Latest From News

Custom Agronomics Acquires BioTek Ag
Custom Agronomics Acquires BioTek Ag

BioTek Ag, which was based in North Carolina and had been in business for more than 30 years, will become part of Custom Agronomics, a formulator and manufacturer of private-label products.

ARA: Moving The Needle On Capitol Hill
ARA: Moving The Needle On Capitol Hill

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.

The Scoop Podcast: Set The Foundation In Agronomy and Your Career
The Scoop Podcast: Set The Foundation In Agronomy and Your Career

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

Goodbye, El Niño. Hello, La Niña? The Big Transition to La Niña is Already Underway
Goodbye, El Niño. Hello, La Niña? The Big Transition to La Niña is Already Underway

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.

Growmark and Intelinair Launch Agronomy App to Enable Data-Driven Decisions
Growmark and Intelinair Launch Agronomy App to Enable Data-Driven Decisions

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 Dream Job: Brock Purdy Leads Chief Tractor Officer Search
John Deere Dream Job: Brock Purdy Leads Chief Tractor Officer Search

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

Smart Firmer: What Is It, What Can I Do With The Data?
Smart Firmer: What Is It, What Can I Do With The Data?

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

Crop Insurance Affordability at Heart of FARMER Act
Crop Insurance Affordability at Heart of FARMER Act

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.

4 Ways to Start Soybeans Strong
4 Ways to Start Soybeans Strong

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

Senate Ag Committee and South Dakota Producers Want "More Farm in the Farm Bill"
Senate Ag Committee and South Dakota Producers Want "More Farm in the Farm Bill"

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. 

Next-Gen Spotlight: Technology and Side Hustle Help Missouri Couple Come Back to the Farm
Next-Gen Spotlight: Technology and Side Hustle Help Missouri Couple Come Back to the Farm

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.

What Is Your Most  Important Annual Audit?
What Is Your Most Important Annual Audit?

Strategy can be more effective than cutting costs

Wild Pigs Kill More People Than Sharks, Shocking New Research Reveals
Wild Pigs Kill More People Than Sharks, Shocking New Research Reveals

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

New CoBank Report says Federal Reserve is on the 'Horns of a Dilemma’
New CoBank Report says Federal Reserve is on the 'Horns of a Dilemma’

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's First Soybean Planting Progress Report of the Year Shows Planting is Now Underway in 10 States
USDA's First Soybean Planting Progress Report of the Year Shows Planting is Now Underway in 10 States

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.

Gingko Bioworks Announces Acquisition of AgBiome Platform Assets
Gingko Bioworks Announces Acquisition of AgBiome Platform Assets

Gingko Bioworks announced its acquisition of platform assets from AgBioime, which includes over 115,000 fully sequenced and isolated strains, over 500 million unique gene sequences

C-Suite Q&A: Soil Sleuth
C-Suite Q&A: Soil Sleuth

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.

Hit The Pause Button: CHS And Growmark Discontinue Synergy Exploration
Hit The Pause Button: CHS And Growmark Discontinue Synergy Exploration

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

Ken Ferrie: 7 Tips To Overcome Moisture Concerns At Corn Planting
Ken Ferrie: 7 Tips To Overcome Moisture Concerns At Corn Planting

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.

It's Scary Dry in the Western Corn Belt, But a Drastically Different Story in the East This Year
It's Scary Dry in the Western Corn Belt, But a Drastically Different Story in the East This Year

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.

Infrastructure Woes To Watch: Potholes Plague Global Ag Trade
Infrastructure Woes To Watch: Potholes Plague Global Ag Trade

Shipping may have been easier back in the days of Columbus

Growing a Crop This Year is Crucial for Drought-Stricken Texas Farmers, 2024 is Now Make or Break For Many
Growing a Crop This Year is Crucial for Drought-Stricken Texas Farmers, 2024 is Now Make or Break For Many

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.

Antsy To Plant Corn Now? Use These Five Tips To Get Ready
Antsy To Plant Corn Now? Use These Five Tips To Get Ready

One of the biggest benefits from waiting to plant corn until conditions are ideal, is the crop emerges more uniformly and forms those picket-fence stands that deliver huge yields, says Agronomist Missy Bauer.

Machinery News: U.S. Tractor Sales Spike, Heraud Departs Deere, Ag on the Mall Info
Machinery News: U.S. Tractor Sales Spike, Heraud Departs Deere, Ag on the Mall Info

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.

NASS Discontinues County Estimates For Crops And Livestock and July Cattle Report
NASS Discontinues County Estimates For Crops And Livestock and July Cattle Report

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 Confirms First Case of HPAI in a Dairy Herd
South Dakota Confirms First Case of HPAI in a Dairy Herd

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

ASFMRA Unveils 6 New And Updated Seminars
ASFMRA Unveils 6 New And Updated Seminars

There are six new and updated continuing education seminars designed to deliver targeted, applicable knowledge contributing to the overall advancement of ag appraisal practices.

Here's Why Analysts Are Scratching Their Heads After USDA's New WASDE Report
Here's Why Analysts Are Scratching Their Heads After USDA's New WASDE Report

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.

Amy O’Shea Named CEO-Partner At Flagship Pioneering
Amy O’Shea Named CEO-Partner At Flagship Pioneering

"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

Leaders in Ag: Career and Business Advice from Jackie Applegate
Leaders in Ag: Career and Business Advice from Jackie Applegate

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.

Ferrie: It's a No-Go for Corn Planting in Central Illinois
Ferrie: It's a No-Go for Corn Planting in Central Illinois

Along with too much moisture, high numbers of corn flea beetles are posing an early-season concern. Ferrie advises checking your Stewart’s wilt bacteria rating on hybrids. There's no treatment option for infected corn.

Liquid Fertilizer Company Appoints New CEO
Liquid Fertilizer Company Appoints New CEO

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

PTx: What Farmers, Dealers, Retailers Need to Know
PTx: What Farmers, Dealers, Retailers Need to Know

This roll up unites complimentary product portfolios and distribution channels to provide farmers with Smart Farming solutions and retrofit precision ag technologies, and OEMs with more factory fit options.

David Hula Says This One Mistake at Planting Can Cost You More Than 100 Bu. Per Acre in Yield
David Hula Says This One Mistake at Planting Can Cost You More Than 100 Bu. Per Acre in Yield

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.

AgroLiquid Product Receives First Certification Via TFI’s Biostimulant Program
AgroLiquid Product Receives First Certification Via TFI’s Biostimulant Program

TFI’s Certified Biostimulant program is aligned with the U.S. Biostimulant Industry Guidelines.

Trace The Path: Spring Planter Setup Tips
Trace The Path: Spring Planter Setup Tips

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

Power vs. Privacy: Landowner Sues Game Wardens, Challenges Property Intrusion
Power vs. Privacy: Landowner Sues Game Wardens, Challenges Property Intrusion

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

Corn Planting is Now Already Underway in 7 States
Corn Planting is Now Already Underway in 7 States

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.

Washington Insiders Now Think We Could Get a First Look at a New Farm Bill as Early as Next Week
Washington Insiders Now Think We Could Get a First Look at a New Farm Bill as Early as Next Week

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.

Talc USA Will Move Product Manufacturing To Illinois
Talc USA Will Move Product Manufacturing To Illinois

The new production line will manufacture all Talc products.

Six Questions One Industry Veterinarian Says She Is Asked Most Often About HPAI
Six Questions One Industry Veterinarian Says She Is Asked Most Often About HPAI

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.

The Biggest Wild Card For Cotton Acres and Prices in 2024
The Biggest Wild Card For Cotton Acres and Prices in 2024

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.

What’s New With Agriculture Drones?
What’s New With Agriculture Drones?

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.

Will We See a Hard Fall or Soft Landing? It's the Million Dollar Question for the Farm Economy This Year
Will We See a Hard Fall or Soft Landing? It's the Million Dollar Question for the Farm Economy This Year

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.

Acadian Plant Health Finalizes Distribution Agreement With Koppert USA
Acadian Plant Health Finalizes Distribution Agreement With Koppert USA

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

Farmers Express Optimism In Purdue's Latest Ag Economy Barometer
Farmers Express Optimism In Purdue's Latest Ag Economy Barometer

Purdue's Ag Economy Barometer Index is up for March - something Jim Mintert says is a result of increased farmer optimism for the future.

WestLink Ag Group To Distribute Aqua-Yield Products
WestLink Ag Group To Distribute Aqua-Yield Products

This partnership is the largest retail agreement for Aqua-Yield in the continental United States and helps lend credibility to the company's wide range of nanotechnology products.

HPAI Now Detected on Ohio Dairy: Strange Bird Flu Concerns See Growth
HPAI Now Detected on Ohio Dairy: Strange Bird Flu Concerns See Growth

Ohio has become the sixth state where dairy cattle have tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), also known as bird flu.

Are You Disposing Pesticides Properly? Here’s How to Know
Are You Disposing Pesticides Properly? Here’s How to Know

Consider these tips to ensure you’re complying with federal regulations when it comes to pesticide disposal.

Taranis and Steward Link Partner To Provide Conservation Opportunities
Taranis and Steward Link Partner To Provide Conservation Opportunities

With Steward Link’s background in federal, state and private funding opportunities and Taranis’ focus on technology, the companies share this partnership will help them better serve ag retailers and farmers.