Latest News From FARM JOURNAL EVENTS

5 Trends To Watch In The Input Market
5 Trends To Watch In The Input Market

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.

2024 Top Producer of the Year Finalist PJ Haynie: Advocacy And Tenacity
2024 Top Producer of the Year Finalist PJ Haynie: Advocacy And Tenacity

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

2024 Top Producer Of The Year Christine Hamilton: Driven For Excellence
2024 Top Producer Of The Year Christine Hamilton: Driven For Excellence

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.

2024 Top Producer Next Gen Award Winner: Finding Opportunities Between the Rows
2024 Top Producer Next Gen Award Winner: Finding Opportunities Between the Rows

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.

America’s Premier Farmers and Ranchers to Gather at  2024 Top Producer Summit in Kansas City
America’s Premier Farmers and Ranchers to Gather at 2024 Top Producer Summit in Kansas City

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

7 Top Producers Reflect and Look Ahead
7 Top Producers Reflect and Look Ahead

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.

4 Tips to Grow as a Leader
4 Tips to Grow as a Leader

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

Here’s How Pro Farmer's 2023 Yield Estimates Stack Up to USDA Expectations
Here’s How Pro Farmer's 2023 Yield Estimates Stack Up to USDA Expectations

Nebraska, Minnesota and Iowa corn projections fall below USDA's August estimates. Soybeans are on par in all scouted states, including Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and South Dakota.

Pro Farmer Crop Tour, Day 4: “Extreme” Variability Spans Iowa and Minnesota
Pro Farmer Crop Tour, Day 4: “Extreme” Variability Spans Iowa and Minnesota

Sudden death or their time to go? Soybeans dry up in Iowa as Minnesota corn faces burn up to the first leaf below ears.

30 Days Left for Iowa Corn Crop to Complete Fill, Pack On Yield
30 Days Left for Iowa Corn Crop to Complete Fill, Pack On Yield

The past four days of high heat and no moisture have taken a toll in the state with some farmers predicting corn yield lows of 140 bu. per acre. Some still anticipate 200-bu. plus yields. All they need is some rain.

Pro Farmer Crop Tour, Day 3: Heat and Stress Take a Toll on Corn in Iowa and Illinois
Pro Farmer Crop Tour, Day 3: Heat and Stress Take a Toll on Corn in Iowa and Illinois

Lack of moisture and high-heat days have Iowa locals concerned about cannibalized stalks, while Illinois considers impacts of wildfire smoke and overnight temps.

Double-Edged Sword: Did Rains from Derecho Save Illinois Corn and Soybeans?
Double-Edged Sword: Did Rains from Derecho Save Illinois Corn and Soybeans?

A fast-moving storm flattened crops on June 29, but the rain gave much needed relief to area crops and hope to farmers struggling to stay optimistic. Pro Farmer Crop Tour provides insights on how those crops look now.

Pro Farmer Crop Tour, Day 2: Drought in Nebraska, Tar Spot in Indiana
Pro Farmer Crop Tour, Day 2: Drought in Nebraska, Tar Spot in Indiana

As scouts made their way through eastern Nebraska, the state’s extreme-to-exceptional drought conditions (15%) were obvious in corn. Scouts on the eastern leg saw more of a mixed bag for corn, including disease.

'No Monster Yields' but Nebraska Irrigated Corn has Above-Average Potential
'No Monster Yields' but Nebraska Irrigated Corn has Above-Average Potential

First thing Tuesday, Pro Farmer Tour scouts saw Nebraska irrigated corn with 208 to 250 bu. yields. But a lot could change as they head into dryland corn. In the eastern Corn Belt, scouts are evaluating Indiana crops.

Pro Farmer Crop Tour, Day 1: Mostly Green in Ohio and South Dakota
Pro Farmer Crop Tour, Day 1: Mostly Green in Ohio and South Dakota

This time last year, more than 36% of South Dakota was covered in drought. This year, that number dropped to 14%. Dry conditions did improve in the east, but some fear early season dryness could play out in coming weeks.

Rain to Hit Ohio, Nebraska Fields this Week on Pro Farmer Crop Tour
Rain to Hit Ohio, Nebraska Fields this Week on Pro Farmer Crop Tour

Hitting the road on Pro Farmer Crop Tour this week? I hope you packed your rain gear.

 Corn and Soybeans Look 'Darn Good' In Ohio, Similar to 2021
Corn and Soybeans Look 'Darn Good' In Ohio, Similar to 2021

Out of the gate this morning, scouts saw a high of 208 bu/A for corn and a low of 92 bu/A. In the West, the initial report is positive for South Dakota with "better than last year" the key phrase scouts are repeating.

Behind-the-Scenes Look: How Pro Farmer Crop Tour Scouts Gather Data
Behind-the-Scenes Look: How Pro Farmer Crop Tour Scouts Gather Data

Pro Farmer Crop Tour's data-gathering methods are disciplined, which produces consistent results. We break down the when, where, why and how behind the numbers.

“Technical Debt” Continues To Grow Rapidly In The Agriculture Industry
“Technical Debt” Continues To Grow Rapidly In The Agriculture Industry

How much is a farm at risk from a technical tsunami?

3 Trends that Will Drive the Food System of the Future
3 Trends that Will Drive the Food System of the Future

The food system is being reimagined today and farmers can benefit by thinking about how to improve their ability to take advantage of opportunities in the process, says Rob Dongoski with Ernst and Young.

Q&A With Jackie Applegate, Bayer President of North America Crop Science
Q&A With Jackie Applegate, Bayer President of North America Crop Science

Jackie Applegate began her journey in 1992 as the only female chemist at a Bayer manufacturing facility in Kansas City, Mo. Since then, she’s held a variety of global roles.

5 Business Principles That Define Success
5 Business Principles That Define Success

Rich Redmond has created a no-nonsense system to supercharge your personal and professional life, whether you are a farmer or the drummer for Jason Aldean.

Preventative Maintenance for Your People: How to Reduce Turnover and Boost Morale
Preventative Maintenance for Your People: How to Reduce Turnover and Boost Morale

Follow this strategy to reduce turnover and increase morale on your farm team.

Farming for the Future in the Heart of the Mississippi Delta
Farming for the Future in the Heart of the Mississippi Delta

Success germinates by prioritizing family and land stewardship for Silent Shade Planting Company, the 2023 Top Producer of the Year.

3 Tenets Of A Decade-Forward View of the U.S. Food System
3 Tenets Of A Decade-Forward View of the U.S. Food System

The food system is undergoing transformation, says Rob Dongoski, Ernst & Young. He pulled back the curtain on three ways it will change and how farmers can be ready during a presentation at the 2023 Top Producer Summit.

3 Consumer Trends Farmers Can’t Afford to Ignore
3 Consumer Trends Farmers Can’t Afford to Ignore

Consumer preferences can totter between fads and trends. For farmers to capitalize on consumer demands, they must be able to sort out which market opportunities to pursue, says Rob Dongoski with Ernst & Young.

Have a Goal to Be a Better Leader in 2023? Here are Steps to Take
Have a Goal to Be a Better Leader in 2023? Here are Steps to Take

“You can begin at any point in the year, but the power of this is that by improving yourself first, others follow,” says Mark Faust, president of Echelon Management.

Nominate the Nation's Best Female Farmers
Nominate the Nation's Best Female Farmers

The 2023 Executive Women in Agriculture Trailblazer Award will be given to a female producer who is a shining example for her peers.

Young Farmers Build Dream Farm, One Piece At A Time
Young Farmers Build Dream Farm, One Piece At A Time

Brendan and Elaine Martin are building their dream farm — one piece at a time. 

Nominate Outstanding Farmers for Top Honors
Nominate Outstanding Farmers for Top Honors

During the 2023 Top Producer Summit, Top Producer will recognize remarkable farmers who have taken risks, built thriving businesses and given back to their communities.

Pro Farmer Crop Estimates Far Below USDA Expectations
Pro Farmer Crop Estimates Far Below USDA Expectations

Pro Farmer estimates the U.S. corn crop at 13.759 billion bushels, with an average yield of 168.1 bu. per acre, and the U.S. soybean crop at 4.535 billion bushels, with an average yield of 51.7 bu. per acre.

Pro Farmer Crop Tour, Day 4: Saved the Best Crop Conditions for Last
Pro Farmer Crop Tour, Day 4: Saved the Best Crop Conditions for Last

Soybeans took a hit in Minnesota, which was the western leg's trend this year. Corn showed more kernel depth and yield on both routes.

Home Stretch for Crop Tour: A mix of Baseball Bats for Corn and SDS in Soybeans
Home Stretch for Crop Tour: A mix of Baseball Bats for Corn and SDS in Soybeans

Day 4 of the Pro Farmer Crop Tour is revealing some good to excellent corn and soybean crops in Iowa and Minnesota, along with concerns about drought in corn and the appearance of sudden death syndrome in beans.

Is Ordinary a Four-Letter Word? Maybe So, with Regard to Corn and Soybeans
Is Ordinary a Four-Letter Word? Maybe So, with Regard to Corn and Soybeans

The third day of the 2022 Pro Farmer Crop Tour is revealing a lot of average crops in some states, but Illinois and Iowa corn and soybeans are showing some strength.

3 Reasons Why Corn Prices Surged to a Two-Month High
3 Reasons Why Corn Prices Surged to a Two-Month High

December corn futures rose to the highest price since late June and soybeans and wheat also rose amid concern over dry weather.  Why did corn prices surge? Several bullish factors are at play,

Pro Farmer Crop Tour, Day 2: Weather Scars Mark Nebraska, Indiana Fields Hit-Or-Miss
Pro Farmer Crop Tour, Day 2: Weather Scars Mark Nebraska, Indiana Fields Hit-Or-Miss

Tuesday's Crop Tour trek through Nebraska and Indiana gave scouts a glimpse at the moderate to exceptional drought Mother Nature has brought down on soil and crops this growing season.

From Clunker Crops to Bin Busters and Everything In Between
From Clunker Crops to Bin Busters and Everything In Between

On Day 2 of the Pro Farmer Crop Tour, scouts see a wide range of conditions in Indiana and Nebraska. Some irrigated corn and soybean fields are performing well, while dryland crops are struggling.

Pro Farmer Crop Tour, Day 1: South Dakota Conditions 'Disappointing,' Grain Length Takes a Hit in Ohio
Pro Farmer Crop Tour, Day 1: South Dakota Conditions 'Disappointing,' Grain Length Takes a Hit in Ohio

Extreme weather situations, including the annual Derecho, hit regions on the eastern leg earlier this year. While the eastern Corn Belt isn't as dry as its western counterpart, yield potential looks lower than 2021.

30th Pro Farmer Crop Tour Hits the Fields
30th Pro Farmer Crop Tour Hits the Fields

For the 30th year, Pro Farmer Crop Tour scouts will be providing insights for potential corn and soybean yields based on samples from 2,000 fields.

Anticipation Is High Ahead Of Pro Farmer Crop Tour, Analysts Caution It Could Be A Big Market Mover
Anticipation Is High Ahead Of Pro Farmer Crop Tour, Analysts Caution It Could Be A Big Market Mover

USDA's crop production report showed an increase in soybean yields, but a lower national corn yield. Analysts say Pro Farmer Crop Tour next will reveal more answers about this year's crops and could be a market mover.

Less than 60% of the U.S. Corn Crop in Good or Excellent Condition
Less than 60% of the U.S. Corn Crop in Good or Excellent Condition

The U.S. corn crop is consistently declining in condition. Currently 57% of the crop has a good or excellent rating, which ties with 2019 for the week's worst corn condition rating since 2012.

Reserve Your Front-Row Seat for the 2022 Pro Farmer Crop Tour
Reserve Your Front-Row Seat for the 2022 Pro Farmer Crop Tour

You have the opportunity to attend Pro Farmer Crop Tour nightly meeting or watch a brief broadcast online this year.

Round Robin: Which State Will Have the Highest Crop Yields?
Round Robin: Which State Will Have the Highest Crop Yields?

The 2022 Pro Farmer Crop Tour will be sweeping the Midwest soon. We spoke with a handful of master crop scouts to get a preview of what to expect on each leg of the tour.

2022 Crop Tour: A View From The Field 
2022 Crop Tour: A View From The Field 

The goal of the Pro Farmer Crop Tour is to get a strong, objective view of corn yield potential across the Corn Belt during the third full week of August. 

Attend the 2022 Farm Journal Corn and Soybean College
Attend the 2022 Farm Journal Corn and Soybean College

Come join Ken Ferrie at this year's Farm Journal Corn and Soybean College, hosted by Crop-Tech Consulting, July 26-27 in Heyworth, Ill. 

Ferrie: ID Your Agronomic Issues to Grow More Bushels
Ferrie: ID Your Agronomic Issues to Grow More Bushels

Figure out which 'sins of spring' are plaguing your cornfields. Also, sign up for Corn & Soybean College. It's just a few weeks away. We have all new agronomic topics to help you take more grain to the bin this fall!

Climate-smart ag initiatives: Commodity markets for a sustainable future
Climate-smart ag initiatives: Commodity markets for a sustainable future

Data collection, management, and validation will require third parties to be trusted liaisons between producers and buyers.

It's Never Easy Deciding When to Book Feed, This Year is Extra Challenging
It's Never Easy Deciding When to Book Feed, This Year is Extra Challenging

Feed costs are seeing volatile swings, even as hog prices trend higher. While the markets produce major whiplash for producers, margins on the farm show costs are increasing faster than returns.

3 Economic Forces to Watch that Will Impact Agriculture
3 Economic Forces to Watch that Will Impact Agriculture

Understand how global headwinds and tailwinds will affect your operation.

5 Transformations Happening in China That Will Affect Your Farm
5 Transformations Happening in China That Will Affect Your Farm

China contains the largest population of any country in the world. All those mouths drive demand across the globe and for your farm’s products.