugs along. Farmers continue to make use of the dry conditions and expedite their harvests. Only 9% of soybeans and 32% of corn remain in the fields to be harvested, according to the crop progress and condition report for the week of Oct. 15 through Oct. 20.  Soybean harvest is almost two weeks ahead of schedule and corn harvest is 10 days ahead of the five-year…