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Destination Morocco: With Expanding U.S. Soybean Processing Industry it's a Growth Market for Meal
Destination Morocco: With Expanding U.S. Soybean Processing Industry it's a Growth Market for Meal

With the expansion of the U.S. soybean processing industry due to the push for green fuels farmers are looking for a new home for the extra meal...and they're finding it in Morocco.

Grassley
Crop Insurance, Production Costs, ERP Among Key Topics at Senate Ag Farm Bill Hearing

A Senate Ag Committee hearing Thursday on the new farm bill raised a issue that is now evident: the Title 1 farm bill safety net can no longer deal with the current ag environment.

A cotton boll from Red Land Cotton.
New Cotton Trait A ‘Game Changer’ For Tarnished Plant Bug, Thrip Control

The first-of-its-kind biotech trait is commercially available to farmers as Bollgard 3 ThryvOn cotton with XtendFlex Technology – just in time for the 2023 production season. 

What's to Come For Ag Retail: Put The Future Into Focus
What's to Come For Ag Retail: Put The Future Into Focus

Ag retail has been cemented in supplying farmers with solutions to needs. But remaining stubbornly rooted in yesterday’s success poses risk to today’s infrastructure crumbling to serve the farmer of the future. 

4 Macro Factors Impacting the Agricultural Economy
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.

Producers Eliminate Fungicide and Insecticide Use, Cut Fertilizer 50%
Producers Eliminate Fungicide and Insecticide Use, Cut Fertilizer 50%

To combat volatile weather, mitigate rising input costs and meet agronomic goals, producers are making choices geared toward soil health. Here are insights and tips from three of those producers.

Treat Sulfur Like a Macronutrient in Corn to Boost Yields
Treat Sulfur Like a Macronutrient in Corn to Boost Yields

With organic matter above 3.5%, do you need to worry about applying sulfur? Ken Ferrie, Farm Journal field agronomist, is seeing financially positive responses. He shares several sulfur options to consider.

Mexico Says U.S. GMO Corn Will be Imported if it Passes a Test
Mexico Says U.S. GMO Corn Will be Imported if it Passes a Test

Mexico's new decree will indicate that if U.S. GMO corn passes the sanitary filters of the Federal Commission for Protection against Sanitary Risks (Cofepris), it will have no problem entering Mexico.

The Cost of a Farm Bill: 2023 Row Crop Priorities
The Cost of a Farm Bill: 2023 Row Crop Priorities

The 2018 farm bill was stamped with a $428 billon price tag when passed. With the bill set to expire on Sept. 30, here’s a breakdown of the topics ag groups look to push on the negotiating table.

Premium Diesel
Diesel Prices Up 78¢ from January 2022

The price surge comes as Europe announced a ban on Russian diesel fuel and G7 countries vowed to price-cap Russian oil products.

House Reps Push for Seed Tech and Autonomy in 2024 Budget
House Reps Push for Seed Tech and Autonomy in 2024 Budget

In hopes of solidifying American ag’s competitive role in global markets, 27 House members signed a letter to the White House, stressing the importance of ag research investments in the 2024 budget.

Three Actions For Strategic Planning In 2023
Three Actions For Strategic Planning In 2023

Going forward, strategic planning should focus on three tangible activities

Are You Still Using Outdated SWOT Analysis?
Are You Still Using Outdated SWOT Analysis?

I’ve reformulated Porter’s list and labeled the forces as “pressures.” Along with these pressures that most businesses face, there are trends to consider.

Biden Officials Pressed on Mexico Corn Trade Issue at Farm Bill Hearing
Biden Officials Pressed on Mexico Corn Trade Issue at Farm Bill Hearing

“With 90% of corn acreage in the U.S. being planted to biotech seeds and Mexico being the number one purchaser of U.S. corn, I'm concerned this decree is not being met with urgency it deserves,” said Sen. Grassley.

USDA Withholds the Names of Farm Subsidy Payment Recipients
USDA Withholds the Names of Farm Subsidy Payment Recipients

“It’s a mystery as to why the USDA began to hide the names of many recipients,” said Scott Faber, senior vice president for government affairs for the Environmental Working Group.

Corn Seedling Diseases Don't Seem Dramatic, But The Yield Losses they Cause Sure Are
Corn Seedling Diseases Don't Seem Dramatic, But The Yield Losses they Cause Sure Are

Problems like tar spot get tons of attention because of the highly visible yield loss they cause in-season. Seedling diseases can pack the same punch. Some experts claim Pythium is the No. 1 disease issue in corn.

Vilsack Focuses on Farm Bill Possibilities with National Sustainable Ag Coalition
Vilsack Focuses on Farm Bill Possibilities with National Sustainable Ag Coalition

Vilsack said USDA believes there are more options for farmers other than “get big or get out. There’s got to be a system in which the many and most have a fair shot.”

100% Digital Contracts Saves Co-Op a Whole Position
100% Digital Contracts Saves Co-Op a Whole Position

Brice Bonin is Sales/E-Business Support Administrator at Nu-Way K&H Cooperative. She details what their team has learned with two years of hosting a digital portal for their agronomy and energy business.

DOE Cuts $118 Million Check to Biofuels Projects
DOE Cuts $118 Million Check to Biofuels Projects

“The funds awarded today by the DOE will undoubtedly accelerate the innovations taking place at U.S. ethanol plants, opening new opportunities for low-cost, low-carbon energy,” says Growth Energy's Emily Skor.

SHIP IT Act Could Save Truck Drivers Up to $10,000 and Cover CDL Costs
SHIP IT Act Could Save Truck Drivers Up to $10,000 and Cover CDL Costs

Reps. Dusty Johnson and Jim Costa on Tuesday introduced the Safer Highways and Increased Performance for Interstate Trucking (SHIP IT) Act to expand the trucking workforce and offer flexibility in times of need.

Co-Alliance Says Its Big Year Pays Back to Farmers, Its Business
Co-Alliance Says Its Big Year Pays Back to Farmers, Its Business

CEO Kevin Still says this is an unprecedented cash return, and its shows two things: the business had a great year in 2022, and also he’s working to focus on the future of the co-op.

Speaker McCarthy Selects Unruly House Rules Panel
Speaker McCarthy Selects Unruly House Rules Panel

For example, Rep. Ralph Norman in the past unsuccessfully pushed crop insurance amendments that would have cut premium incentives/subsidies by 15% for producers with specified adjusted gross incomes.

Debt Limit Debate: $1 Trillion Coin Not Off the Table
Debt Limit Debate: $1 Trillion Coin Not Off the Table

Some legislative officials have discussed the possibility that the Treasury could use an obscure law authorizing platinum coins to circumvent Congress if lawmakers don't raise the debt ceiling.

No, Wyoming Isn't Looking to Ban Electric Vehicles...Yet
No, Wyoming Isn't Looking to Ban Electric Vehicles...Yet

Sen. Anderson introduced a resolution last Friday aimed at phasing out electric vehicle sales in Wyoming by 2035. The resolution was referred to the state's minerals committee, who tabled it until 2024.

Ag Groups File Lawsuit to Challenge EPA's "Vague" New WOTUS Definition
Ag Groups File Lawsuit to Challenge EPA's "Vague" New WOTUS Definition

Farm Bureau's Duvall says the rule puts farmers and ranchers in a position where they will have to hire lawyers and consultants to establish the boundaries of farming.

corn-stover-snow-2013
Break Free from the Winter Blues: 2 Steps to Keep Seasonal Depression at Bay

It doesn’t matter if it’s spring, summer, winter or fall, weather is always on producers’ minds. While slower seasons can offer relief, winter can drain emotional batteries. Here are two steps to help find relief.

Retailer of the Year: Delivering “Trust-Driven Service”
Retailer of the Year: Delivering “Trust-Driven Service”

Investing in customer service has built the business for Marion Ag Service. 

Outstanding In Their Field: Marion Ag Service
Outstanding In Their Field: Marion Ag Service

This year's Retailer of the Year, Marion Ag Service Inc., has adopted four core values, which resonate in all corners of the business.

Four Ag Topics Discussed in Mexico City During USMCA Meetings
Four Ag Topics Discussed in Mexico City During USMCA Meetings

Mexican President López Obrador hosted President Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau this week to discuss everything from methane reduction to the U.S./Mexico border wall.

How Do You Add Value to Commodity Crops? Build a Niche Market, Proves Idaho Operation
How Do You Add Value to Commodity Crops? Build a Niche Market, Proves Idaho Operation

Idaho operation builds niche business to complement core crops.

The Scoop Podcast: Inside The Business Of Selling Seed
The Scoop Podcast: Inside The Business Of Selling Seed

Clayton Cunningham, Seed Hub manager at Crops 63 for Ceres Solutions, shares the main driver in farmers picking their seed choices.

Vilsack Lists USDA's 4 Policy Objectives for 2023
Vilsack Lists USDA's 4 Policy Objectives for 2023

Farm Bureau hosted Secretary Vilsack at its annual convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where he announced the details of ERP Phase 2 and PARP, U.S.-made fertilizer and new meat and poultry processing facility plans.

Black Sea Shipping Rates Rise as Reinsurers Cut Coverage
Black Sea Shipping Rates Rise as Reinsurers Cut Coverage

Costs for hiring ships to transport commodities from the Black Sea have risen by more than one-fifth since the start of the year, Reuters reported, reflecting higher war risk insurance rates, industry sources said.

Kevin McCarthy Finally Won the House Speaker Gavel, Now What?
Kevin McCarthy Finally Won the House Speaker Gavel, Now What?

After four days and 15 rounds of voting, McCarthy’s wait to become Speaker of the House has ended. During his first year as Speaker, he will need to raise the debt limit and fund the government.

The Ag Analyst’s Briefing: Week of Jan. 9 Watchlist
The Ag Analyst’s Briefing: Week of Jan. 9 Watchlist

The drop in natural gas and fertilizer prices is very noteworthy, while equity markets have begun the year higher.

Have a Goal to Be a Better Leader in 2023? Here are Steps to Take
Have a Goal to Be a Better Leader in 2023? Here are Steps to Take

“You can begin at any point in the year, but the power of this is that by improving yourself first, others follow,” says Mark Faust, president of Echelon Management.

Senate Ag Committee Chairwoman Will Not Run for Office in 2024
Senate Ag Committee Chairwoman Will Not Run for Office in 2024

“For the next two years, I am intensely focused on… leading the passage of the next five-year Farm Bill, which determines our nation’s food and agriculture policies," says Sen. Stabenow.

Policy and Payments: What Producers Can Expect in 2023
Policy and Payments: What Producers Can Expect in 2023

ERP Phase Two is likely to be announced by USDA in coming weeks, according to Jim Wiesemeyer. In a farm bill year, he says there might be more opportunities to capture additional profit.

Ferrie: You Can Reduce Fertilizer and Still Harvest Big Corn Yields, But Some Parameters Apply
Ferrie: You Can Reduce Fertilizer and Still Harvest Big Corn Yields, But Some Parameters Apply

There are ways to pull back on fertilizer effectively -- up to a point. Join Ferrie for the Winter Corn & Soybean College this Thursday, Jan. 5. Get practical answers to your questions during this live event.

EPA Releases New WOTUS Rule, with the Supreme Court Ruling Pending
EPA Releases New WOTUS Rule, with the Supreme Court Ruling Pending

The definition maintains longstanding exemptions for farming activities but trims an exclusion for prior converted cropland that had been in the Trump administration’s Navigable Waters Protection Rule.

4 Ag Policy Issues to Watch in 2023
4 Ag Policy Issues to Watch in 2023

Big moves in Washington in 2023 could impact your farm.

China to Adjust Trade Tariffs Starting Jan. 1
China to Adjust Trade Tariffs Starting Jan. 1

Export tariffs on aluminum and aluminum alloys will be raised. The current import tariff will stay on seven types of coal until March 31, with tariffs adopted for most favored nations from April 1.

What's in it for Ag in the New Spending Bill?
What's in it for Ag in the New Spending Bill?

The House on Friday averted a government shutdown by voting 225 to 201 in favor of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023—the omnibus spending bill. Here's what's in it for ag.

Senate Confirms Alexis Taylor as USDA Trade Under Secretary
Senate Confirms Alexis Taylor as USDA Trade Under Secretary

The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Alexis Taylor for Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs. According to Taylor, her priorities include addressing export markets and food insecurity.

USMCA as a Framework: New Talks Between U.S., Ecuador, Uruguay
USMCA as a Framework: New Talks Between U.S., Ecuador, Uruguay

Government officials asked U.S. Trade Rep. Katherine Tai to capitalize on the success of the USMCA and expand relations in the Western Hemisphere. 

How the $1.7 Trillion Omnibus Spending Package Might Impact Your Operation
How the $1.7 Trillion Omnibus Spending Package Might Impact Your Operation

Text of the $1.7 trillion omnibus spending package was released early Tuesday morning. The Senate will vote first and intends to pass the measure before Thursday, leaving the House no time to demand changes.

Water Resources Bill Reauthorized with a Component that Will Impact Producers
Water Resources Bill Reauthorized with a Component that Will Impact Producers

The Fertilizer Institute applauded the passage of the legislation, which it dubbed an “integral” component of the fertilizer distribution system.

Foreign Land Ownership Debate Renewed As Chinese Agribusiness Allowed to Buy North Dakota Land for Corn Processing Plant
Foreign Land Ownership Debate Renewed As Chinese Agribusiness Allowed to Buy North Dakota Land for Corn Processing Plant

Fufeng USA is purchasing 370 acres in Grand Forks to build a $700 million project. A government review didn't raise enough red flags to block the proposal, which has refueled the debate about foreign land ownership.

 European Union Clinches a Deal on a Carbon Border Tax
European Union Clinches a Deal on a Carbon Border Tax

Members of the bloc agreed on how to create a tool that will force foreign companies to pay for the cost of their carbon emissions.

$100 an Acre Herbicide Costs Won't be Unusual Next Season
$100 an Acre Herbicide Costs Won't be Unusual Next Season

On the low end, expect to invest at least $50 an acre in the Midwest and $85 in the South for products. Some corn and soybean farmers are evaluating adjuvants and management practices that could help trim expenses.