Latest News From EDITORIAL SERIES

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.

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.

Farmer and philanthropist Howard Buffett held a fireside chat during the 2024 Top Producer Summit to share his experiences visiting the front line of Ukraine over the past two years.

There are a number of practices that can create passive income on your operation, but the level of effort and investment to implement them varies.

Sarah Beth Aubrey explores the advantages and disadvantages of early adoption in the ag industry.

“We are really in a second phase of ag tech,” says Ryan Raguse, co-founder of Bushel. “We aren’t in an overly mature state—we’re still somewhere in the middle ground."

The latest Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor projects a major drop in net farm income this year. Economists are also growing more pessimistic about the potential for interest rate cuts in 2024.

Experts are watching global dynamics to understand the input market’s longer-term outlook in the U.S. Among their top concerns are geopolitics, weather and low supply.

The practices used during the 2024 growing season will have a direct impact on the ability to take advantage of these incentives. Mitchell Hora of Continuum Ag shares what you need to know.

“It’s hard to put yourself in growth mode when things are getting so expensive,” says Tanner Ehmke with CoBank.

No step is too big for Top Producer finalist, PJ Haynie. Deep family roots are the foundation of his farming legacy. 

At Christiansen Land and Cattle, they’re committed to excellence and continuous improvement, a mindset that started when Christine Hamilton’s family homesteaded in South Dakota in 1891.

Jim Rothermich of Iowa Appraisals shares what he expects from land values in the year ahead.

Working and training with her mother, in 2019 Hallie Shoffner took the lead as CEO and continues to focus on growing the business, searching for opportunities in specialty crops and value-added production.

Ag economists have little doubt Brazil will remain the world’s top exporter of soybeans, but with potential safrinha corn production problems, economists aren't confident Brazil can hang on to the top spot in corn.

Ag economists’ views on the ag economy took a dive in the first Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor of 2024; however, relatively strong balance sheets and working capital could provide a cushion for 2024. 

Vikram Luthar’s leave is pending an ongoing investigation being conducted by outside counsel for ADM and the Board’s Audit Committee.

Sarah Beth Aubrey shares why instead of promoting their environmental efforts, some companies opt for a quieter approach, potentially saying nothing at all.

Farm Journal Foundation Farmer Ambassadors share their takeaways from COP28 climate conference in Dubai.

The startups will be featured in a pitch event at Farm Journal’s Top Producer Summit Feb. 5-7 in Kansas City

In their January 2024 land values report, Farmers National Company shared that the sharp increase in farmland values has slowed, and values are holding strong.

Despite the markets pricing in lower interest rates, Arlan Suderman expects inflation to rear its ugly head sometime in 2024.

For long-term success, farm leaders should regularly assess the landscape of their operation and adjust their strategies accordingly.

The availability of livestock workers was ranked as more limited than crop workers and finding long-term help seen as more difficult than temporary help due to the seasonal nature of the ag industry.

From the election to world trade, as well as geopolitical factors that have the potential to shape agriculture in 2024, the December Ag Economists' Monthly Monitor shows the possibility of several economic surprises.

Producers From Arkansas, Iowa and South Dakota Named Finalists for Prestigious Top Producer of the Year Award.

The report shares markets are at a crossroads—prices could move in either direction.

CoBank has released their 2024 outlook report, which takes a look at the key themes the organization expects to shape agricultural and the rural economy in the coming year.

Looking at the farm economy as well as lending conditions, over 260 ag lenders ranked their top 12 concerns for what institutions and producers are facing.

We asked some of our previous Top Producer of the Year awardees to share a bit about what’s happening on their farming operations — looking at both the past year and out on the horizon.

Researchers found a significant relationship between capital costs and farmer-held inventory.

Analysts say an initial cut could be made as early as first quarter 2024. One of the key factors the central banking system will consider is whether its inflation rate target of 2% has been achieved.

Peoples Company has released its fourth annual land values report with data broken into geographical regions across the U.S.

Sarah Beth Aubrey shares tips for effective communication and building influence before stepping into a leadership role.

As a leading company in seed research and production, Brian Barker joined the AgReliant Genetics team as CEO and president mid-2023.

After two months of a waning outlook on the ag economy, economists views took a turn in the November Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor, a survey of nearly 70 ag economists from across the country.

Fear of leadership is natural. That's why Sarah Beth Aubrey is sharing the best practices to get out of your own head.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates corn will hit the $4.26 Effective Reference Price for 2025 to 2027 crops.

According to a recent report from CoBank, an abundance of corn and soybeans has resulted in cheaper basis and bigger carries in futures markets.

Recent WASDE reports had assumed another record Brazilian soybean crop and Argentina returning to normal, but the El Niño weather pattern might have something to say about that. 

The debate over immigration continues to be an issue in Washington. However, the Ag Economists' Monthly Monitor shows economists are still skeptical it's enough for Congress to act on immigration reform.

“We’re getting strong results. High interest rates and sub-$5 per bushel corn is not affecting land market conditions,” says Jim Rothermich from Iowa Appraisal.

The Panama Canal is now cutting its daily ship transits by half this winter due to severe drought.

Drought hit farmers hard in Minnesota this season, so farmers are finding mixed results at harvest. Many are disappointed with soybeans but say their corn yields are better than expected.

Though inflation is currently high, Indiana ag lender Joe Kessie doesn’t expect a repeat of what he experienced in his early career for three main reasons.

Several factors are leading economists to believe the price of corn will keep ethanol profits steady in the near future.

Bart Fischer, co-director of the Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M, spotlights two topics that will be updated in the next farm bill.

Political unrest, a healthy ag economy and the start of an election year. These are all reasons economists in the October Ag Economists' Monthly Monitor think it could 2025 before Congress passes a new farm bill.

Advocating for something you care about has risks. Step into leadership with these tips.

Farmers are opting to tap into their savings from recent prosperous years instead of taking out loans at the highest interest rates since 2007, according to surveys conducted by regional Federal Reserve banks.