Author: staff

Controversial wolf compensation claims of more than $343,000 by two ranchers are scheduled to be heard at the March 5 and 6 Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission meeting in Denver. One of those claims, $287,407 by Farrell Livestock, is by far the largest compensation sought since the passage of Proposition 114 in 2020, which authorized the reintroduction of wolves and compensation for livestock losses due to the predator. The other claim scheduled to be heard is for $56,000 from Bruchez and Sons. Both Farrell Livestock and Bruchez and Sons ranch in Grand County, in the north central part of Colorado.…

By Stephanie Kelly NEW YORK, Feb 28 (Reuters) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said on Friday it would delay an action by one year to expand sales of higher ethanol blends of gasoline in South Dakota and Ohio, two of eight Midwestern states that requested the agency approve increased sales of the product. The EPA’s statement on Friday follows its decision last week to uphold an April 28 implementation date for the request from eight Midwest governors to allow year-round sales of gasoline containing 15% ethanol, a blend known as E15. States had until February 26 to seek a…

Bayer Crop Science has announced Vyconic soybeans, a new trait technology that will be the first to feature five herbicide tolerances including dicamba, glufosinate, mesotrione, 2,4-D and glyphosate. Flexible Solutions Vyconic soybeans will enable the use of five herbicides for an integrated weed management program to help address specific field needs and challenges, including weed resistance management. Currently, Bayer soybean trait platforms offer three different herbicide tolerances (dicamba, gluphosinate, glyphosate) which equates to 7 different chemistry combinations, said Frank Rittemann, Bayer North American soybean project manager and launch lead. “Moving it up to five tolerances, we quadruple the available options…

Case IH has launched SenseApply technology, an automated live variable-rate application solution. SenseApply consists of a single cab-mounted camera system that offers multi-season uses. “SenseApply offers unparalleled flexibility, with a range of application methods that were previously unavailable in a single solution,” said Leo Bose, application equipment customer segmentation lead at Case IH. “It is also a cost-effective solution with no annual subscriptions or per-acre fees, driving efficiency and profitability for a grower.” Case IH SenseApply technology includes lifetime live VRA use and a one-time activation fee for Selective Spray, eliminating both per-acre fees and annual fees for the life…

By Carl Zulauf, David Orden, Jonathan Coppess, Gary Schnitkey, and Nick Paulson The empirical findings in this article raise a question about whether a foundation principle of U.S. commodity policy holds; specifically, that payments made on historical base acres are sufficiently decoupled from planting decisions. We find that, since the 2014 Farm Bill, PLC payment has, with 99% statistical confidence, been related to the change in acres of the large acreage program crops for which USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) computes a cost of production. Empirical evidence is strongest for peanuts and rice. Conclusions are not drawn other than that the question raised…

By Maximilian Heath BUENOS AIRES, Feb 24 (Reuters) – Recent heavy rainfall across much of Argentina’s agricultural heartland is likely to continue over the next few days and mark an “inflection point” for the current soybean and corn crops, the Rosario grains exchange (BCR) said on Monday. More than 100 millimeters (3.9 inches) of rain soaked farmland over the last few days, helping to cement a recovery from drought conditions and a heat wave that hit 2024/25 crops in late January and earlier this month. Argentina is a major grains exporter, with sales from shipments of processed soybeans, corn, and wheat providing…

1. Soybean Futures Decline in Overnight Trading Soybeans were lower in overnight trading on increased concerns about extended trade wars after President Donald Trump said tariffs on Canada and Mexico will go forward.  The president on Monday said the planned tariffs, for which he signed an executive order on Feb. 1 before ultimately delaying implementation, will take effect next week.  Canada was the biggest buyer of U.S. goods in 2022, accounting for about $357 billion in items shipped, according to the U.S. Trade Representative’s office. Mexico was the second-largest importer of U.S. products, taking in about $324 billion in goods. …

By Gary Schnitkey, Nick Paulson, and Carl Zulauf Most farmers have completed their 2024 financial statements. Including the recently passed Economic Assistance (EA) payments on 2024, financial statements will significantly improve financial performance. Projections for 2025 likely will result in 2025 income levels close to those of 2024 with EA. Hence, changes in net worth and working capital in 2025 could be close to those that occurred in 2024. Net Incomes on Illinois Grain Farms Illinois grain farms enrolled in Illinois Farm Business Farm Management (FBFM) had a record net income in 2022 of $506,000 per farm (see Figure 1).…

By Ryan Hanrahan Politico’s Grace Yarrow reported Monday that “key House Republicans are growing increasingly worried that planned cuts to a popular food aid program under the GOP’s reconciliation package could sink hopes for a new farm bill at a time when the party is in a strong position to shape the legislation.” The budget plan that was approved in the US House of Representatives last night “calls for substantial reductions to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program as part of $230 billion in agriculture spending cuts,” Yarrow reported. “It’s rankling both swing-district lawmakers with constituents who rely on the aid…

1. Soybean Futures Up Modestly Overnight Soybean futures were narrowly higher in overnight trading amid projections for fewer planted acres and lower ending stocks in the next marketing year.  Area planted to soybeans in the U.S. in the 2025/2026 marketing year that starts on Sept. 1 are now forecast at 84 million acres, the Department of Agriculture said in a report at its annual Agricultural Outlook Forum.  That’s down from 87.1 million acres planted a year earlier, agency data show.  Production in the next marketing year is forecast at 4.37 billion bushels on yield of 52.5 bushels an acre, USDA…