Latest News From Betsy Jibben

According to the National Restaurant Association, October is the first monthly sales decline since the end of the spring lockdowns.

Iowa’s damaged on-farm grain bins might take through 2022 to rebuild.

The country’s mid-section is experiencing nice, warm temperatures for fall. It may not last for long.

A cold front is still dragging and bringing some showers to the Eastern Coast.

Some areas received a shot of rain early in the week too. However, it’s been so dry in some places that farmers are cutting silage the earliest they have since the drought of 2012.

Brad Dircks, and his wife Lisa, knew the storm was going to be bad. “The weatherman came on and said, ‘Boy, this storm sure looks like a derecho thunderstorm.’ I thought, Boy, that doesn’t sound good.”

Thirty-two million food boxes have been delivered as part of USDA’s Farmers to Families Food Box Program. The Food Bank of Northern Indiana shows how the program is making a difference in people’s lives.

Meteorologists say “favorable weather,” which includes timely rains and little extreme heat, might stick around for a while in most of the Corn Belt, especially to the East.

Summer is nearly here which means AgDay meteorologist Mike Hoffman has his “90 Day Forecast” to share. Click on the link to hear more.

The Department of Homeland Security assures there won’t be trade interruptions with Mexico — posting on social media that essential commercial activity will not be impacted.

A well-known machinery trade show is closing its doors early due to coronavirus concerns. CONEXPO (professionally known as CONEXPO-CON/AGG & IFPE), is the considered North America’s Largest Construction Trade Show.

One of the most high-profile events in farm country affected by coronavirus concerns is the Houston Livestock show and Rodeo. Some producers had to pack up and leave for home while others didn’t even make the trip.

California is traditionally a big state for pima cotton. However, one gin sees growing competition from hemp and is changing its equipment to potentially process hemp fiber instead.

One of the world’s largest supply chains is opening a case-ready beef plant and establishing its own angus supply chain. CoBank recently released a report about the plant.

NOAA shows 2019 was the second wettest year on record for the United States, behind 1973 by less than an inch. It makes people wonder what happened the year after and if there's a trend in 2020.

The weather continues to be a focus in the Northern Plains. Farmers in North Dakota saw dangerously low temperatures over the weekend. It’s one problem after the next as the state’s farmers still try to harvest corn.

It is official: 2019 will go on record as one of the wettest and costliest years because of the weather.

The hemp industry now has its own trade group. The U.S. Hemp Growers Association officially launched this week.

Based on 2019, what agronomic change are you considering for next year?

Fair Oaks Farms co-founder and owner sits down for a one-on-one interview. It's been nearly six months since the farm's reputation was stung after animal activists released undercover videos of alleged animal abuse.

The historically late harvest is causing more problems and not just for farmers but livestock producers. AgDay National Reporter Betsy Jibben has more on the final stop on the I-80 Harvest Tour.

The I-80 Harvest Tour takes us to Indiana this week. It's where less than half the corn crop has been harvested. Some of that crop wasn't planted until after the start of June.

The maturity of the U.S. corn crop is running at its slowest pace since 2009. For soybeans dropping leaves, it's the slowest since 1996. That's according to Crop Progress report of the September 22 week.

Friday is the day the USDA releases a mountain of grain reports all at one time because of a delay caused by the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.