Author: staff

A federal initiative designed to support students from underserved and rural areas attending historically Black colleges and universities was put on hold for several days, but some institutions, such as North Carolina A&T, are saying that they are again able to take applications. The U.S. Department of Agriculture had suspended the 1890 Scholars Program, which covered full tuition and fees for students pursuing degrees in agriculture, food, or natural resource sciences at one of 19 designated 1890 land-grant institutions. While the exact date of the start of the suspension remains unclear, some members of Congress publicly criticized the move late…

Pioneer has announced their Plenish high oleic Enlist E3 soybeans will be available for the 2025 growing season. As part of the Z-series line, this new variety features industry-leading genetics and high yield potential, while offering opportunities to increase per-acre profit potential with high oleic soybeans.  “We continue to see growing interest in Plenish high oleic soybeans as farmers learn about the opportunity to increase profits through processor-paid premiums,” said Roger Theisen, marketing manager for Pioneer specialty crops, in a news release.  This new offering in the Plenish line will offer more robust weed management options for farmers looking to…

Montana House Bill 119, introduced by Republican state Rep. Brandon Ler, is advancing through the legislative process, aiming to establish the Montana Cattle Committee and implement a statewide $1 per head beef checkoff. The bill recently secured approval from the House Agriculture Committee with a 10-7 vote, followed by a 59-41 vote in the full House and a 13-10 vote in the House Appropriations Committee. It now moves to the Senate for further consideration. The proposed Montana Cattle Committee would consist of seven members, all required to be Montana residents actively engaged in cattle production. Nominees for these positions would…

What Happened Marketing decisions for corn and soybeans this January and February have become more interesting than most were anticipating, as stronger than expected price rallies have occurred. Should you sell more? Should you re-own? Is there a driving force that will send prices even higher? The good news during a price rally is that your earnings are on the rise. Unfortunately, so may be your stress level as decisions become more complicated. Corn futures that were trading well under $4 in late summer have now traded to over $5. A nearly 25% reduction in projected carryout on recent World…

Dear Joe, Love your show, man. Seriously. The Joe Rogan Experience podcast is one of the most intriguing and thought-provoking platforms out there. You bring on incredible guests — smart, insightful, and often groundbreaking thinkers. But there’s something missing, and I need to call it out. Joe, we need to talk about farming. A lot of the agricultural information shared on your podcast is, quite frankly, flat-out wrong. And I don’t think it’s entirely your fault. Many of the sponsors and guests who come on your show push narratives that benefit their bottom line — using fear and misinformation to…

By Stephanie Kelly and Jarrett Renshaw NEW YORK, Feb 24 (Reuters) – The American Petroleum Institute trade group on Monday pressed for a nationwide policy on higher-ethanol blends of gasoline after the President Donald Trump’s administration said on Friday it would move ahead with expanded sales of the product in certain Midwestern states. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said on Feb. 21 it would uphold an April 28 implementation date for a request from eight Midwest governors to allow year-round sales of gasoline containing 15% ethanol, a blend known as E15. EPA’s action is meant to enable both E15 and…

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced late last week that some of its programs funding renewable energy projects are “operating as normal,” but left open the question of whether billions more in loans and grants promised to farmers, small rural businesses and electric cooperatives would be honored. That Thursday, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins had said the department would continue to review spending under the Biden administration’s sweeping climate law, the Inflation Reduction Act, “to ensure that programs are focused on supporting farmers and ranchers” and not “far-left climate programs.” Among those waiting for clarity are Travis and Amy Forgues of…

Ahead of 9 a.m. CT, March and May corn, soybean, and wheat contracts were in the red again this morning. March corn was down 7¼¢ at $4.75¼ per bushel. May corn was down 7¾¢ at $4.89¼. March soybeans were down 6¾¢ at $10.22¼ per bushel. May soybeans were down 7¼¢ at $10.40¼. March CBOT wheat was down 13¢. KC wheat was down 9½¢. Minneapolis wheat was down 7¾¢. May CBOT wheat was down 12¼¢. KC wheat was down 9½¢. Minneapolis wheat was down 7¢. “Fresh headwinds were blowing once again for the commodity sector overnight as traders worry about a…

Soil compaction is a critical concern, and the larger equipment becomes, the more important it is to pay attention to its potential long-term impacts to crop productivity and the environment.  An Iowa State University (ISU) survey revealed 59% of farmers are concerned about the impact of heavy machinery in their fields, and 42% say they consider the weight of agricultural machinery when they decide on equipment purchases.  “Farmers are aware of soil compaction, but they are also moving to bigger machinery because they want to finish their work faster with wider equipment,” said Mehari Tekeste, associate professor in ISU’s Department…

By Ana Mano SAO PAULO, Feb 21 (Reuters) – The Brazilian state of Maranhao on Friday defended its new law imposing a 1.8% levy on grain exports after an industry lobby representing large global traders launched a legal challenge against the tax. Under the new law, which will take effect next week, an export tax will be charged on shipments of grains such as soybeans, corn, sorghum, and millet. Maranhao state said proceeds from the new levy will go towards investments in logistics, benefiting the entire agribusiness sector. In a statement on Friday, it defended the measure as constitutional and aligned with…