Latest News From Retail Industry

According to Columbia University, 90% of the world’s mined phosphate is used as fertilizer in ag. Morocco supplies 34% of the world’s traded phosphate rock, but this dynamic could change with Norge Mining’s discovery.

Markets now expect that the Fed will raise rates at least “one more time” following this meeting by 25 basis points.

In eastern Kansas and Missouri, harvest is happening at a historic pace, but western Kansas is overcome by so much rain that winter wheat fields are now overgrown by weeds making those fields unharvestable.

Osage, Iowa was able to raise enough money, without raising taxes, to build the Cedar River Complex, which features an indoor pool, fitness center, walking track, basketball courts, 600 seat theatre, museum and more.

Precision Mazes is able to turn a blank space into a crop art masterpiece with meticulous detail. Their latest project transitioned a harvested wheat field in Missouri into a larger than life welcome to Taylor Swift.

The next opportunity for USDA to adjust its corn yield forecast is next week during the July WASDE report. Currently, USDA has penciled in a 181.5 bu. per acre national yield, but analysts think it may be too optimistic.

Erik Lichtenberg, University of Maryland professor, says Congress could reorient farm bill conservation funds for climate change, but it could cut into their support.

A new report examines a future without glyphosate, showing if the herbicide was no longer available for farmers, the immediate impact would be costly to the economy, farmers and the environment.

Andy Griffith actually grew up in Mt. Airy, North Carolina, but many people refer to it as Mayberry. Today, visiting the North Carolina town is like stepping onto the TV set decades ago.

The National Drought Mitigation Center estimates 67% of corn and 60% of soybeans are still considered to be in drought, a slight improvement from last week when drought covered 70% of corn and 63% of soybeans.

Paul Schadegg, with Farmers National Company, shares his perspective on agricultural real estate demand, the impact of interest rates on the market and the outlook for land values later this year.

The European Commission proposed revising its rules on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) on Wednesday to loosen some restrictions for plants resulting from newer gene-editing technology.

Potassium tops the list as the most deficient nutrient in corn, cotton and soybeans, while boron is the nutrient to watch in wheat.

Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) President & CEO Daren Coppock released the following statement applauding the introduction of Senator Tammy Baldwin's Reliable Rail Service Act.

Farmers across the Texas High Plains received a deluge of rainfall right at planting, and while the moisture was needed, the sudden switch prevented some farmers from planting their intended cotton acres this year.

USDA released a few big surprises in the June acreage report, including a spike in corn acres and a large reduction in soybean acres. The agency also forecasts grain stocks below trade expectations.

Hurricane-force winds swept from northern Missouri and Iowa all the way east to Illinois and Indiana. The derecho brought wind gusts up to 100 mph, flattening cornfields, but it also drenched soils with crucial rains.

Even with rains sweeping the Northern Corn Belt last weekend, the latest drought monitor shows drought continues to spread across Illinois with D2 (Severe Drought) taking a 28-point jump in a week.

A California man has shown that ghost cattle are unnecessary to create a Ponzi scheme, just ghost manure. Or, at least, ghost manure digesters.

While Sen. McConnell says the budget has little give, Sen. Boozeman has consistently said he will not support a farm bill that doesn't provide an increase in the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program's reference prices.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office, a California man has been sentenced to more than six years in prison due to his involvement in a nearly $9 million cow manure Ponzi scheme.

The Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor is a new survey of nearly 50 economists. Most ag economists agree the next 12 months could produce more financial pressure for agriculture, but their views vary depending on commodity.

Can skip row corn add bushels to the bin? James Hitchcock wants the answers from one trusted source—his own fields.

The USDA recently reviewed soybean, tomato, and potato plants modified using genetic engineering to determine whether they presented an increased plant pest risk compared to similar cultivated plants.

Bayer Crop Science has unveiled a novel approach to the discovery and development of crop protection solutions, called CropKey. Company officials say it is helping them bring new products to the marketplace faster.

Despite weekend rains sweeping the northern Corn Belt, corn and soybean conditions sit at the second-lowest level in history. Sizable declines hit key areas of the Corn Belt as corn enters a critical time for production.

Thomas Villegas says the administrative state operates a fixed game. His lawsuit contends private landowners are accused, judged, and sentenced by the same set of unelected government employees.

Valent BioSciences LLC formally dedicated a new prairie park and solar field adjacent to its manufacturing facility in Osage, Iowa, on June 24.

“Food inflation has definitely started to slow down, and this is good news for consumers. However, it still won’t be cheaper to celebrate the Fourth of July,” says Dr. Michael Swanson, Wells Fargo Agricultural Economist

“ARA strongly supports Senator Peters’ legislation to reauthorize the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards program for an additional 5 years," says Daren Coppock

Corn prices sunk as forecasts turned more optimistic for the weekend rains in the northern Corn Belt. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says the rains aren't enough to change the potential production problems in Illinois.

ARA joined a coalition effort to file a petition challenging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) waiver that allows California to establish a rule mandating electric or zero emission heavy duty trucks.

“AgLaunch365 is like no other accelerator experience because early in the process we bring in farmers to help review, select, trial and invest in new technologies that offer real solutions,” said Margaret Oldham.

The Committee on Ag is looking to solve workforce issues with the formation of the Ag Labor Working Group. "Reforms are desperately needed to address this pressing issue," said Co-Chair Rick Crawford (R-Ar.).

Drought is deepening across the Midwest with 64% of the corn crop and 57% of the soybean crop across the U.S. now covered in drought, a sizable jump in just a week after NASS showed a historic drop in condition ratings.

Farmers in Iowa are trying to stay optimistic but say the next two weeks are critical for getting some rain or they'll be seeing significant yield loss.

The USDA and NASA are doubling down on agency collaborations that will improve agricultural research and data application, along with fostering the next generation of science and agriculture leaders.

California has modified the implementation date for Proposition 12 compliance from July 1 to Dec. 31, in an attempt to achieve a smoother transition for the entire pork value chain, including foreign trading partners. 

Three California-based cultivated meat companies have received approval from USDA to begin producing and marketing lab-grown chicken.

Under the bill, the USDA and the FDA would become members of CFIUS and their powers would be expanded to better consider ag needs when it decides if a purchase would create national security risks.

EPA released biofuel blending obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard on Tuesday. While EPA says the decision will reduce reliance on oil imports, some biofuel industry leaders do not approve.

Celebrating freedom with a barbecue event will be costlier this year, a new economic analysis from Rabobank reveals.

Illinois crop ratings have dropped like a rock with only 33% of soybeans and 36% of corn rated good to excellent in this week's USDA crop progress report.

An intrepid Kansas mother and her Johnny-on-the-spot son found one of the most stunning Indian artifacts of recent history. Welcome to the impossible tale of the Oehm Blade.

According to USDA, Russian-speaking hackers are the likely suspects. The Office of Personnel Management and two organizations within the Department of Energy also were apparently targeted or breached.

With all the talk about artificial intelligence, there's a new debate: is AI actually real or just a combination of Siri and other search databases? John Phipps addresses a U.S. Farm Report viewer's skepticism.

The committee will meet on Thursday to officially set the toplines for each of the 12 appropriations bills. If all 12 bills aren't passed by year-end, automatic across-the-board cuts would kick in to push talks along.

The U.S. and China have reportedly made “progress” and agreed to stabilize their relationship, but no major breakthroughs were outlined during the two-day meeting between U.S. and China high-ranking officials.

The updated drought monitor indicates dryness will continue to expand across eastern Missouri, eastern Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

CRISPR results are identical to results of conventional breeding, and it's nearly impossible to differentiate from conventional vs CRISPR. The breeding tool is also having an impact on the apprehension of GMOs.