Latest News From Retail Business

Farmward has 11 locations and 1,610 farmer members in southwest and west central Minnesota. New Vision has 19 locations and 2,200 member-owners in southwest Minnesota, northwest Iowa, and eastern South Dakota.

Over the 29 years of free trade, U.S. ag exports to Mexico increased both in terms of volume and value, although there were some years where growth was not positive.

Corn yields can swing 100 bu. to the positive or negative in some hybrids today based on nitrogen use that supports kernel depth. Tune into hybrid characteristics, and avoid “gapping” nitrogen and volatilization.

The cause of the changes is being attributed to three years of more frequent, more costly floods, tornados, and severe weather events.

The Scoop wants to know: What’s your No. 1 Challenge? Answer our poll.

Wednesday's interest rate decision broke a streak of 10 straight meetings where the Fed announced higher rates. Officials say another half-a-percentage-point hike is likely yet this year.

It's not as simple as you might think. House Ag Chair G.T. Thompson shares a rundown of the funding and extension processes. He says the ag committees need to find new dollars to expand the farm bill budget.

It's hard to stay competitive in today's job market. Here are four reasons why employees are in the driver's seat in 2023.

Weather conditions at planting, herbicide damage, insects and poor closure of the furrow are just a handful of the factors that can hinder corn emergence success.

A concentration of smoke over a period of several weeks could contribute to lower temperatures and fewer growing degree units for row crops because of reduced solar radiation.

Senate Ag Chair Debbie Stabenow, (D-Mich.) says there will be no new funding for the 2023 farm bill. However, Stabenow stressed she will not allow a cut in conservation funding.

The latest Ag Economy Barometer shows farmer sentiment has soured as crop prices have tumbled over the past month, but it's not all gloom and doom. Strong working capital can help address the downturn in farm country.

With more than 90% of the corn crop now planted and growing in 12 key states, it's time to look for evidence of Pythium, Fusarium and Rhizoctonia. They're often overlooked because they work underground to steal yield.

“We fundamentally disagree with the position Mexico has taken on the issue of biotechnology, which has been proven to be safe for decades,” said Tom Vilsack, USDA secretary.

Farmers finding dead corn plants in their fields are texting pictures to Ken Ferrie, asking for help. Some of the culprits he's found include wireworm, the carbon penalty, rootless corn syndrome and herbicide carryover.

The U.S. Drought Monitor says 26% of corn acres, 20% of soybean acres and 47% of winter wheat acres are in drought. The wheat crop has little chance of revival, but corn and soybeans have a long runway ahead of them.

China's exports to Russia reached a record high in April, amounting to $9.6 billion.

Court Justice Samuel Alito said the EPA's interpretation of its powers went "too far."

Similarly, Ken Ferrie says to time your post-herbicide application in corn based on weed size and to address cutworm based on the level of damage you find. One pass in the field could work for both, but don't bet on it.

John Kerry, Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, says ag need to be "front and center" as the climate solution.

"Together with our GROW Solutions Center, our technical agronomy expertise and direct ship opportunities, Landus can serve farmers across the greater Midwest," said Matt Carstens, president and CEO of Landus.

Agronomists are reporting high numbers of black cutworm and true armyworm moths in pheromone traps. Their offspring, the larvae, can do serious harm to corn. So can the offspring of four other common moth species.

Michael Swanson says we’ve likely seen the peak for food inflation last summer. What drove the 14% food inflation since the COVID pandemic has been four factors: transportation, labor, shipping and packaging. 

If your corn isn't flying out of the ground, the reason is you likely need more heat units. Ken Ferrie shares the easy formula for your use. Tracking heat units can help you make better agronomic decisions this season.

Lenders In the hearing seemed to agree on a boost to lending limits in USDA guaranteed loans as lawmakers ready for the next farm bill.

Here are the 3 misconceptions that stand in the way of unlocking the path to value.

Soil conditions, temperatures and weather outlook are aligned. "Let the big dogs run, and keep the planters running until you're finished," says Ken Ferrie. "This corn will fly out of the ground."

The change will not impact how farmers work with their current seed salesman in 2023, a Bayer spokesman tells Farm Journal. However, a different go-to-market approach is in the works.

The reason for the shift is rooted in financial improvements, according to James Mintert, professor in the Department of Ag Economics at Purdue.

The Federal Reserve raised interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point and signaled it may pause further increases. In an overt shift, the central bank no longer says it "anticipates" further rates will be needed.

During Thompson's presentation at a crop insurance event, he was passionate about getting a farm bill done, but acknowledged several hurdles that he said could be overcome in a bipartisan approach.  

Farmers in some states can expect BCW damage in corn by mid-May. One larva can ruin five corn plants in a 24-hour period. Rescue treatments are most effective and economical -- not seed treatments or Bt hybrids.

As of May 2022, there were 5,465 satellites orbiting earth, with 3,433 of those under U.S. ownership. NASA and Congress are looking to tap into those U.S. satellites to help producers make more informed crop decisions.

Generally, E15 is banned in summer months, but EPA flipped the script for the first time last year when it lifted the ban to lower pump prices.

The U.S. ethanol industry is lobbying the Biden administration to ensure lower-carbon aviation fuel made from ethanol will qualify for subsidies.

Doug Hensley, President of Hertz Farm Management, says while farmland sales reached highs last year, they recently hit a plateau. Here are three market drivers Hensley encourages producers to consider.

Don't let the rush to plant cause you to be filled with regret and utter these five words at some point: "I wish I had waited." Chilled seed corn struggles to emerge and grow. It can cost you 10% of your stand.

Kentucky is the 27th state to put a wall up against the legislation. EPA countered Kentucky’s move, asking the court to make clear that the latest rule does not apply nationwide.

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.

Growers in California have a new tool to control Powdery Mildew starting this season. Lallemand Plant Care announced today the registration of LALSTOP G46 WG for use against Powdery Mildew.

Here we go again. Some farmers and at least one farm-state lawmaker want to move back to payments based on planted and not base acres.

The Missouri Senate on Wednesday backed a plan to amend the state's foreign land ownership threshold. The bill also includes a provision that would limit foreign countries from acquiring farmland in Missouri by Sept. 1.

Michael Regan, EPA administrator, appeared before the House Ag Committee on Wednesday to discuss everything from WOTUS to the farm bill. Here are the highlights that will directly impact producers.

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.

Ag retail’s footprint in seed sales has grown over the past four years.

Jackie Applegate began her journey in 1992 as the only female chemist at a Bayer manufacturing facility in Kansas City, Mo. Since then, she’s held a variety of global roles.

Begin using this tool every six months, and watch your team gain alignment and focus.  

“As I understand it, this rule says EPA is going to determine jurisdiction on a case-by-case basis,” says NCBA's Ethan Lane. “This is never the way you want a bureaucracy to interact with your private businesses."

As an exercise, Brad Oelmann suggests ag retailers go over their product and service offerings, and ask customers how did they feel about each product or service. Then, ask if and how a purchase brought them value. 

Lower grocery prices highlighted the March Consumer Price Index, but the annual food inflation rate remains well above the all-items index.