Author: staff

USDA published the latest Crop Progress report on Monday, August 11. Here’s a closer look at recent weather and the status of Tennessee’s most important crops in early August. Weather Parts of Tennessee are experiences abnormally dry conditions, with some moderate drought conditions.  U.S. Drought Monitor In Monday’s Crop Progress report, USDA said farmers had 6.2 days suitable for fieldwork the week that ended August 10, compared to 6.6 days this time last year. USDA rated Tennessee topsoil moisture 20% very short, 40% short, 39% adequate, and 1% surplus. Subsoil moisture conditions in the state were rated 15% very short,…

by Cami Koons U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin announced guidance Tuesday for engine and equipment manufacturers to prevent sudden shutdowns and power losses that occur in diesel exhaust fluid, or DEF, systems.  Zeldin made the announcement at the Iowa State Fair and said the current DEF regulations were “unacceptable.”  “It is unacceptable that farmers, truckers, construction workers, and many other small businesses continually experience failures of diesel-powered equipment when they need it most — costing millions of dollars in lost productivity,” Zeldin said in a statement. DEF is added to exhaust streams to help reduce the nitrous oxide…

At the market close, December corn was down 13¼¢ at $3.94½ per bushel. November soybeans were up 21½¢ at $10.32¾ per bushel. “The trade was expecting a bearish leaning report with higher production and ending stocks on corn and soybeans.” Karl Setzer, partner with Consus Ag Consulting, said, “The lack of a significant weather threat also pressured futures, although more models are indicating a hot finish to August which has been known to negatively impact yields.” September CBOT wheat was down 10¢ at $5.05 per bushel. September KC wheat was 8¼¢ lower at $5.10¾ per bushel. December Minneapolis wheat was…

Researchers at the University of Missouri have found a mix of drones and AI can help farmers measure the health of their corn more efficiently. Instead of relying on handheld devices — which can be slow and impractical for larger fields — the researchers surveyed corn fields in mid-Missouri using drones equipped with special cameras to capture images and data. By analyzing the images and data using artificial intelligence, the team was able to accurately estimate chlorophyll levels — a key indicator of corn health. The drone’s special cameras capture different wavelengths of light that plants reflect, such as near-infrared…

The National Corn Growers Association has intensified its call for action from Congress and the administration after the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s latest World Agriculture and Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report projected a record 16.7-billion-bushel corn crop this year, further threatening the livelihood of farmers already facing record-low corn prices. “Corn growers are already marketing their corn for extremely low corn prices, and this massive projected corn supply without market-based solutions to increasing corn demand is already causing corn prices to fall further,” said Illinois farmer and NCGA President Kenneth Hartman Jr. “Because we need markets fast for this…

House Ag Committee Chair “GT” Thompson wants to take action on a skinny farm bill this fall. On this special edition of Agri-Pulse Newsmakers at the Minnesota FarmFest, ranking members of both the House and Senate Ag Committees, Rep. Angie Craig and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, discussed their priorities within a skinny farm bill and their willingness to negotiate after nutrition program cuts in reconciliation. Plus, AFBF President Zippy Duvall discussed his group’s priorities for the second Make America Healthy Again Commission Report due to be released next week, Rep. Brad Finstad defended the need to include a Prop 12 legislative…

The 43rd annual Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer Show continues to make an impact, raising $569,000 for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa. Including this year’s donations, the Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer has surpassed $6 million in donations since its inception in 1983. All money raised benefits the three independent Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa, located in Des Moines, Iowa City, and Sioux City. These three houses have served over 55,000 families from all 50 states and many foreign countries. Families from all 99 counties in Iowa have benefited from the Ronald McDonald Houses of Iowa. This event is…

Today, the USDA released the August 2025 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) and Crop Production reports. 2025/2026 Crop Production In the August Crop Production report, USDA pegged 2025/2026 corn yield, harvested area, and production higher than the agency previously estimated and higher than the average trade expectations. Soybean yield got a boost in today’s report over the previous USDA estimate and higher than the average trade expectation. However, harvested area and production were lowered from the previous agency estimate while the average trade expectation was for increases. Wheat production was lowered from the previous USDA estimate, but not…

by Ryan Hanrahan Progressive Farmer’s Todd Neeley reported that “John Deere will have access to confidential business information from several of its competitors after those companies fought in court to prevent the release as part of ongoing anti-trust, right-to-repair lawsuits.” “The U.S. District Court for the District of Northern Illinois ruled on Aug. 8 that Deere has the right to access the documents acquired by the Federal Trade Commission as part of its investigation into allegations the company has illegally monopolized the farm equipment repair market by not allowing farmers to make specific repairs to their own tractors and other equipment,”…

By Renee Hickman Aug. 12 (Reuters) – Michelle Miller stands in a field of corn, stalks stretching above her perfectly styled hair, holding a tiny microphone and addressing an audience online. She was farming genetically modified corn in Iowa in 2017, she says, when a tornado hit. Now a social media influencer who goes by the name the “Farm Babe,” Miller says the wind knocked her corn flat on the ground. But in a feat of botanical fortitude, the plants bounced back. “So when you ask farmers: why are they growing these GMO seeds?” she says in the video, “it’s because the genetics hold up.”…