Latest News From Retail Industry

Electric Vehicles Face Bumpy Road to the Back 40
Electric Vehicles Face Bumpy Road to the Back 40

Three roadblocks rural America faces on the path to electric machinery adoption.

Meristem Formulates Cotton-specific Revline Hopper Throttle Product
Meristem Formulates Cotton-specific Revline Hopper Throttle Product

Revline Hopper Throttle Cotton's Bio-Capsule are charged with a newly added, crop-specific strain of Terrasym for cotton in conjunction with a powerful consortium of 10 bio-fertility and N-fixing microbes.

Seedbox Solution Creates Pink Seed Box Fundraiser for Cancer Patients
Seedbox Solution Creates Pink Seed Box Fundraiser for Cancer Patients

Seedbox Solution is offering the industry a special edition pink-ringed GEN250 seed box to raise funds for the support of cancer patients in need of financial support.

I-80 Harvest Tour:  Lingering Drought in South Dakota Produces Disappointing Soybean Yields but Surprises in Corn
I-80 Harvest Tour: Lingering Drought in South Dakota Produces Disappointing Soybean Yields but Surprises in Corn

It’s a tale of two crops in South Dakota with corn yields exceeding expectations while soybeans missed those late season rains and have been overall disappointing. 

Arkansas Takes On Foreign-Land Ownership With New Rule
Arkansas Takes On Foreign-Land Ownership With New Rule

“I'm announcing that Syngenta, a Chinese state-owned agrichemical company, must give up its land holdings in Arkansas,” emphasized Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

Titan Machinery Announces Co-Founder David Meyer’s CEO Succession Plan
Titan Machinery Announces Co-Founder David Meyer’s CEO Succession Plan

Titan Machinery—the largest Case IH and New Holland dealer– spans 150 locations on three continents.

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USDA's CRP Payments Reach $1.77 Billion in 2023, Iowa Easily Tops the List of States Receiving the Most Money

USDA has allocated more than $1.77 billion this year to agricultural producers and landowners through CRP. Since 2021, the CRP has witnessed a 21% increase in enrolled acres.

WOTUS: Where Do We Go on the Clean Water Act?
WOTUS: Where Do We Go on the Clean Water Act?

The Supreme Court’s opinion made it clear that the significant nexus test is unlawful. However, the government didn’t provide guidance on how to proceed.

New Price-fixing Suit Aimed at Big 4 Beef Packers
New Price-fixing Suit Aimed at Big 4 Beef Packers

Price-fixing allegations were again levied against America's largest beef packing companies, this time by a group of small distributors.

Harvest Update: Corn and Soybean Progress Ahead of Average
Harvest Update: Corn and Soybean Progress Ahead of Average

According to USDA’s crop progress report, 45% of corn and 62% of soybeans have been harvested so far this year.

Valent Expands Availability of Maverick Corn Herbicide
Valent Expands Availability of Maverick Corn Herbicide

Maverick can be used to control problematic weeds such as waterhemp, Palmer amaranth, annual grasses, and more.

The U.S. And Europe Are At Odds Over Trump-Era Tariffs, And It's Now Causing Strained Relations
The U.S. And Europe Are At Odds Over Trump-Era Tariffs, And It's Now Causing Strained Relations

While the U.S. and EU aim to make progress during an upcoming summit, reaching a final agreement is uncertain. This issue has significant implications for U.S./EU ties, climate goals, and geopolitics.

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The Executive Briefing: October 16

The situation in the Middle East remains fluid and complex regarding the long-term implications for global economies in general and the energy sector in particular given Iran’s involvement.

Understand Costs, Build Confidence
Understand Costs, Build Confidence

A Bushel online survey found a correlation between marketing satisfaction and understanding and use of cost of production data.

CNH Industrial Acquires Hemisphere GNSS
CNH Industrial Acquires Hemisphere GNSS

Company leaders say this “solidifies CNH’s in-house precision, automation and autonomy technology, enabling us to continue Breaking New Ground for the agriculture and construction industries."

A Unique Gift the Whole Farm Will Want
A Unique Gift the Whole Farm Will Want

Aerial Rug and Boundri use satellite imagery to create custom farm products - the most popular being rugs.

Growmark Completes Move to New Corporate Headquarters
Growmark Completes Move to New Corporate Headquarters

The company announced its purchase of the headquarters building from County Financial a little over a year ago.

Financial Discounts for Regenerative Ag
Financial Discounts for Regenerative Ag

Could new incentives be the tipping point to adoption?

New Profit Calculator Reveals How Much Soybean Cyst Nematode Costs You By Field
New Profit Calculator Reveals How Much Soybean Cyst Nematode Costs You By Field

The online tool from the SCN Coalition is free and easy to use. It’s backed by research done on more than 25,000 university soybean research plots across the U.S.

The Ultimate Plot Planting List
The Ultimate Plot Planting List

From vacuums to travel mugs, here's what industry pros are taking to the fields.

House Nominates Scalise for Speaker, the Farm Bill Needs an Extension
House Nominates Scalise for Speaker, the Farm Bill Needs an Extension

Work by the House or Senate Agriculture Committee on a new farm bill is essentially stalled, Randy Russell tells AgriTalk's Chip Flory. Russell says that could be the case until government funding issues are resolved.

High Interest Rates, Strong U.S. Dollar Take a Toll on Ag Economy
High Interest Rates, Strong U.S. Dollar Take a Toll on Ag Economy

Findings from CoBank's new quarterly report provides updates on the U.S. economy and agricultural markets.

Cash Rents Are Up for 2023, But Will 2024 Be Better?
Cash Rents Are Up for 2023, But Will 2024 Be Better?

Two organizations share why we may see a decline in cash rent values in 2024.

Walmart Announces Plans to Build $350 Million Milk Processing Plant in Southern Georgia
Walmart Announces Plans to Build $350 Million Milk Processing Plant in Southern Georgia

America’s largest retail store has announced its plans to build a $350 million milk processing plant in Valdosta, Ga.

Harvest Update: Overall Soybean Progress Nears Halfway Point
Harvest Update: Overall Soybean Progress Nears Halfway Point

Harvest progress on soybeans nearly doubled from last week and corn progress is ahead of the five-year average.

Trade Relations Between the U.S. and China Just Got Even More Complicated
Trade Relations Between the U.S. and China Just Got Even More Complicated

China's Commerce minister expressed concerns over trade and tech restrictions to U.S. Senate Majority Leader this week. That's as the U.S. Commerce Department added 42 more Chinese companies to the export blacklist.

Hybrid Selection: The More You Know
Hybrid Selection: The More You Know

From the roots up, Beck’s Hybrids and AgriGold promise new ways to talk about how to grow corn.

Kansas State Launches Institute for Digital Agriculture and Advanced Analytics
Kansas State Launches Institute for Digital Agriculture and Advanced Analytics

Work done at the institute will include developing and integrating analytical methods and digital technologies that enhance food production and inform decision making for sustainable and resilient systems.

3 Companies Announce Sustainability Collaboration
3 Companies Announce Sustainability Collaboration

The collaboration will focus on a 50,000-acre pilot project that will enable better understanding of the emission reductions that can be achieved with bio-enhanced urea.

Is More Vertical Integration, Consolidation Now Ahead? Why 2023 Could Change the Entire Pork Industry
Is More Vertical Integration, Consolidation Now Ahead? Why 2023 Could Change the Entire Pork Industry

As pork producers’ potential profits continue to erode this year, some economists say 2023 could be financially worse than 1998, which is unearthing concerns about contraction, restructuring and vertical integration.

Hamas-Israel War Gets U.S. Lawmakers’ Attention; May Impact House Speakership Vote
Hamas-Israel War Gets U.S. Lawmakers’ Attention; May Impact House Speakership Vote

The attack on Israel by Hamas adds urgency to GOP efforts to elect a new House speaker. The need to focus on Israel may help get a House GOP leadership decision this week, several lawmakers said. 

Low Mississippi River Levels Hit Soybean Exports, Freight Rates and Basis Levels: Corn Moving by Rail
Low Mississippi River Levels Hit Soybean Exports, Freight Rates and Basis Levels: Corn Moving by Rail

The historically low water levels on the Mississippi River have caused a trifecta in the soybean market.  Its increased freight weights, slammed basis levels and taken a real toll on exports.

AGI Announces Kate Glasser as EVP of Global Operations
AGI Announces Kate Glasser as EVP of Global Operations

“This new role further supports AGI’s ongoing growth and success around the world with continued emphasis on operational excellence, execution and innovation as critical elements to our success,” Paul Householder said.

Landus Builds New Fertilizer Facility To Reduce Carbon Footprint
Landus Builds New Fertilizer Facility To Reduce Carbon Footprint

The Iowa facility will be used for fertilizer manufacturing and repackaging with a goal of reducing in-ground nitrogen application rates.

Winners Announced for Second Annual Wilbur-Ellis Innovation Award
Winners Announced for Second Annual Wilbur-Ellis Innovation Award

The grain science team at Kansas State received the top honor for their proposal on increasing production of perennial crops.

Now's the Time to Transition to a Vertical Farming System
Now's the Time to Transition to a Vertical Farming System

What is vertical farming and how can it set you up for future government incentives? Ken Ferrie, Farm Journal field agronomist, explains it often requires mixing and matching tools for primary and secondary tillage.

Survey Shows Land Values Leveling Off
Survey Shows Land Values Leveling Off

The results of the Realtors Land Institute - Iowa Chapter's September Land Trends and Values Survey show a decline in the rate of land value increase.

Is A Recession Imminent? Here Are The Red Flags Ag Economists Are Now Watching
Is A Recession Imminent? Here Are The Red Flags Ag Economists Are Now Watching

While ag economists continue to be at odds when it comes to the likelihood of a recession in the U.S., some doubt the country's biggest importers will be able to avoid a recession over the next 18 months.

Toenail Clippings Of Farmers Needed For Chemical Exposure Research
Toenail Clippings Of Farmers Needed For Chemical Exposure Research

Iowa farmers, get out your toenail clippers! Anna Proctor, a University of Iowa Ph.D. student, is collecting samples for a study she will conduct later this year using Iowa farmers’ toenails to assess chemical exposure.

CNH Industrial Invests In Robotic Fruit Harvesting Platform
CNH Industrial Invests In Robotic Fruit Harvesting Platform

Its first harvester was for strawberries, and last year it launched the apple harvester for use in Washington.

Harvest Update: Corn and Soybean Progress Jumps Ahead
Harvest Update: Corn and Soybean Progress Jumps Ahead

Nearly a quarter of corn and soybeans have been harvested for 2023.

The Scoop Podcast: Fundamentals of Technology and Keys to Implementation
The Scoop Podcast: Fundamentals of Technology and Keys to Implementation

Dave Swain draws on his experience from application equipment, ag retail and technology roles with his consulting business: Vision Technology Management.

Farmer Gains Supreme Court’s Ear, Landmark Property Rights Hearing Awaits
Farmer Gains Supreme Court’s Ear, Landmark Property Rights Hearing Awaits

After the government twice flooded a farmer’s home and 900 acres, killed his cattle, and insisted he foot the bill, the Supreme Court will hear the case.

The University of Nebraska Just Helped Unlock the Final Secrets of the Corn Genome, And It Could Be a Breakthrough for Yield
The University of Nebraska Just Helped Unlock the Final Secrets of the Corn Genome, And It Could Be a Breakthrough for Yield

Researchers from UNL, Iowa State University and the China Agricultural University have done what seemed impossible a decade ago: they finished sequencing the entire corn genome, a major breakthrough for yield.

The Government Didn't Shut Down, And That's Good News For The Farm Bill
The Government Didn't Shut Down, And That's Good News For The Farm Bill

With the government funding in place for now, work on a new farm bill can continue, with the same questions (timing, funding, Title 1 reform, etc.) still being unanswered. 

The Executive Briefing: Is It Time To Worry About Student Loan Debt? Credit Card Debt May Be Bigger Concern
The Executive Briefing: Is It Time To Worry About Student Loan Debt? Credit Card Debt May Be Bigger Concern

We are closely monitoring the phosphate complex as the U.S. Department of Commerce could finalize a new 53% countervailing duty (CVD) on phosphate fertilizers from Russia by October 31, 2023.

Ken Ferrie: Scale Carts Are An Important Backup For Yield Monitors
Ken Ferrie: Scale Carts Are An Important Backup For Yield Monitors

A calibrated monitor usually does a good job of telling you where yield is changing in a field within a hybrid, but it may not tell you exactly how one hybrid is yielding against another.

Startling Reality: Rate of Suicide Among Farmers is 3.5 Times Higher Than the General Population
Startling Reality: Rate of Suicide Among Farmers is 3.5 Times Higher Than the General Population

September is National Suicide Prevention Month. According to the CDC, between 2000 and 2020 suicide rates climbed 46% in rural areas. By comparison, the rate in metro areas climbed 27.3%. 

Discipline in What Your Offer
Discipline in What Your Offer

Brad Oelmann, president of Farrell Growth Group, shares how farmer-customers fall into three segments based on what they need from their ag retailers.

Wisconsin Co-Ops Choose Name When Merger Is Final
Wisconsin Co-Ops Choose Name When Merger Is Final

Allied Cooperative (Adams, WI) and ProVision Partners Cooperative (Marshfield, WI) announced the upcoming merger of their cooperatives in March 2023.