Latest News From AgDay TV

Drought is impacting operations along the Panama Canal, one of the largest shipping channels in the world, with restrictions now placed on both the number of ships, as well as the amount of cargo they can carry.

Oklahoma State University’s Turfgrass Research Center has a new claim to fame: creating the turf for Super Bowl 57. The Chiefs and Eagles will be play the big game on Tahoma 31, a turf developed by OSU scientists.

Land sales continue to set records. Late last month, a farm in Plymouth County, Iowa sold for $25,000 per acre.

The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is accusing Russia of using hunger as a weapon. He claims Russian forces are deliberately targeting the country's essential food supplies.

USDA released the first crop progress report of the season, and it showed cotton planting is running slightly behind with 4% of the U.S cotton crop currently planted. One meteorologist says drought may be a factor.

The Ukranian government announced removal of corn and sunflower oil export license requirements to allow for easier exports, while also hoping the sale of the commodities will provide money for spring planting.

The commodity markets came under pressure to start the week as traders tried to shed risk over shipping concerns in China as COVID-19 concerns caused officials to shut down transportation amid a two-pronged lockdown.

Experts say you don’t need to worry about the bright yellow, blue, black and red Joro spider — it's one of the few creatures that preys on a bug that attacks Southern crops.

UPDATE: WASHINGTON (AP) - Biden: US ban on Russian oil a 'powerful blow' to 'Putin's war,' warns Americans 'defending freedom is going to cost.'

UPDATE: 03/02 4:23 pm-EST-There are reports a missile struck a vessel flying under the flag of Bangladesh in Ukraine.

DEVELOPING: There's a new issue getting inputs after the only potash mine in Belarus declared a force majeure.

AFBF President Zippy Duvall told members this week he will continue to press for policy that progresses agriculture, citing AFBF's work on changes to the White House's "America the Beautiful" plan as an example.

AFBF's in-person annual convention focused on everything from H-2A workers, drought, supply chain chaos and policy changes like the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule. USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack addressed the group Monday.

Have record high fertilizer prices finally peaked? While prices continue to remain high right now, there were some signs last week and already this week that indicate some relief and stability may be in sight.

The Plains could use some moisture, and they just might see some snow this week.

Meteorologist Andrew Whitmyer has more on the rain and snow that continues to be welcomed news for California's Sierra Mountains.

As California farmers' try to battle back from extreme drought, hope is coming in the form of snow. The state's average snow water equivalent percentage of snowpack jumped from 19% on December 10 to 98% today.

More than 60 ag groups telling the Biden Administration on Monday the nearly 7,000 South African farm workers should be exempted from restrictions related to the Omicron variant. 

The devastation created by a rare mid-December tornado is still being assessed. Thousands of structures were demolished in the storms. University of Kentucky's research station in Princeton was destroyed.

Inflation levels are now at levels the U.S. hasn't seen in three decades. The latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) showed a 6.2% spike over the past 12 months, the largest increase since 1990. Beef prices are up 20%.

Some portions of the country will be getting their first substantial snow of the season.

Meteorologist Mike Hoffman says some farmers are seeing big changes in root zone moisture.

Meteorologist Matt Engelbrecht has a forecast with a lot of rain in it.

USDA's October Crop Production and WASDE reports caused the soybean markets to tank Tuesday. One analyst says he thinks USDA's soybean could could continue to rise as soybean demand shows signs of trouble.

Despite slowdowns in the export sales picture, actual exports are still running 26% ahead of the same time period last year, and with higher commodity prices, bulk export values are up 60%. USDA says that's led by corn.

As backlogs at U.S. ports and climbing shipping rates plague the supply chain, new data shows container shipping rates between the U.S and China are dropping by more than 50% in  just a month. 

A virtual working meeting is expected before year's end between President Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

Meteorologist Mike Hoffman takes a look at the changes coming for the jet stream.

USDA is announcing a plan that involves another $100 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act.

Port officials say strong American consumer demand has continued unabated for more than a year, as the Port of Los Angeles has seen a 30% increase in cargo volume so far this year, while exports fell 23% in August.

Combines will be rolling in the central part of the country this week.

Work continues on cleaning up from Hurricane Ida with logistical problems remaining for moving grains. Now, Risk Management Solutions is estimating total insured losses between $31 billion and $44 billion.

China's wheat imports hit the highest level in two decades, currently accounting for 19% of global consumption. The U.S. supplied 3 million metric tons of wheat imports during the last marketing year, or a 28% share.

Meteorologist Mike Hoffman says much of the Midwest will see dry weather for a few days.

Meteorologist Matt Engelbrecht has an update on the chances for rain in the East, along with cooler conditions in the Midwest.

Meteorologist Matt Engelbrecht takes a look at some other rain chances for parts of the country.

Demand for ag workers has employers turning to the H-2A program more often. New data from the Department of Labor shows the highest rate of growth is in the fruit, nuts and vegetable categories, up more than 330%.

Meteorologist Mike Hoffman has a new look at the jet stream.

Meteorologist Mike Hoffman has a look at the latest Drought Monitor map.

Meteorologist Matt Engelbrecht is tracking the latest storms in the Atlantic.

Meteorologist Mike Hoffman breaks down the latest changes in the Drought Monitor.

Hurricane Ida, and possible aid to producers, was a big topic of the Farm Journal Farm Country Update with Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack Thursday. Vilsack highlighted when additional aid may be on the way. 

According to USDA's latest Crop Progress report, 60% of the U.S. corn crop is rated good to excellent, unchanged from last week. Illinois corn conditions continue to improve each week.

Hurricane Ida hammered southeast Louisiana, as the Category 4 storm came with 150 mph winds. And as the system moves across the U.S., meteorologist Mike Hoffman says some areas could experience significant rainfall. 

USDA is out with its new ag export forecast for both this year and next, and it's showing exports could hit $173.5 billion in 2021, $4 billion more than 2020, due to higher livestock, poultry and dairy exports.

Cotton conditions look to be improving as the crop draws closer to harvest. According to the latest USDA data, 71% of the U.S. cotton crop is now rated good to excellent. That compares to 46% this time last year.

As Tropical Storm Henri weakened, it remains a threat due to heavy rain, which is causing flooding. All of this as a rural area of Tennessee is still searching for those missing after 17 inches of rain fell in 24 hours.

How much does it cost to rent cropland this year? According to NASS, the average price is $141 per acre. That's $2 higher than last year, and up $7 from five years ago. 

Federal officials announced this week mandatory water cuts to the Colorado River, marking the first federal water cuts, and it's the first-ever water shortage for a river that serves 40 million people in the West.

The latest Crop Progress report put the corn crop this week at 62% good to excellent, a two-point drop in a week. Soybean conditions dropped 3% across the country, now sitting at 57% rated good to excellent.