Latest News From Tyne Morgan

Crop Tour Scouts Find Eastern Iowa, Southern Minnesota in Dire Need of Rain to Salvage Yields
Crop Tour Scouts Find Eastern Iowa, Southern Minnesota in Dire Need of Rain to Salvage Yields

Scouts saw drought damage instead of derecho devastation in eastern and north-central portions of Iowa on the Pro Farmer Crop Tour this year. Minnesota was much the same, with fields showing clear signs of stress.

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Sold! Record $19,000 Per Acre Iowa Farmland Sale Fueled By Inflation, Strong Commodity Prices

Iowa's crop size will play a role in the prices buyers pay for Iowa farmland this year. Real estate experts call the land market the hottest in 40 years as inflation and more buyers than sellers also fuel the market.

Pro Farmer Scouts May Have Found the Garden Spot in Western Iowa Measuring Near Record Yields
Pro Farmer Scouts May Have Found the Garden Spot in Western Iowa Measuring Near Record Yields

Drought dominated headlines in western Iowa last year during the Pro Farmer Crop Tour, and even as drought continues to be the talk of Iowa this year, fields in some portions of the state produced a different tone.

Biofuels Groups Take Legal Action in Effort to Put Year-Round E15 Sales Back On Track
Biofuels Groups Take Legal Action in Effort to Put Year-Round E15 Sales Back On Track

Biofuels groups are asking for a rehearing on a recent appeals court decision that blocked the sale of E15 year-round. The approval of E15 sales during the summer driving season was made by the Trump Administration.

Soybeans Steal the Show in Indiana During Day 2 of Pro Farmer Crop Tour
Soybeans Steal the Show in Indiana During Day 2 of Pro Farmer Crop Tour

Fields sprouted the possibiity of big bushels on Tuesday. In Nebraska, scouts saw dryness, but also big potential for soybeans this year. And Indiana's crops also showed potential records in areas of the state.

The East is a Beast and West is a Wild Card Headlined Pro Farmer Crop Tour in Ohio and South Dakota
The East is a Beast and West is a Wild Card Headlined Pro Farmer Crop Tour in Ohio and South Dakota

As scouts set out on the 2021 Pro Farmer Crop Tour Monday they got a soggy start, a good sign for soybeans in August. While Ohio did not disappoint, South Dakota showed scars from the drought with a mature crop.

Port Problems Continue as Single COVID-19 Case Partially Shutters World's Third Largest Port in China
Port Problems Continue as Single COVID-19 Case Partially Shutters World's Third Largest Port in China

Shipping issues continue to surface. The latest is in China’s Ningbo-Zhoushan container port, which is the third-busiest in the world, and has been partially shut down for six days, with no sign of reopening yet.

Agriculture and Iowa on Center Stage as MLB Hits Home Run with First-Ever Field of Dreams Game
Agriculture and Iowa on Center Stage as MLB Hits Home Run with First-Ever Field of Dreams Game

Lush cornfields and a picture-perfect sunset. The first-ever MLB game played at the "Field of Dreams" put not only agriculture on center stage but all of Iowa, as social media was buzzing. And agriculture played a part.

USDA's August Reports Came With Questionable Cuts to Demand, Analysts Say
USDA's August Reports Came With Questionable Cuts to Demand, Analysts Say

USDA's August Crop Production and World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) produced a few surprises, both when it came to possible crop supplies and adjustments to demand. 

USDA Slashes Corn Yield in August Report, Projects Corn to Miss Trendline Yield
USDA Slashes Corn Yield in August Report, Projects Corn to Miss Trendline Yield

USDA’s August crop production report produced a few surprises, including a 5 bu./a cut to the national corn yield. The report sent corn futures up nearly 20 cents immediately after the report was published.

Iconic Cornfield Comes to Life for First-Ever 'Field of Dreams' MLB Game
Iconic Cornfield Comes to Life for First-Ever 'Field of Dreams' MLB Game

The iconic "Field of Dreams" cornfields will come to life in Iowa on Thursday, Aug. 12, as two MLB teams prepare to face off at the first-time event. NCGA is an official sponsor of the game.

Supply vs. Demand: Here's What You Need to Know Ahead of USDA's August Crop Reports
Supply vs. Demand: Here's What You Need to Know Ahead of USDA's August Crop Reports

Ahead of USDA's August supply and demand reports, analysts expect little change to yield, but what about demand? Jarod Creed and Mike North provide their expectations leading into Thursday's reports.

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52% of New Spending in Senate Infrastructure Bill Funds Transportation, Passage Expected to Hit Major Roadblock in the House

The Senate passed a $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill Tuesday, and transportation could receive more than half the new funding slated in the bill, but the plan is expected to hit a major roadblock in the House.

Iowa Farmers Continue to Repair Devastation One Year After Derecho Ravaged Farms and Fields
Iowa Farmers Continue to Repair Devastation One Year After Derecho Ravaged Farms and Fields

From corn fields flattened to grain bins ripped to shreds, the scene was stark after the derecho ravaged the heartland on August 10, 2020. One year later, crop potential is promising, but rebuilding is still underway.

 Drought and Grasshoppers Ravage Fields in Northwest, Some Producers Bale 10% of Normal Hay Crop
Drought and Grasshoppers Ravage Fields in Northwest, Some Producers Bale 10% of Normal Hay Crop

The drought in the West is producing many firsts, as farmers and ranchers grapple with dire decisions including pulling their cattle off federal lands early. Now many worry they won't source enough feed for winter.

To Hit Trendline Yield, U.S. Corn Would Need to Break All-Time Record by 3 Bu. Per Acre
To Hit Trendline Yield, U.S. Corn Would Need to Break All-Time Record by 3 Bu. Per Acre

USDA is preparing to release its next Crop Production and WASDE reports on Thursday, August 12. Ahead of the release, debate is heating up on whether the U.S. can achieve a trendline yield in corn this year.

Ethanol Ditched as Biden Unveils Plan to Phase Out Gas Cars, Says 'There's No Turning Back'
Ethanol Ditched as Biden Unveils Plan to Phase Out Gas Cars, Says 'There's No Turning Back'

Biden signed an executive order to create a zero-emissions auto fleet by boosting the sale of electric vehicles. The plan also updated emissions standards for light cars and trucks but made no mention of ethanol.

Rural Vaccination Rates on the Rise in 19 States as COVID-19 Testing, Cases See Uptick
Rural Vaccination Rates on the Rise in 19 States as COVID-19 Testing, Cases See Uptick

COVID-19 testing and cases are on the rise as the push to get America vaccinated continues. New data shows rural vaccination rates are up in 19 states, while questions remain about the new Delta variant.

Here's Why USDA's Weekly Crop Condition Ratings Aren't an Accurate Gauge of Yields
Here's Why USDA's Weekly Crop Condition Ratings Aren't an Accurate Gauge of Yields

During August, markets watchers will debate the possibilities of national yields. USDA's gauge of crop conditions are posted every week, Pro Farmer says the condition ratings aren't the best indication of yield. 

August Provides Brief Break from Heat, Meteorologist Says Much of U.S. Should Brace for Mild Fall
August Provides Brief Break from Heat, Meteorologist Says Much of U.S. Should Brace for Mild Fall

July proved to be a scorcher in the West, but the weather story flipped to start August, with much of the eastern half of the country enjoying cooler and dryer air during the first few days of the month.

Unspoken Truth About Pests: This Pest Can Cost You 15% to 50% in Yield Loss
Unspoken Truth About Pests: This Pest Can Cost You 15% to 50% in Yield Loss

As Arkansas farmers work to battle an outbreak of fall armyworms, entomologists say the pest is proving to be devastating in later planted crops. And as farmers see increased pest pressure, the costs are adding up.

Farm Journal Corn and Soybean College Focuses On Farming in the Environmental Triangle
Farm Journal Corn and Soybean College Focuses On Farming in the Environmental Triangle

The 2021 Farm Journal Corn and Soybean College kicks off this week and will take a deep dive into everything from cover crops and nutrient management and regulation, to create an environment for high-yield soybeans.

EPA Announces Plans to Revert Back to Pre-Obama WOTUS Rule, Public Input Meetings Set for August
EPA Announces Plans to Revert Back to Pre-Obama WOTUS Rule, Public Input Meetings Set for August

EPA announced it's creating a durable definition of WOTUS by reverting back to the pre-Obama era rule as a framework. EPA is encouraging farmers and ranchers to weigh in during a series of public meetings in August.

As Southern Farmers Fight Fall Armyworm Damage, EPA Grants Insecticide Relief in Rice
As Southern Farmers Fight Fall Armyworm Damage, EPA Grants Insecticide Relief in Rice

Southern farmers are battling an infestation of fall armyworms. From hay fields to soybeans and rice, armyworms are causing severe damage. And now, Arkansas farmers have one more option to control the pest in rice.

$1 Trillion Infrastructure Bill Clears Senate Hurdle, Includes Biggest Bridge Funding Since Eisenhower Era
$1 Trillion Infrastructure Bill Clears Senate Hurdle, Includes Biggest Bridge Funding Since Eisenhower Era

The Senate cleared a key procedural vote on a bipartisan infrastructure deal Wednesday, which could set Biden’s infrastructure focus into action. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg called it “a very big moment."

From Drought and Derecho Damage, to Losses from Record Cold Temps, $8.5B Disaster Aid Bill Passes House Ag Committee
From Drought and Derecho Damage, to Losses from Record Cold Temps, $8.5B Disaster Aid Bill Passes House Ag Committee

New WHIP+ legislation made its way out of the House Agriculture Committee Tuesday. The $8.5B bill expands not only the type of weather events and resulted losses covered, but also the level of drought needed to qualify.

Unspoken Truth About Pests: Emerging Pest Pressure That Could Come to a Field Near You
Unspoken Truth About Pests: Emerging Pest Pressure That Could Come to a Field Near You

Emerging pest pressures can create problems for farmers every year. And as certain pest pressures build, Farm Journal Associate Agronomist Missy Bauer says the issues are often geography based.

Sunset over Iowa soybean field.
As Conditions Slip, Here's Why Soybeans May Still Have a Bullish Story

July rains calmed some concern about the corn crop this year, but between crop conditions, weather issues and other factors stirring in the markets, analysts say soybeans may still have a bullish story this summer.

Are Iowa, Illinois and Indiana Farmers Sitting on a Record Corn Crop This Year?
Are Iowa, Illinois and Indiana Farmers Sitting on a Record Corn Crop This Year?

Even with the heat in the forecast, rains have helped remove the panic from the corn and soybean markets the past month. And as July enters its final weeks, the corn “weather market” may be behind the U.S.

Smoke Cover Protecting Some North Dakota Crops, Others Too Fried
Smoke Cover Protecting Some North Dakota Crops, Others Too Fried

As smoke covers much of the Midwest, it's providing a layer of protection from high heat in areas like eastern North Dakota. One agronomist says some of the crops in the central and western parts are already fried.

Just as Technology Transformed Agriculture, Harvesting Data Could Reveal Details Down to the Row
Just as Technology Transformed Agriculture, Harvesting Data Could Reveal Details Down to the Row

Despite precision agriculture getting its start decades ago, the majority farmers aren’t fully using their farm data today. Just as technology has transformed agriculture, harvesting data could do the same.

Grasshoppers Swarm Wheat Fields, A Phenomenon One Grower Hasn't Seen Since the 1980s
Grasshoppers Swarm Wheat Fields, A Phenomenon One Grower Hasn't Seen Since the 1980s

With drought causing spring wheat to shrivel, the heat next week will be lethal for that portion of the crop barely hanging on. Now, grasshoppers are preying on battered fields, possibly shrinking the crop to zero.

Unspoken Truth About Pests: Weather's Influential Role in Pest Pressure This Year
Unspoken Truth About Pests: Weather's Influential Role in Pest Pressure This Year

From too much rain to not enough, to the intensity and direction of the wind, weather plays a vital role in the the amount of pests farmers see from year to year. Agronomists and entomologists debunk myths with facts.

Union Pacific Shipping Snafu Amplifies Supply Chain Delays, Ocean Shipping Costs Jumps 333%
Union Pacific Shipping Snafu Amplifies Supply Chain Delays, Ocean Shipping Costs Jumps 333%

The shipping snafus are gaining steam, as congestion along one major rail system now causing shippers to halt the hauling of ocean shipping containers from the West Cost. That's as ocean freight costs jumped 333%.

One-Fifth of President's Recent Executive Order Impacts Agriculture, Draws Mixed Reaction from Farm Groups
One-Fifth of President's Recent Executive Order Impacts Agriculture, Draws Mixed Reaction from Farm Groups

After President Biden signed a sweeping Executive Order late last week, NCBA and other livestock groups praised the President's focus on meat, poultry. However, not every ag group is on board with the President's plan.

USDA Office Building
Wheat Production Worries Headline July WASDE Report, Carries Corn Prices Higher

Less than two weeks after USDA issued an updated June Acreage Report, which revealed fewer planted acres than expected, USDA says it still expects larger corn supplies and an uptick in ending stocks.

Biden Signs Executive Order to Tackle Competition Issues; Here's How it Impacts Agriculture
Biden Signs Executive Order to Tackle Competition Issues; Here's How it Impacts Agriculture

President Biden is tackling anti-competitive issues in the U.S. with a new Executive Order. Signed Friday at the White House, the order could have a sweeping impact on agriculture.

Trouble Brewing for Beer Crop as Barley Conditions Hit Lowest Level on Record
Trouble Brewing for Beer Crop as Barley Conditions Hit Lowest Level on Record

USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says unfavorable weather means everything from barley to spring and durum wheat are getting scorched this year. Crop condition ratings continue to tumble as dryness and heat persist.

Vilsack to Make Major Announcement in Nebraska, Speculation it Covers Anti-Competitive Practices in Agriculture
Vilsack to Make Major Announcement in Nebraska, Speculation it Covers Anti-Competitive Practices in Agriculture

USDA Sec. Tom Vilsack is scheduled to travel to Nebraska Friday for what the agency is calling a "major announcement." It could include details of the Biden Administration's plan to create more competition within ag.

AEM, John Deere Respond to Biden's Planned Executive Order Over Right to Repair Equipment
AEM, John Deere Respond to Biden's Planned Executive Order Over Right to Repair Equipment

After more than a decade of legislative proposals, the Biden Administration is preparing plans to allow equipment owners to have the right to repair their own equipment. AEM and John Deere responded to the planned order.

Soybean Prices Tank Tuesday, Corn Down Daily Limit on Wetter Weather Forecasts
Soybean Prices Tank Tuesday, Corn Down Daily Limit on Wetter Weather Forecasts

Wet weather forecasts across the Midwest caused commodity prices to tank Tuesday, with soybean oil and corn hitting the daily limits lower. Much of the Midwest is forecast to receive rain at key pollination time.

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Farmers' Financial Outlook Optimism Sees Dramatic Drop in June Ag Economy Barometer

U.S. farmers' optimism about current and future conditions are seeing a sharp decline to start the summer, as a monthly gauge of producer sentiments hit the lowest reading since July 2020. 

Forecasting July Rains, Meteorologists See Continued Contrast in the Corn Belt
Forecasting July Rains, Meteorologists See Continued Contrast in the Corn Belt

As June closed on a wetter note for portions of the Midwest, three agricultural meteorologists forecast July, indicating continued rains for the corn crop in some areas, but drastic drought areas growing even drier.

Acreage Report Preview: Farmers Weigh In On How Planting Plans Changed From March to June
Acreage Report Preview: Farmers Weigh In On How Planting Plans Changed From March to June

As USDA prepares to post its June 30 planted acreage report, the trade expects U.S. acres to increase. Farmers from Michigan to Mississippi weigh in on how much their planting plans did or didn't change since March.

 Midwestern Drought Conditions Peak as Corn Belt Deals with Moisture Extremes
Midwestern Drought Conditions Peak as Corn Belt Deals with Moisture Extremes

Rains continue to fall across portions of the Midwest this week, a sign one ag meteorologist says could mean Midwestern drought conditions have peaked. However, the news isn't as promising for the northern Corn Belt.

'We've Struck a Deal': Biden Announces Agreement on Bipartisan Infrastructure Spending Plan
'We've Struck a Deal': Biden Announces Agreement on Bipartisan Infrastructure Spending Plan

After months of negotiations, President Biden and announced Thursday a deal was reached on an infrastructure spending plan. The news came after a meeting with a bipartisan group of senators Thursday.

Iowa Farm Fields Hit with Hail, Seed Dealer Says Farmers Dealing with Damage in 30-Mile Stretch
Iowa Farm Fields Hit with Hail, Seed Dealer Says Farmers Dealing with Damage in 30-Mile Stretch

Areas of the Corn Belt in need of moisture are finally seeing rain this week, but it came with severe crop damage to portions of Iowa after hail wiped out some farm fields this week.

Crop Conditions Deteriorate, USDA Corn Ratings Drop Across 'I States'
Crop Conditions Deteriorate, USDA Corn Ratings Drop Across 'I States'

USDA's weekly Crop Progress report released Monday shows the corn crop condition ratings fell nationwide, down to 65% good to excellent. That compares to the 68% rated posted last week.

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DOJ Defends USDA’s Decision to Forgive Debt for Black and Other Socially Disadvantaged Farmers

The Department of Justice filed court documents Friday in defense of USDA’s plan to forgive debt for socially disadvantaged farmers. The filing is in response to a Judge's recent ruling to halt the payments.

Talking Technology: Ferrie Says This Investment Can Yield Up to $100/Acre Profits
Talking Technology: Ferrie Says This Investment Can Yield Up to $100/Acre Profits

As higher commodity prices could entice more farmers to make technology investments, Ken Ferrie expects the use of variable rate technology to grow over the next five to 10 years.