Author: staff

A 236.32-acre farm with tillable land, timber for hunting, and Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres sold for $7,500 an acre for a total of $1,772,400. The land, billed as both recreational and income producing, was sold on May 30. Located in Pittsfield, Illinois, in the west central part of the state, the area is known as a destination for white-tailed deer and turkey hunting. “It was a good combination for somebody that wanted a recreation farm on one side and income-producing on the bottom to really get a good return on your investment,” said Tyler Sellens of Whitetail Properties Real…

As July marches on, Iowa’s crops are developing quickly. Here’s a quick look at the condition of the state’s corn, soybeans, and other crops compared to national averages, based on the latest USDA Crop Progress report. Corn Iowa’s corn was rated some of the best in the country by USDA, so it’s no surprise that its crop is in better shape than the national average. As of July 13, Iowa’s corn was rated 85% good/excellent, 12% fair, and just 3% poor/very poor. The U.S. rating — representing the average of the top 18 corn-growing states — was 74% good/excellent, 21%…

From small-business owners to corner-office CEOs, the agribusiness world is a web of passionate, forward-thinking people working together.  Perhaps you’re a budding entrepreneur who dreams of bringing an idea to life. Tyler Worthey, for instance, developed a taste for business when he transformed an FFA project into a budding hot sauce venture named Worthey Peppers. Read about how he’s learned to balance academics and running an agribusiness in or “15 Minutes With a Student” interview. It’s also possible you’re looking to secure an internship or part-time or full-time job. Knowing how to interact with potential employers can create a positive,…

In response to the devastating floods that swept through Kerrville and surrounding areas of Central Texas over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, Kubota North America is assisting in clean-up and restoration efforts with the donation of construction equipment, generators, and $100,000 to help the affected communities recover. Working in partnership with local Kubota dealers Ewald Kubota and Texas Ag Equipment nearest the hardest-hit areas, with locations in Fredericksburg and Alpine, Texas, respectively, Kubota will direct the funding to the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country’s Kerr County Flood Relief Fund to ensure immediate aid reaches those who need…

Sixth-generation farmer Ryan Raguse begged to operate equipment when he was 8 years old on his family’s farm in Wheaton, Minnesota, near the western border of the state. By 13, he was driving fully loaded 18-wheelers on gravel roads, while his father set the pace in a tractor ahead. But when Raguse headed off to college, he majored in accounting. He started at St. Cloud Technical & Community College before transferring to North Dakota State University, graduating in 2011. As a student, he cofounded a mobile app development company.  “At that time, everybody had ideas for apps, and there wasn’t…

DAILY Bites Judge denied FTC’s request for Deere’s dealer financial database in antitrust case. Deere says that it had already shared key financial data during discovery. Lawsuit centers on Deere’s control over repair access for farm equipment. DAILY Discussion A federal judge has denied requests from the Federal Trade Commission, five states, and farmer plaintiffs to compel John Deere to produce a key financial database in ongoing antitrust litigation focused on repair restrictions for agricultural equipment. At the center of the dispute is Deere’s Dealer Financial Analysis dataset — a consolidated spreadsheet that includes detailed financial metrics such as dealer…

Evaluating cattle productivity often focuses on common benchmarks such as body condition, weight and feed consumption. Yet, there’s another informative — and sometimes ignored — performance indicator in plain sight: manure. What comes out of the back end of your cattle can tell you a lot about your nutrition program. By utilizing a manure scoring tool, you can analyze your cattle’s manure and better understand how well the rumen is working to ensure your nutrition dollars are being used by the cow and not just passing through into their manure. “Think of manure scores as a short-term report card on…

What Happened August live cattle futures peaked on June 9 at $220.05 per hundredweight (cwt). Prices then slid over $12, anticipating that demand would weaken after the Fourth of July. However, August futures rebounded, screeching into a new contract-high price, trading just under $221 per cwt as of this writing. The sharp rebound came on the heels of better-than-anticipated Fourth of July demand, a weaker dollar, and futures short covering. Cash prices continue to hold a premium to futures, a likely contributor to higher prices. Still, high prices and time of year might suggest the market is vulnerable to a…

DAILY Bites Over 40 U.S. ice cream companies have pledged to eliminate synthetic food dyes by 2027. The FDA has fast-tracked approval of the new plant-based dye gardenia blue. Upcoming dietary guideline updates are expected to support full-fat dairy products. DAILY Discussion On Monday, federal officials and industry leaders signaled a shift in U.S. nutrition policy, with plans to update dietary guidelines in the coming months to include full-fat dairy products and continued efforts to reduce sugar in school milk. “I grew up in a world where milk was the healthiest thing that you could eat,” said Health Secretary Robert…

By Rodrigo Viga Gaier and Ana Mano RIO DE JANEIRO/SAO PAULO, July 15 (Reuters) – Brazilian meatpackers are weighing whether to make new shipments of beef products to the U.S. after President Donald Trump announced a 50% tariff on Brazil last week, Roberto Perosa, president of Brazilian beef lobby ABIEC, said. The U.S. is Brazil’s second most important beef products market after China, which is the South American country’s number one importer of the commodity, according to trade data. “New shipments are under analysis by the private sector due to the increase in tariffs,” Perosa said on Tuesday. The announcement of the tariffs affected Brazil’s cattle market last…