Author: staff

It’s a new year, and guess what’s on our minds? Self-care for farmers and ranchers. Yep, you read that right. Farming isn’t just hard work; it’s everything-intensive — mentally, physically, and emotionally. Between balancing the unpredictability of weather, long hours, tight finances, and maybe even a toddler or two, farmers have a lot on their plates. And no, it’s not all homegrown vegetables. Yet, wellness often takes a backseat. Simple self-care — whether it’s a quiet dinner at a restaurant serving their produce, a yoga class to stretch out tired muscles, or even something as basic as better boot insoles…

For more than a decade, Bucyrus, Ohio, farmer Steve Reinhard has been working to improve his production practices.  He’s transitioned from blanket fertilizer applications to a more precise approach, changed his application timings, and moved to a no-till system. “Sustainability impacts our day-to-day decision making all the time,” Reinhard said. “When we talk about sustainability, we’re always looking at three different forms of sustainability. Not only do we have the environmental impact but also financial sustainability and how we pass the farm on to the next generation.”  As Reinhard independently changed his operation, sustainability discussions hit the mainstream. Critiques around…

Loftness has  introduced a newly redesigned flail mower attachment for skid steers and compact track loaders. Designed to cut grass, weeds, and brush up to ¾ inches in diameter, it offers new knife options and an available floating hitch, plus other improvements. The flail mower attachment can be equipped with either duckfoot or flail knives to accommodate different applications. Duckfoot knives produce a finer cut in easier cutting conditions; flail knives are designed for use in tougher vegetation. Operators can quickly switch from one style to another without the use of tools. Also new to the flail mower is a…

CANBERRA/PARIS, Jan 15 (Reuters) – Chicago corn and soybean futures edged higher on Wednesday to trade near multi-month highs as investors monitored rain forecasts in Argentina and awaited U.S. inflation data for more clues on interest rate policy. Wheat prices eased after a two-day rally, capped by a backdrop of strong competition for tepid export demand. The most active corn contract on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) was up 0.4% at $4.76-1/2 a bushel at 1146 GMT. The contract reached its highest since December 2023 on Tuesday before turning lower. CBOT soybeans rose 0.3% to $10.50-1/2 a bushel. The…

The states of Minnesota and Illinois, along with the Federal Trade Commission, have filed a lawsuit against John Deere, challenging the company’s restrictions on farmers’ ability to repair their own equipment. The 37-page lawsuit filed today alleges that, for decades, Deere’s practices have limited the ability of farmers and independent repair providers to repair Deere equipment, forcing farmers to instead rely on Deere’s network of authorized dealers for necessary repairs. The document says that this unfair steering practice has boosted Deere’s multi-billion-dollar profits on agricultural equipment and parts, growing its repair parts business while burdening farmers with higher repair costs,…

March corn ended the day up 4¼¢ at $4.78¾ per bushel. March soybeans closed down 4¾¢ at $10.42¾ per bushel. March wheat contracts closed mixed. CBOT wheat ended the day up less than a penny at $5.47 per bushel. KC wheat ended the day down 3¼¢ at $5.57½ per bushel. Minneapolis wheat ended the day down 2¢ at $5.87½ per bushel. The Grain Market Insider newsletter by Stewart-Peterson Inc. said, “Firm crude oil prices and strong ethanol production [as reported today by the U.S. Energy Information Administration] supported corn futures, pushing prices back near recent highs.” The newsletter also said,…

Outside a bar in Douglas, Arizona, in 1890, a stagecoach driver stumbles into the night and falls asleep in the open air, unknowingly becoming host to hundreds of screwworms while passed out drunk. The parasitic insects made their way through his nose, into his throat, and eventually killed him — a grim but once relatively common occurrence. This chilling account of myiasis (or parasitic infection of fly larva) was shared by Dr. Gary Thrasher, a veterinarian who recounted the story to AGDAILY after reading Borderland Chronicles No. 62, a publication by Douglas historian Cindy Hayostek. Douglas was once a pivotal…

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) is reminding producers that the deadline to apply for financial assistance through the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) is fast approaching. The application deadline for the program is Jan. 30, 2025, for losses due to specific adverse conditions that occurred in 2024. This includes dairy producers who have been affected by the rise of H5N1 in cattle.  To find a service center visit farmers.gov/service-locator. ELAP Eligible Losses ELAP provides recovery assistance for:  Livestock feed and grazing losses that are not due to drought or wildfires…

Ahead of Inauguration Day, the Food and Drug Administration has proposed requiring a front-of-package nutrition label on most packaged foods to provide accessible, at-a-glance information. The FDA says that this change will help consumers to quickly and easily identify how foods can be part of a healthy diet. The proposed FOP nutrition label, referred to as the Nutrition Info box, would complement the Nutrition Facts label that is required on most food packages. Displaying simplified, at-a-glance nutrition information that details and interprets the saturated fat, sodium, and added sugar content of a food as “Low,” “Med,” or “High” on the…

John Deere has announced a step forward in its efforts to support customers’ ability to maintain and repair their machines across the agricultural and construction industries. It’s a newer effort sparked after signing a memorandum of understanding in 2023, and “Right to Repair” bills surfaced across the U.S., granting farmers greater ability to repair their own equipment. Deere says that the latest addition to their suite of digital solutions will further empower customers and independent repair technicians by, among other things, enabling them to reprogram Deere-manufactured electronic controllers. These new capabilities will be integrated into the John Deere Operations Center…