Latest News From Tyne Morgan

The signs of El Niño grew even strong this month, and as the weather event looks to make its grand return, significant weather changes could be on deck for U.S. farmers this year. 

At the age of 15, Callee Pellett signed her first lease, and today, the 16-year-old farmer has nearly 20 acres she farms on her own. As the seventh generation, it's a unique opportunity she doesn't take for granted.

The May WASDE report is the first look at the new crop balance sheets. As old crop demand continues to be an area of concern, the trade was watching to see how aggressive USDA would be with new crop supply and demand.

Farmers made significant headway in planting progress last week. USDA shows nearly half of the country’s corn crop is planted and 35% of the soybean crop is now in the ground. There are several states setting records.

According to USDA-NASS, farmers in eight states are currently planting soybeans at the quickest pace farmers have ever seen, including Illinois and Missouri.

Farmers in the Southern Plains are finally starting to see much-needed moisture hit their fields. It may be too late for winter wheat, but it’s a hopeful sign for those needing the rain to even plant summer crops.

Winds topping 55 mph, along with dry soils, recently planted fields and the direction of the fierce winds, all created the "perfect storm" to cause the major dust storm that turned fatal Monday in Illinois.

USDA’s latest Crop Progress report shows while corn planting is now right on track with average, the soybean planting pace is well above average despite North Dakota and South Dakota farmers who are still sidelined.

“We have a pretty deep trough of low-pressure that's kind of parked over the Midwest, which is leading to below-normal temperatures,” says Brad Rippey, USDA meteorologist. Here's a look at the 30-day forecast.

As the upper Mississippi River continues to rise, USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says the worst is yet to come, with a top 10 flood crest not expected near the Quad Cities for as much as two more weeks.

As more farmers start planting, possible problems with weeds, such as waterhemp, are already impacting decisions. An Iowa State Extension field agronomist says farmers might need to be more aggressive in their approach.

USDA's weekly Crop Progress Report shows 14% of the nation's corn crop and 9% of the soybean crop is planted. Farmers in Missouri and Tennessee are planting at a rapid pace, but the upper Midwest is already behind.

The Texas State Fire Marshal’s Office released a report from its investigation of the large fire at South Fork Dairy located outside Dimmitt, ruling the fire as accidental with no reported evidence of foul play.

The Corn Belt will see a cooler weather pattern set in, and parts of the parched Plains will see higher chances of rain during the next couple of weeks, according to Eric Snodgrass of Nutrien Ag Solutions.

Dry conditions spurred by La Nina weighed on areas of the Corn Belt in 2022. As La Nina fades, and El Nino starts to make a return, meteorologists say the weather shift could also signal better crop production in 2023.

The updated Seasonal Drought Outlook for the U.S. is painting a grim picture for many drought-plagued areas of the Plains, but forecasters also expect drought to improve in parts of Nebraska and Iowa.

A late April blast could bring sub-freezing temperatures as far south as northern Texas, sparking growing concerns about the potential damage to winter wheat.

From the potential for more cold weather later this week to additional moisture increasing chances for flooding in the upper Midwest, the forecast for the remainder of April could hold a few more surprises.

Wheat and corn exports out of the Black Sea region are at risk again as Ukrainian officials say Russia is taking action to block inspections of ships under the Black Sea grain initiative.

As the market balances its focus between increased planting progress and the reality of saturated soils and more chances of rain and snow in the northern tier of states, commodity prices could sway planting decisions.

Kansas typically accounts for 25% of the nation's winter wheat production, but ongoing drought is weighing on overall crop conditions. Farmers are now facing the possibility of increased abandonment this year.

According to Castro County Sheriff Sal Rivera, officials believe a honey vac machine, which sucks the manure out of cow lanes, may have been the initial source of the fire. Questions remain on why it spread so quickly.

Drew Lerner of World Weather, Inc. says he’s concerned about the potential for a widespread frost and freeze later next week. Current models are conflicting on how widespread it will be and how cold it will get.

USDA’s latest Crop Progress confirms planting is just getting started across the Corn Belt, but as forecasts change to milder and drier trend, planting progress could speed up this week.

Row spacing is getting a closer look from farmers who are evaluating the practices that contribute most to soybean yield. Agronomic experts offer their insights here to help growers heading to the field this week.

University of Tennessee Extension weed specialist Larry Steckel says as farmers prepare to plant, it might be uncomfortable to spray early when fields look clean, but it’s a smart strategy for effective weed control.

Drought continues to tighten its grip across the Plains, forcing farmers in West Texas to make some very difficult decisions this growing season. It's also causing concerns about crumbling cotton infrastructure.

With the impending snowstorm in the upper Midwest and Northern Plains, it may seem like the 2023 planting season will be off to a slow start. However, in states like Illinois and Missouri, planting has already started.

Farm Journal Field Agronomist Ken Ferrie says there’s a lot of value in the concept of “start clean and stay clean” for full-season weed control. He shares some advice as farmers prepare for planting this year.

Two to three feet of snow is forecast to fall over parts of the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest this week. Some market watchers are beginning to question if 92 million acres of corn can actually get planted this year.

USDA's 2023 Prospective Plantings report released March 31 shows farmers intend to plant significantly more corn acres in 2023. At nearly 92 million acres, that's a jump of 3.42 million acres from last year.

Just ahead of USDA's Prospective Plantings report, the largest cotton growing state in the U.S. is seeing another year of drought, and with fields resembling the Dust Bowl, crop prospects are dwindling by the day.

As Ontario, Canada farmer Julie Maw scouts her wheat fields, it’s the moment of truth for the record number of acres planted across the province this year.

Wet weather in the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest is sparking conversations about a growing number of prevent plant acres this year. Is it too early to start conversations about the possibility of prevent plant?

Renewable diesel is revving up interest from both agriculture and the oil industry, and now oil and agriculture companies are teaming up to find additional crop sources to fuel the growing demand.

California farmers are facing another round of flooding, with fields still bearing scars from January’s floods. An area known for production of fresh berries and lettuce is expected to now have a larger losses.

A new partnership between Corteva, Bunge and Chevron to create proprietary canola hybrids will boost vegetable oil supplies to fuel the renewable diesel market while also creating a new revenue stream for farmers. 

Fertilizer and herbicide prices continue to fall, and there are signs the decline will continue. Now the issue is the number of ag retailers sitting on high-priced inputs, which are often passed on to farmers.

A turf made with soybeans is growing in popularity, and it’s already used in popular locations like the Las Vegas Strip, Central Park and the San Diego Zoo. The turf is made by SYNLawn, in partnership with USB.

Finding a new path for ethanol demand could come in the form of higher-octane fuels. NCGA says the Next Generation Fuels Act would address climate goals while also driving up the domestic demand for corn.

An early look at the report shows the House Ag Committee could push for improvements to the current safety net within Title I of the farm bill and move away from relying on Congress to approve ad hoc disaster aid.

As farmers in the Plains continue to see losses from drought, groups like NSP are discussing during Commodity Classic either permanent disaster aid or other changes to strengthen the safety net within Farm Bill.

ASA policy priorities during Commodity Classic focus on everything from the Farm Bill to EPA's recent Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) proposal, while also pushing for increased market access through trade. 

BASF announced it’s halting the development of hybrid wheat in North America, a move NAWG fears could ultimately drive wheat acres out of the U.S., unless more public and private investments into R&D are made.

Russia is now saying it will only extend its Black Sea grain deal if sanctions are lifted on its own agricultural products. The deal, which was brokered last year, allowed for safe passage of Ukrainian ag products. 

Mexico is accusing the U.S. of playing politics over the GMO corn issue, but NCGA CEO Neil Caskey says if Mexico wants non-GMO, they'll need to pay a premium for it instead of violating a trade pact already in place. 

The National Farm Machinery Show revealed one major theme: the supply chain is still posing major problems for ag equipment manufacturers, an issue that's improving, but could still last the remainder of this year.

Scenes across Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas resemble the Dust Bowl after winds topping 100 mph ravaged the area. Growers are dealing with a dryland wheat crop that could already see abandonment as high as 80%.

A year ago, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine injected uncertainty about global grain supplies into the market. Today, initial concerns have been squashed by the reality of record exports from the Black Sea Region.

In 2014, Nationwide launched Grain Bin Safety Week to not only get the essential rescue tools in the hands of first responders, but also the essential training. Nominations are now open for local departments.