Author: staff

Change has become a constant in agriculture: market fluctuations, artificial intelligence, regulations, and tariffs, just to name a few. Some change is easier to accept, some is painful — but change happens at an increasingly rapid pace. Stress often accompanies change because we aren’t naturally adept at it. But rest assured — change is the norm. Instead of dreading it, why not identify how you can control your reaction to it? Life changes “Life is going to change, and it’s not always going to change for the better. You figure how to change with it,” says Katie Coyne, former Progressive…

As climate change fuels increasingly severe weather, hailstorms are becoming a major threat to global food production, and experts are warning that the agricultural sector isn’t prepared. According to the latest figures from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. saw 5,373 significant hail events in 2024, a 43 percent rise compared to 2021.  Image courtesy of KISTERS States such as Texas (878), Kansas (437), and Nebraska (372) are among the hardest hit.  With hail damage now costing upwards of $15 billion a year across homes, vehicles, and crops, farmers are being urged to adapt. One organization tracking these shifts closely is…

Ahead of 9:30 a.m. CT, May corn was down less than a penny at $4.50½ per bushel. May soybeans were up 12¾¢ at $10.13¾ per bushel. May wheat contracts were mixed. CBOT wheat was down 1¼¢ at $5.34 per bushel. KC wheat was up 2¢ at $5.67. Minneapolis wheat was up 4¢ at $5.89¼. Naomi Blohm, senior market advisor at Total Farm Marketing, said corn is oversold going into Monday, when USDA is expected to release the annual Prospective Plantings and quarterly Grain Stocks reports. The Prospective Plantings report will include estimates for 2025/2026 corn, soybean, and wheat acres. She…

Following a judge’s order, many USDA employees were reinstated after layoffs in February, but the Trump administration is moving forward with plans to reduce the federal workforce Following judges’ orders, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has begun reinstating employees who were fired en masse in February. But now, many of those workers who are being paid not to perform any duties fear that another shoe will drop. The uncertainty over their futures comes as Elon Musk and the Trump administration chainsaw the federal workforce. Judges have ruled the mass terminations were unlawful, but the administration is moving forward with plans…

By Jarrett Renshaw NEW YORK, March 27 (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has asked oil and biofuels producers to hash out a deal on the next phase of the nation’s biofuels policy to avoid the kind of political clashes that marked his first term, according to four people familiar with the matter. Big Oil and the Farm Belt’s biofuels makers are traditional competitors for share in the multibillion-dollar U.S. gasoline market. They have repeatedly fought over details of the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard, a program that requires billions of gallons of corn-based ethanol and other biofuels to be blended into the country’s fuel supply. The White House directive has…

The new JLG telehandlers are purpose-built for the needs of farmers and ranchers, designed with greater maneuverability and versatility compared to their industrial counterparts. The JLG Agriculture telehandler lineup includes: AG313: Compact unit with 3,500-pound capacity and 13-foot maximum height.AG519: Mid-size unit with 5,000-pound capacity and 19-foot maximum height.AG823: Heavy-duty model with 8,000-pound capacity and 23-foot maximum height.AG832: Extended-reach model with 8,000-pound capacity and 32-foot maximum height.AG925: High-capacity model with 9,000-pound capacity and 25-foot maximum height. “After 50 years as the market leader in access equipment for construction tasks, we’re leveraging our product expertise to deliver innovative solutions for the…

By Renee Hickman CHICAGO, March 26 (Reuters) – Chicago corn futures dipped on Wednesday as traders anticipated a U.S. Department of Agriculture data release showing a significant uptick in corn acreage in 2025. Wheat futures fell on continuing Russia-Ukraine talks around the Black Sea, and soybeans rose on expectations of lower acreage this year. The most active corn contract Cv1 on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) was down 3 cents at $4.54-3/4 per bushel at 12:05 p.m. (1705 GMT) , having reached their lowest point since March 6. Soybeans Sv1 were up 3-1/4 cents at $10.05 a bushel. The most-active wheat contract Wv1 was down 4-3/4 cents at $5.38-1/2 a…

Although corn and sorghum planting continues to progress across Texas, agronomists suggest that some farmers might switch from planting acres in corn and sorghum to cotton this year amidst continuing drought.  West Central Texas In West Central Texas, Reagan Noland, an assistant professor and extension agronomist for Texas A&M University, said, “Both corn and sorghum acreage will be extremely limited this year due to dry conditions and depleted irrigation water supplies.” Noland said it is still a possibility for farmers to still plant grain sorghum through mid-April, “but it’s not likely unless it starts raining soon.” Instead of growing dryland…

Extreme heat poses a significant challenge for dairy and cattle producers, affecting animal health, milk production, and overall farm profitability. Prolonged exposure to high temperatures can lead to heat stress, which reduces feed intake, lowers fertility rates, and increases the risk of illness and mortality. Recent University of Illinois research pinpointed heat stress to leading to a 1 percent annual decline in U.S. dairy milk yield, equating to $245 million in losses over five years. In response to these challenges, AIR Parametric Inc. is expanding its heat stress insurance product, Milkshake, in 2025 to offer broader financial protection for livestock…

A change in weather patterns isn’t expected over the next two weeks as the polar vortex continues to bring setbacks following periods of warmth.  Paul Pastelok, the lead long-range forecaster at AccuWeather, said, overall, the forecast shows that the current weather pattern where temperatures rise and then fall is going to continue through the middle of April. Rising temperatures bring fire risks Before temperatures are expected to drop, Pastelok said a warmup is expected towards the end of the week of March 24. “Temperatures are going to be well up there,” Pastelok said. Several Corn Belt states should expect temperatures…