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
potassium deficiency in corn
Be More Than Oh-K: How To Manage Your Field’s Potassium Levels
Potassium (K) is a fascinating macronutrient. In corn, it sets the stage for a healthy and vigorous plant that produces a beautiful ear.
April 17, 2023 08:00 AM
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Sara Schafer
If weather conditions allow crop yields to return to trend-line levels in 2023, prices for corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton and many other crops are likely to fall.
9 Charts to Analyze from the 2023 FAPRI Baseline
If weather conditions allow crop yields to return to trend-line levels in 2023, prices for corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton and many other crops are likely to fall.
April 05, 2023 01:14 PM
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Sara Schafer
2022 Farmland Trends
How Many Farms Are in the U.S.?
Total land in farms decreased 1.9 million acres to 893,400,000 acres in 2022 versus 2021. Here is other noteworthy farmland data, courtesy of USDA’s Farms and Land in Farms 2022 Summary.
March 15, 2023 04:17 PM
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Sara Schafer
Drought Outlook
Planting Forecast: Will Spring Rains Undo Winter’s Sins?
Winter is not the high precipitation time frame for many portions of farm country, Snodgrass says. One spring storm system can deliver the same amount of soil moisture as all the snowfall during the winter.
March 14, 2023 09:09 AM
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Sara Schafer
Tillage Poll Results
The Results Are In: These Are the Top Two Tillage Types
With more than 1,500 responses, we have a clear winner for the two most common tillage types.
March 03, 2023 03:04 PM
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Sara Schafer
You can’t always predict the weather; but you can put plans in place so you’re ready to plant in all conditions.
Ken Ferrie: Early Bird Gets the Bushels
You can’t always predict the weather; but you can put plans in place so you’re ready to plant in all conditions.
February 22, 2023 01:58 PM
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Sara Schafer
Poll results
Poll Results: The Majority of 500+ Farmers Have Locked In 2023 Inputs
With higher-than-average costs and spring planting on the horizon, farmers are locking in their 2023 input needs.
February 22, 2023 10:22 AM
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Sara Schafer
What will the next decade hold for your farm? What factors should you use to weigh investments or crop planning?  Here are five trends and data sets to ponder from USDA's latest Agricultural Baseline Projections.
5 Crop and Livestock Charts to Ponder from USDA’s 10-Year Outlook
What will the next decade hold for your farm? What factors should you use to weigh investments or crop planning? Here are five trends and data sets to ponder from USDA’s latest Agricultural Baseline Projections.
February 15, 2023 03:49 PM
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Sara Schafer
World with question mark
4 Macro Factors Impacting the Agricultural Economy
What is the state of the U.S. economy? How will these macro factors impact the agricultural economy? John Deere’s Kanlaya Barr provides a guide to a few risks you should monitor in the next year.
February 10, 2023 08:18 AM
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Sara Schafer
grain in truck
3 Supply and Demand Takeaways from USDA’s February Report
While Tyler Schau, AgMarket.Net hedging strategist, wouldn’t call this month’s report a barnburner, it did have a few market implications.
February 09, 2023 07:50 AM
 · 
Sara Schafer
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