Country music star Luke Bryan is no stranger to rural life. The son of a peanut farmer, Bryan is intimately familiar with the challenges of farming.  “I talk to my father every day,” Bryan said. “He tells me the ups and downs of farming. I understand how hard it is…

Key Takeaways Corn and soybean harvests are just beginning, with progress close to or slightly ahead of average.Crop conditions slipped slightly, with corn at 67% and soybeans at 63% good/excellent.Winter wheat planting is behind normal pace, while spring wheat and oats are nearly fully harvested. Today, the USDA published the 24th Crop…

When Class 8 combines were introduced, around 2003, it quickly became apparent that their combination of size and power were a good fit for many farms. Even as combines have grown into Classes 9, 10, and 10+, Class 8 machines remain in high demand.  “Back in the day, they were…

This year’s National Farm Safety and Health Week will kick off on Sunday and go through September 21, shining a spotlight on one of agriculture’s most pressing issues: protecting the health and lives of those who work in farming, forestry, and fishing. Agriculture remains one of the most hazardous industries…

After peaking in 1920, Black-owned farms have dwindled. It hit a low of less than 20,000 in the late 1990s. After the Civil War, the U.S. government promised 40 acres, either from abandoned plantations or unused land, to formerly enslaved Black people. But then President Andrew Johnson intervened. He pardoned…

October feeder cattle ended the day up $8.70 at $354.50 per hundredweight (cwt). December live cattle closed up $4.35 at $236.28 per cwt. December lean hogs were up 23¢ at $88.85 per cwt. Last Tuesday, October feeder cattle lost more than $9 per cwt, and by Friday the contract had…