Sara Schafer

Sara (Muri) Schafer, editor of Top Producer magazine, grew up on a family farm where they raised hogs and cattle, along with soybeans, corn, wheat, milo and hay. Since joining Farm Journal Media in 2008, she has covered a broad range of topics pivotal to the success of U.S. farmers. In addition to being an award-winning journalist, she has played several key roles with the transformative relaunch of AgWeb.com and spearheaded the Farm Journal Legacy Project expansion. Sara graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a degree in agricultural journalism and a minor in agricultural economics. She resides in Columbia, Mo., with her husband and daughter.

Latest Stories
High prices cure high prices, but will that be the case with the record-breaking farmland prices seen in 2021 and early 2022?
These pests have colossal appetites but don’t tend to pack an economic punch.
Corn and soybean production will both be down from 2021, according to USDA’s September Crop Production report. That news sent prices higher for both markets.
For 2022, the national average for cash rents on cropland is $148 per acre. That’s up $7 from last year and eclipsed the previous high of 2015’s $144 per acre.
For the upcoming crop season, CONAB forecasts Brazilian farmers will produce more than 300 million tons of soybeans, corn, cotton, rice, wheat and soybeans. That’s an all-time high.
Weather challenges this spring tugged total crop acres down for 2022. USDA’s Farm Service reports farmers were unable to plant on 6.387 million acres.
December corn futures rose to the highest price since late June and soybeans and wheat also rose amid concern over dry weather. Why did corn prices surge? Several bullish factors are at play,
For the 30th year, Pro Farmer Crop Tour scouts will be providing insights for potential corn and soybean yields based on samples from 2,000 fields.
For 2022, USDA reports the value of the nation’s cropland is $5,050. That’s up $630, or 14%, from 2021. This year’s figure marks back-to-back record highs in cropland values.
Trouble started brewing for the rural economy earlier this summer. Now it’s been confirmed for five straight months.