Author: staff

Farmer sentiment continues to weaken, as the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer declined again in July. The barometer fell 11 points to 135 from June, a reading that resulted from U.S. farmers’ weaker perceptions of both current conditions and future expectations. The July Current Conditions Index dropped 17 points to 127 from last month, while the Future Expectations Index posted a smaller decline of 7 points to 139. Driving the weaker income prospects for 2025 were farmers’ assessment of current conditions. Despite lower scores on the three principal farmer sentiment indices, sentiment remains notably higher than at the same…

At the 40th International Sweetener Symposium, U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden spoke about what he called the Trump administration’s commitment to advancing a stronger future for American agriculture. Speaking before a packed room of sugarbeet and sugarcane growers, trade officials, and industry leaders in Traverse City, Michigan, Vaden reportedly outlined the administration’s ongoing efforts to prioritize domestic farmers and rural communities. “I think that you will see when the second commission report is issued that you were heard and that you influenced the result,” Vaden said. The first MAHA report, released in May, drew criticism from across…

This summer, a farmer came up to me and said, “I thought you were crazy to sell new-crop corn, soybeans, and wheat ahead in January and February.” He said he hesitated, but he followed my advice. “Now, I wish I would have done more,” he said. I admit, I haven’t advised selling ahead in January and February very often over the last 20 years. I did that in January and February of 2025 — not because of seasonal patterns, but because the markets had rallied up to price/profit targets, and most areas had excellent basis levels.  Over the last few…

By Joshua Haiar A bipartisan group of U.S. senators, including Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., introduced legislation recently to improve a federal conservation program with changes, including a higher maximum annual payment for landowners. The Conservation Reserve Program pays farmers and ranchers to remove environmentally sensitive land from agricultural production, and maintain grass, trees, and other plant species on enrolled acres. That helps prevent soil erosion, filters runoff that enters waterways, and establishes habitat for wildlife. Landowners may be allowed to conduct livestock grazing, haying, and seed-harvesting on the land. “I’m proud to lead this commonsense legislation that would help advance the…

By Marcela Ayres, Bernardo Caram, and Lisandra Paraguassu BRASILIA, Aug 4 (Reuters) – Brazil’s government has set aside for now plans for direct retaliation against steep U.S. tariffs taking effect this week, focusing instead on a relief package for industries hit hardest by the levies, sources familiar with the strategy said. Wide-ranging exemptions granted in U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order last week spared some of the most vulnerable sectors of Latin America’s largest economy, to the relief of many investors and business leaders. That has left Brasilia cautious about responding to Trump with reciprocal tariffs or other retaliation that could escalate tensions, said government officials, who requested anonymity to discuss confidential…

According to the latest Crop Protection Network map, positive cases of tar spot have been reported in 13 of the top 18 corn growing states. Additional cases have been reported in Georgia, Maryland, and New York. First reported in the Corn Belt in 2015, 18 U.S. states have a history of the disease. So far this season, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and Wisconsin have confirmed infected crops. Crop Protection Network Illinois As of Aug. 1, 19 Illinois counties have reported cases of tar spot. There are only 11 counties in the…

Tractor Supply Company has announced the third class of FFA Future Leaders Scholarship recipients in conjunction with the kickoff of the 2025 FFA Future Leaders Scholarship Fundraiser. The 2025-26 scholarship class includes a total of 146 students from 38 states with intended majors such as agribusiness, welding, agricultural communications, construction, fire sciences and more. The FFA Future Leaders Scholarship Fund, which is the largest of its kind, awards $5,000 scholarships to students attending a two-year program or trade school, and $10,000 scholarships to students pursuing agriculture-related studies in four-year programs. In rural communities across the country, students often face limited…

By Ryan Hanrahan Zaner Ag Hedge’s Karen Braun reported that “as of July 24, U.S. soybean exporters had sold just over 3 million metric tons of soybeans for export in the [marketing year] 2025/2026, which begins Sept. 1. That volume is a 20-year low for the date and is down 12% from last year.” “New-crop sales are struggling because China has yet to buy a single cargo, and this is China’s latest start in the U.S. bean market since 2005. However, in 2005, the first Chinese purchase came during the week ended Aug. 11,” Braun reported. “If China sits out…

A couple of days ago, the National Corn Growers Association, joined by more than two dozen state-level corn grower associations, sent a letter to top U.S. government officials urging action to address the spiraling cost of fertilizer and other agricultural inputs. Addressed to U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, and Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, the letter outlines a dire financial outlook for American corn farmers and warns of the long-term consequences if relief is not provided. “At the same time, current corn prices are extremely low, dropping by 14 percent from the beginning of…

Today, USDA published the 18th Crop Progress report of the 2025 growing season. Here’s a look at the latest corn, soybean, wheat, and oat numbers. Corn As of Aug. 3, 88% of the corn crop across the country’s top 18 corn-growing states had reached the silking stage. Progress is just shy of the five-year average of 89%. USDA said 42% of the crop across all top states had reached the dough stage, ahead of the five-year average of 40%. This was the first week USDA reported dent-stage corn. As of Aug. 3, 6% of the crop across 11 states had reached the…