Author: staff

The House of Representatives proposed legislation late Tuesday to fund the government through March 2025. The bill also includes a year-long extension of the 2018 Agriculture Innovation Act, known as the farm bill, plus $10 billion in additional aid for farmers and ranchers. Included in the $10 billion is emergency economic aid that aims to address substantial losses stemming from weather and market challenges, offering critical financial support to the farming community. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson emphasized the importance of this assistance, describing it as a necessary “financial bridge” to help mitigate the current downturn in the…

March corn is down less than a penny this morning. March soybeans are down 14½¢. Naomi Blohm, senior market advisor at Total Farm Marketing, says the Christmas rally may be over for March soybeans, as a head and shoulders chart formation has taken shape. “The Christmas rally only amounted to 25¢ this year, as the good crop weather in South America and 470-million-bushel U.S. carryout continues to weigh on prices,” she said.   She noted the current chart formation indicates March soybeans could go as low as $9 per bushel. “Last year, in hindsight, this formation occurred this time of…

If I take the backroads en route to my gym, I pass a small family-owned nursery. Every November, their outdoor flowerbeds are replaced by rows of proud Douglas firs — sturdy soldiers, alone in their resistance against winter dormancy. I can smell them before I see them — the sharp aroma of piney terpene molecules, released into the air by affronts from axe, spike, and chain. Aromatized violence. One can’t help but wonder if our festivities take a small, seasonal toll on Mother Earth. What’s the greenest option: real trees or artificial? With approximately 25 million to 30 million fresh…

If you’ve done any kind of tractor restoration, you’ve used a power washer or the pressure washer at a car wash. If the tractor had a lot of grease buildup, it’s possible you even used a can of grease remover or oven cleaner to help dissolve the accumulation before power washing. What if there were a better way of handling dirt and grime before, during, and after restoration? Jim Deardorff, owner of Superior Coatings, a sand blasting and painting business in Chillicothe, Missouri, believes steam cleaning is one option for removing years of dirt and grease buildup and preparing metal…

1. Soybeans, Grains Little Changed Overnight Soybean and grain futures were little changed in overnight trading as investors weigh favorable South American weather against signs of demand for U.S. supplies. Rain is expected to spread across growing areas in Brazil and precipitation fell over the weekend in several growing stats including Mato Grosso, Goiás, and Minas Gerais, said Don Keeney, an agricultural meteorologist with Maxar.  Rains will favor northern and far southern parts of the South American country, he said.  “Dryness will continue in eastern São Paulo and eastern Bahia, but moisture should remain favorable elsewhere,” Keeney said in a…

California state agriculture officials ordered the recall of raw milk from a dairy farm in the Central Valley after tests found bird flu virus in a sample from the farm’s bulk tank. The state Department of Food and Agriculture warned against consumption of milk from Valley Milk Simply Bottled on the grounds that it “may lead to infection with this rare, emerging flu virus.” No illnesses were reported. It was the second recall of raw milk products in California in two weeks. Raw Farm LLC, of Fresno, began a voluntary recall of all of its raw milk and cream products on Dec. 3 due…

Having the right kind of welder in your farm shop can save time and money on repairs and fabrication. MIG welders have become common on the farm, but there’s still a place for stick welders – and TIG welders are also appearing for certain jobs. While this article focuses on MIG welding and general techniques and safety precautions, find tips for other types of welding at Agriculture.com/welding.  MIG Welding MIG (metal inert gas) welding, also known as FCAW (flux-cored arc welding), is the popular choice for many farmers because of its ability to produce clean welds on a variety of…

The National FFA Organization recently appointed three new leaders to its National FFA Board of Directors. The association says that their expertise, passion for agricultural education, and commitment to youth development will enhance the organization’s mission of preparing the next generation of leaders in agriculture and beyond. The new board members are:  CaSandra Carter, a senior human resources generalist at Syngenta, will represent business and industry on the board from 2025 to 2027. Jennifer Jackson, the executive director of Texas FFA and the Texas state advisor, will represent the National Association of Supervisors in Agricultural Education in the western region…

In 2024, the auction market for row crop tractors experienced a significant increase in the availability of used inventory, particularly from brands like John Deere, Case IH, and Fendt. This surge in supply will lead to increased auction activity and downward pressure on prices, as more and more machines enter the market. The current used row crop tractor market is at pre-covid levels, with the majority of units on the market comprised of late-model, low-hour tractors. Oversupply and Declining Prices John Deere, traditionally a dominant player in the row crop tractor market, has seen a notable rise in the number…

A new ranking member for Democrats in the House of Representatives Ag Committee was announced Tuesday morning. Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.) won her push to replace Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.) as ranking member by defeating Jim Costa (D-Ca.) with a 121-91 vote behind closed doors. Craig is in her third term as a congresswoman, while Costa has been in the House for over two decades. Scott dropped out of the race for ranking member as his health caused concerns for Democrats in Congress, The Hill reported. Reactions from across the ag landscape have been coming in throughout the day. Rep.…