Latest News From Retail Industry

The livestock industry needs a comprehensive, cohesive plan to address the virus. Producers, their employees and veterinarians need clear answers and support from U.S. agricultural leadership, moving forward.

USDA is now ordering all dairy cattle must be tested prior to interstate travel as a way to help stop the spread of HPAI H5N1. This comes a day after FDA confirmed virus genetic material was found in retail milk samples.

A recent Farm Journal Farm Country Update webinar took a deep dive into the data behind farmer’s technology adoption motivations and how ag marketers can reach early ag tech adopters.

David Muth of Peoples Company Capital Markets, the Investment platform for Peoples Company, shares how institutional investors have reacted to higher interest rates on their land investments pursuits.

Dr. Vince Malanga shares insights on the U.S. economic outlook, and what areas demand the most attention.

Mental health support services are hard to find in rural areas. Did you know 90 million people live in designated Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas? To further complicate matters, stress among farmers is growing.

The pork community is in the crosshairs right now for the animal rights extremist community. Here's what you need to know.

Federal officials say a dry depression on Dan Ward’s Iowa land, 100 miles from a navigable river, is “waters of the United States.”

“When we can figure something out, come up with a solution, and then see it works with real yield data to show our decision made us money and we fixed an issue—that’s when it’s fun," says Jeff Kloucek.

Corn planting is now 2% ahead of the five year national average, while soybeans are currently 4% ahead, according to the April 22, 2024, USDA Crop Progress report.

USDA said this week cow-to-cow transmission is a factor in the spread of avian flu in dairy herds, but it still does not know exactly how the virus is being moved around.

Residue might hamper uptake, surface cover slows soil warming and most cover crops raise the carbon penalty. Farm Journal Field Agronomist Ken Ferrie shares timing and placement tips for phosphorus, sulfur and nitrogen.

When soil is healthy, it produces more food and nutrition. It also stores more carbon, and the biodiversity is increased. 

The vice president of strategy role is in charge of identifying and refining corporate strategy as well as cross-selling within the company. 

The ARA Fly-In paves a path for productive, educational conversations between the ag retail industry and the decision-makers in Congress to occur far beyond the discussions that happened on Capitol Hill.

Kyle Meece, agronomy manager at United Prairie, talks about how he is working to be two to three years ahead of other retailers.

There's now a 60% chance La Niña will develop between June and August and an 85% chance it's in effect by November 2024 to January 2025, according to NOAA.

To bring new ways to connect its agronomy insights with customers, Growmark and 29 of its member FS companies are launching the myFS Agronomy app in conjunction with Intelinair.

John Deere is seeking its first ever Chief Tractor Officer with a little help from a new friend - 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy.

Unsure about soil conditions at planting? Smart Firmers can help with that.

More than 20 farm groups support the new Federal Agriculture Risk Management Enhancement and Resilience Act. The bill does not require choosing between enhanced crop insurance coverage and commodity support programs.

Get crops off to a good start with these weed control tips

At farm bill listening session in South Dakota members of the Senate Ag Committee expressed optimism about getting a farm bill done yet in 2024 and putting more farm in the farm bill. 

Marc and Meagan Kaiser are building their future — finding a way to be part of their families' corn and soybean operation and soil testing lab while starting a precision ag business and being active in farm groups.

It’s not sharks, wolves, or bears that kill the most people—it’s wild pigs, and the numbers are trending up.

Unrelenting inflation continues to weigh down the U.S. economy and agriculture. Still, CoBank says it believes the Fed will stick with its decision to cut interest rates three times in 2024.

USDA reports 3% of the country's soybean crop is in the ground, the same as this time last year but two points ahead of the average pace. In all 10 states are reporting progress, and planting is ahead of average.

Paul Bonnett joined Nutrien Ag Solutions in 2019 as senior director of agronomic solutions. He leads the company’s agronomy and environmental sciences efforts across North America and also manages Waypoint Analytical.

In early April, the companies confirmed they have discontinued discussions of potential synergies and opportunities. 

It's a tale of two extremes this year. Some farmers report they can't find soil moisture to plant into, while others are struggling just to get into their fields. Agronomist Ken Ferrie weighs in on both scenarios.

The U.S. Drought Monitor shows drought coverage is now at its lowest level since spring of 2020, but USDA's topsoil moisture map shows it's still extremely dry in areas of the west and too wet in the east.

Shipping may have been easier back in the days of Columbus

Two consecutive years of drought has been devastating for farmers in West Texas, and with forecasts of a transition to La Niña, economists and cotton leaders say it will force even more cotton farmers to call it quits.

This week's Machinery News covers U.S. and Canadian tractor and combine sales figures for March 2024, Jorge Heraud's new role at Rootwave, and John Deere's upcoming appearance in Washington D.C.

Lance Honig, acting director of the NASS methodology division, says budget constraints led to the agency's decision. The County Estimates data was used over the years, in part, to determine federal farm program payments.

South Dakota Dairy Producers encourages all dairy producers to closely monitor their herd and contact their herd veterinarian immediately if cattle appear symptomatic.

USDA's April WASDE report showed larger wheat and soybean ending stocks, but smaller ending stocks for corn. More surprising, still, was the lack of changes to South America's crop estimates.

"I have long believed growers need more effective and reliable environmentally sustainable crop protection alternatives and Invaio is well placed to deliver really groundbreaking novel solutions for growers," said O'Shea

After a 30-year career, her advice to someone just getting started is to be an effective communicator, which includes developing listening skills, and invite people to the table to take in different perspectives.

Tom Snipes, former CEO of Plant Response, has been named the new leader of Custom Agronomics.

What’s the key to growing big yields? According to the reigning national corn yield contest champ, David Hula, you can’t have 300-bushel-per-acre yields if you don’t start with 300-bushel-per-acre stands.

A handful of planter manufacturer reps share several tips and lookouts to ensure the planter is working properly this spring.

Government officials claim power over entrance, searches, and surveillance on private land with no restrictions.

The second USDA Crop Progress Report of the year shows farmers are already ahead in planting the 2024 crop with six states pacing ahead of the five-year average.

The first look at a new farm bill could happen as early as next week. It’s long overdue after nothing was released out of Committee in 2023. Now, there’s growing doubt a farm bill will even be passed in 2024.

Kay Russo, DVM, Novonesis technical services manager for dairy and poultry, emphasized the situation is rapidly evolving and more clarity will come with time as researchers learn more.

While the expectation is for cotton acres to increase in the June acreage report, another key question is if cotton demand can continue to find footing and support higher prices.

Once a niche tool used by agronomists and consultants, farmers are starting to take notice of drones and consider the technology more often. Here's the latest on swarms, service providers and security concerns.

The Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor is a gauge of economists’ views on the ag economy. While outlooks have grown weaker, it’s the erosion in the future outlook that is sprouting fresh concerns.

The agreement took effect on April 1 and will make Acadian and Acadian Organic products available to retail customers throughout 14 U.S. states.