Author: staff

1. Corn Futures Lower on Calls for Rain Corn futures were lower in overnight trading on forecasts for precipitation in some Midwestern states this week.  Extremely hot weather to start the week will give way to rain, giving a boost to recently emerged corn and soybeans, according to forecasts from the National Weather Service.  Chances for showers start Tuesday afternoon in parts of northern Indiana, southern Michigan and northeastern Ohio, the agency said. Some of the storms may turn severe on Tuesday and Wednesday with heavy rain and intense winds the main concerns.  Storms in southern Iowa and northern Missouri…

By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON, June 20 (Reuters) – President Donald Trump’s administration said on Friday it was suspending enforcement of a “burdensome” farmworker rule from former President Joe Biden’s administration. The 2024 rule provided protection for workplace organizing to foreign farmworkers in the U.S. on H-2A visas. The U.S. Department of Labor said the rule had already been suspended because of federal injunctions. “The decision provides much-needed clarity for American farmers navigating the H-2A program, while also aligning with President Trump’s ongoing commitment to strictly enforcing U.S. immigration laws,” the department said in a statement. “As multiple federal court injunctions have created significant legal uncertainty, inconsistency, and operational…

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is developing a formal plan to vaccinate poultry against highly pathogenic avian influenza. The move, which is still in the planning stages, could reshape disease prevention and global poultry trade alike. The USDA confirmed that it’s working with state regulators and poultry industry leaders to outline a national vaccination strategy, according to Reuters. This comes after mounting pressure from egg and turkey producers devastated by the ongoing bird flu outbreak, which has led to the culling of nearly 175 million birds since 2022. The outbreak, which is widely considered the worst animal-health emergency in U.S.…

USA Today’s Zac Anderson reported that “President Donald Trump again is saying he wants to shield farmers from the effects of his crackdown on illegal immigration, just days after his administration reinstated workplace raids on agricultural operations.” “‘We’re looking at doing something where, in the case of good, reputable farmers, they can take responsibility for the people that they hire and let them have responsibility, because we can’t put the farms out of business,’ Trump told reporters June 20 while traveling to his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey,” according to Anderson’s reporting. “‘And at the same time we don’t…

The National Young Farmers Coalition — an organization that has spent the past 15 years helping to “equip young and BIPOC farmers with the tools, knowledge, and platforms to advocate for their needs” — announced today that it will be reducing its staff by 15 positions, a massive cut for such an organization. The coalition blames the layoffs on the funding instability from the Trump Administration and the drop in philanthropic giving. “It’s no secret that it’s been a tough year for progressive nonprofits like ours. The volatile stock market, tariffs, attacks on DEI, and unpredictable government contract payments have…

 I’ve been thinking about boxes quite a bit lately. First and foremost is the cedar treasure box that I’ve been building for our five-year-old grandson. It’s finally done — at least I’ve decided to call it done — after intermittently working on the thing for several months.  This project involved some big challenges. Chief among them was that I have no training or experience in the art of woodworking. My carpentry abilities are roughly on par with those of Wile E. Coyote. When I look at the box, all I can see is its imperfections. Then there was the issue…

After more than a decade of research, a new herbicide from Syngenta called metproxybicyclone has been recognized under a new chemical subclass. The decision, by the Herbicide Resistance Action Committee and the Weed Science Society of America, will allow farmers to better combat grass weeds that have evolved resistance to existing herbicides. “Herbicide resistance has been officially reported in 75 countries and affects farmers of more than 100 crops; of the 273 weed species afflicted, 40 percent are grass weeds,” said Camilla Corsi, Syngenta’s Global Head of Research and Development. Weeds compete with crops for resources such as water, nutrients…

This month, Texas kicked off its first-ever Future Farmers of America Auctioneering Camp. The event gathered FFA members from around the state to study the art and commerce of auctioneering, an essential technique in agriculture. Co-sponsored by the Texas Auctioneers Association and National Auction Association, the camp provided experiential practice in bid calling, chant development, auction ethics, and professional conduct. Students also became familiar with the entrepreneurial and leadership aspects of the business, engaging in realistic hands-on experience. “Auctioneering plays a critical role in the agricultural industry, and I’m proud to support the inaugural FFA Auctioneering Camp in Texas,” said…

President Donald Trump is once again signaling possible immigration relief for farmworkers, days after his administration resumed controversial workplace raids targeting undocumented laborers in agriculture and hospitality. Speaking to USA Today reporters recently during a trip to his Bedminster, New Jersey, golf club, Trump said he was exploring a plan to shield “good, reputable farmers” from immigration crackdowns. “We can’t put the farms out of business,” he said, while adding, “We don’t want to hurt people that aren’t criminals.” But the statements arrive amid whiplash-inducing policy shifts. After Trump initially called for protections for migrant workers in industries like agriculture…

Today, USDA published the 12th Crop Progress report of the 2025 growing season. Here’s a look at the latest corn, soybean, wheat, and oat numbers. Corn As of June 22, 97% of the corn crop across the country’s top 18 corn-growing states had emerged. That’s just shy of the five-year average of 98%. The corn crop in Minnesota, Nebraska, and South Dakota has reached 100% emergence, per the report. Together with North Carolina from the week prior, the corn crop in four states has completely emerged. This was the first report including silking progress across top corn-growing states. USDA said 4% of…