Author: staff

Citing near-record production costs in a low-price environment, the National Corn Growers Association recently launched a task force to identify solutions to bring costs more in line with today’s commodity prices. Corn growers nationwide are in the third consecutive year of net negative returns, with 2026 projected to be the fourth year of negative returns. “Corn growers have been sounding the alarm for a while that on-farm economics are not working,” said Kenneth Hartman Jr., Illinois farmer and NCGA president. “This is a time to look at all pieces of the farm profitability picture. Low prices of course contribute to…

By Naveen Thukral and Ella Cao SINGAPORE/BEIJING, Sept. 23 (Reuters) – Chinese buyers booked at least 10 cargoes of Argentine soybeansafter Buenos Aires on Monday scrapped grain export taxes, three traders said on Tuesday, dealing another setback to U.S. farmers already shut out of their top market and hit by low prices. Argentina’s temporary tax move boosts the competitiveness of its soybeans, prompting traders to secure cargoes for fourth-quarter inventories in China, a period usually dominated by U.S. shipments but now clouded by Washington’s trade war with Beijing. The Panamax-sized shipments of 65,000 metric tons each are scheduled for November, with CNF (cost and freight)…

Agriculture is one of the foundations of history. It’s almost always been here, and I believe that it will always be here in the future. One of the most iconic parts of that history is the big, red barn. If think of an American farm, chances are you think of a red barn, complete with white trim, a huge hayloft window, and maybe even a rope swing for the kids to play on somewhere. This type of barn has been the face of agriculture in television shows, on cereal boxes, children’s toys, photo shoots, and so much more. So, how…

Just before 9:30 a.m. CT, December corn was up ¾¢ at $4.22½ per bushel. November soybeans were down 1¾¢ at $10.09¼ per bushel. “Corn, soybeans, and wheat remain in the red [Tuesday] morning as buying interest remains minimal.” Karl Setzer, partner with Consus Ag Consulting said, “The soy complex remains the weak leg of the market with pressure coming from the Argentine suspension of export taxes.” December CBOT wheat was up 5¼¢ at $5.16 per bushel. December KC wheat increased 2¼¢ at $5.04½ per bushel. December Minneapolis wheat was down 10¼¢ at $5.27 per bushel. December live cattle were down…

By Cassandra Garrison MEXICO CITY, Sept. 22 (Reuters) – A confirmed case of an animal infected with the flesh-eating screwworm parasite in Mexico’s northern Nuevo Leon state near the U.S. border was immediately treated to prevent a further outbreak, the Mexican government said Monday. The country’s agriculture ministry said there was no risk of adult screwworm fly emergence due to the early detection of the infected bovine, which was confirmed on Sunday. Fly traps in northern Mexico have not detected a single screwworm fly, the statement added. The screwworm parasite has moved northward through Central America and Mexico, rattling the U.S. cattle industry and prompting the U.S. government to keep its border…

American farms hire roughly 2.5 million people annually to pick crops, milk cows, manage nurseries, tend livestock, and otherwise keep farms running, according to an analysis of federal data by UC Davis economics professor Philip Martin.  Most farmworkers in the U.S. are immigrants, particularly from Mexico. Some foreign workers come to the U.S. just for seasonal work through the H-2A guest worker visa program. Many more, approximately 1.7 million Mexico-born farmworkers, according to Rural Migration News, are settled in the U.S. and have worked on U.S. farms for decades. Of these settled workers, roughly half have some sort of legal…

Today, the Animal Agriculture Alliance released an updated version of its Sustainability Impact Report as Climate Week NYC kicks off. The report emphasizes decades of progress made by the U.S. food and farming community to enhance animal welfare practices, reduce environmental impact, and contribute to a healthy, balanced diet. “The U.S. farm and food community has been a global leader in sustainability efforts for decades,” said Emily Ellis, director of communications and content for the Animal Agriculture Alliance. “We’re incredibly proud of the work being done to innovate and advance food production practices to continue contributing to a sustainable food…

Tractor Supply Company has launched its 11th annual National FFA T-shirt fundraiser. For a limited time, Tractor Supply customers can purchase a special-edition T-shirt designed to commemorate the 98th National FFA Convention & Expo. Proceeds from the fundraiser are distributed to FFA chapters across the country, supporting programs and activities designed to develop future leaders. For a limited time, Tractor Supply customers can purchase a special-edition T-shirt designed to commemorate the 98th National FFA Convention & Expo. Proceeds from the fundraiser are distributed to FFA chapters across the country, supporting programs and activities designed to develop future leaders. Every Tractor…

By Joshua Haiar The number of turkeys killed at South Dakota farms in response to recent detections of avian influenza has risen to 419,650, continuing the state’s status as the national epicenter of this season’s outbreak. The numbers come from the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, which reports bird flu detections in eight commercial South Dakota flocks and one backyard flock in the state during the last 30 days. Meanwhile, South Dakota State veterinarian Beth Thompson said blue-winged teal, a species of duck, has been identified as the carrier of this season’s virus. John Cooper, a former U.S. Fish and Wildlife…

John Deere is cutting deeper into its Iowa workforce as the agricultural economy continues to weigh heavily on equipment demand. The company confirmed that 101 workers at its Waterloo Operations will be laid off effective October 17, and 40 employees at its Des Moines Works plant in Ankeny will see their jobs end October 31. The latest cuts come on top of a wave of earlier workforce reductions, including the latest announced last month. Just last week, a previously announced layoff of 71 employees at Deere’s Waterloo foundry took effect. In August, Deere also trimmed 167 workers from its Quad…