Author: staff

The cessation of World War II in 1945 found industrialists like Wilber Gibson looking for new markets for their manufactured goods. Gibson had been experimenting with tractors at his father’s plant in Seattle. He sensed that service-men returning from the war and settling down in homes and small farms needed horsepower for tending to chores. So in 1945, Gibson took his experiments to Longmont, Colorado, to capitalize on that area’s source of nonunion workers and set up shop to produce a line of affordable garden tractors. His approach to manufacturing was to pair up a widely available engine, the 6…

When Hurricane Helene swept across western North Carolina, it left a path of destruction like we’ve never seen. Some areas received more than 26 inches of rain in a 24-hour period and flooding decimated entire towns across a 27-county area.  As I drove across the state the day after the storm, signs along the highway alerted drivers that all roads to western North Carolina were closed. That was one of the many ways my state has been affected by Hurricane Helene. Parts of western North Carolina are still without power, internet, or water. My social media feed continues to be…

BASF’s Liberty ULTRA herbicide, powered by innovative Glu-L Technology, has received registration from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and is now approved for use, subject to state-level authorizations. This next-generation herbicide contains the active ingredient glufosinate-P-ammonium, also known as L-glufosinate ammonium, and builds on the legacy of Liberty herbicide, providing an advanced post-knockdown solution for both broadleaf and grassy weeds. Liberty ULTRA is designed for use on glufosinate-enabled soybean, cotton, corn, and canola acres. BASF highlights the product’s enhanced weed control efficacy, stating it delivers 20% superior performance and has outperformed generic alternatives in nine out of ten head-to-head comparisons.…

According to the latest USDA Crop Progress report, soybean harvest in five of the top 18 soybean growing states reached 98% the week ending Nov. 3. Although farmers in these states will not pass the finish line first — Minnesota already claimed first place, and Louisiana is at 99% — a total of just 579,800 acres stand between these five states and a completed 2024 soybean harvest. Iowa Soybean farmers in Iowa saw widespread and above-normal rainfall the week ending Nov. 3, but they still managed to increase soybean harvest progress by 2 percentage points to reach 98% completion. The…

Here’s a quick look at three farmland transactions that transpired in summer 2024 in Illinois and Iowa. 73.49 acres in Bureau and Stark County, Illinois Price: $17,200 per acre Date: July 25, 2024 Productivity Index: 141 Twelve tracts totaling 856.59 acres in north-central Illinois were sold using the buyer’s choice auction method. All tracts were highly tillable, with more than 500 acres classified as class-A soils. Leading the auction was Tract 1, in which 73.49 acres sold for $17,200 per acre. The auction concluded with a total sale price of $12.39 million. 465.73 acres in Jefferson County, Iowa Price: $3.96…

The American Royal was founded in 1899 as the first-ever exhibition and sale of purebred cattle. One hundred twenty-five years later, the annual livestock show tradition continues with record-setting results. This year, the three-week show in the Kansas City area boasted nearly 8,000 entries from over 2,400 exhibitors representing 44 states, and $31,000 in scholarships were awarded to youth participants. The market animal show was record-setting. An all-time high of 2,684 animals filled the barns for exhibition in the market swine, sheep, goat, and cattle shows. Sales of species champions in the Junior Premium Livestock Auction, a highlight event, set…

By this morning, Republicans had regained the White House and Senate, with Donald Trump slated to return to office in January as the 47th president, marking a historic comeback. Trump’s victory — secured through key battlegrounds like Wisconsin, Georgia, and North Carolina — saw him exceed the 270 electoral vote threshold needed to reclaim the presidency. His opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, faced significant challenges in swaying voters who had grown dissatisfied with the current administration’s trajectory. While Republicans celebrate their expanded influence, the balance of power in the House remains uncertain, with dozens of competitive races still being counted.…

December corn ended the day up 7¾¢. January soybeans closed up 2¢. December wheat contracts were mixed at the close. CBOT wheat was up less than a penny. KC wheat was down 2¾¢. Minneapolis wheat was down 5¢. “Futures were quite volatile today which was not unexpected following the U.S. Presidential Election results,” said Karl Setzer, partner at Consus Ag Consulting. “Former President Trump won re-election by a wider-than-expected margin. While Trump has a history of supporting business, he also has a history of placing trade tariffs, and this generated a mixed reaction to his re-election by supporting the equities…

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that, starting in 2027, students eligible for free or reduced-price school meals will no longer incur processing fees. The USDA has also released guidelines for schools to help them transition smoothly to this new policy and is encouraging early implementation. The goal is to eventually remove online payment fees for all families, ensuring fair access to school meals. Secretary Vilsack emphasized USDA’s commitment to equitable meal access for children, noting that this initiative is a step toward making healthy school meals free for all students. “USDA and schools across America share the common goal…

The November World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report is due Friday, Nov. 8. Going into the report, here is some context to know for the corn, soybean, and wheat markets and what Grain Market Insider will be looking for in the updated balance sheets. Corn Market Expectations October’s WASDE report wasn’t a large needle mover: The market was expecting a smaller carryout number and the USDA obliged.  While carryout was lowered, it came in higher than expected due to an increase in yield to 183.8 bushels per acre (bpa) from 183.6, versus expectations of 183.4 bpa. This offset…