Latest News From CROP PRODUCTION

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.

USDA NASS has released the 2022 Census of Agriculture data, which revealed important information about the current state of agriculture.

Super Bowl fans in Illinois will be able to cheer on some familiar faces in a commercial during the big game on Sunday. Illinois pork producer Chad Leman says the commercial is all about communicating trust in farmers.

With larger-than-expected yield revisions to both corn and soybeans, it leaves one burning question: which states grew such big yields in 2023? USDA NASS released maps and charts to help answer that.

Nitricity is on a quest to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions via its innovative natural liquid fertilizer manufacturing process. The technology represents a major disruption to the global fertilizer market.

From the intense heat in the South to drought blanketing much of the U.S., weather stole headlines again in 2023. What caused such extreme conditions? One meteorologist explains the culprits of the heat and drought.

Undesirable weeds in pastures and hayfields can significantly impact the quantity and lifespan of preferred forage plants. Producers should consider several aspects of weed management to mitigate the effects of weeds.

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.

Tom Askjem disappears under farmland, descends to depths of 13’-plus, and returns to the surface with treasure—bottles and glassware from agriculture’s past.

The Last Acre Act would help expand high-speed internet access across eligible farmland, ranchland and farm sites. At least 15% of farms and ranches have no access to the internet today. 

North Dakota auction company announces new record-high land sale for cropland in the northeast corner of the state at $17,500 per acre, while in Iowa farmland sales are starting to cool off.

Missouri soils unlocked a ‘golden’ antibiotic 75 years ago that’s still used in livestock today.

With heat forecast to top 100 degrees in places, combined with the expectation for little to no rain, crop conditions could deteriorate and the biggest risk in the western and central Corn Belt.

The July Ag Economists' Monthly Monitor showed several key changes from June including a bigger cut to corn and soybean yields, a drop in corn and soybean prices and more bullish cattle and hog prices.

Suppliers and retailers continue to cut glyphosate prices in the U.S. as the industry grapples with too much supplies. With no resolve in sight, one inputs analyst thinks glyphosate prices could remain low through 2023.

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.

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.

“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

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.

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

Seven U.S. states along the drought-starved Colorado River have reached a deal with the Biden administration to conserve water in a "historic consensus" to prevent supply problems for big cities as well as farmers.

USDA’s proposed rule change to the Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) framework has given rise to several recurring arguments which offer confusion and distraction. 

Farmers in the Southern Plains are finally starting to see much-needed moisture hit their fields. It may be too late for winter wheat, but it’s a hopeful sign for those needing the rain to even plant summer crops.

A late April blast could bring sub-freezing temperatures as far south as northern Texas, sparking growing concerns about the potential damage to winter wheat.

Scenes across Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas resemble the Dust Bowl after winds topping 100 mph ravaged the area. Growers are dealing with a dryland wheat crop that could already see abandonment as high as 80%.

As La-Niña ends, meteorologists say the next two months could determine whether we see a drought like 2012 or a return of regular rains across the lower 48.

Text of the $1.7 trillion omnibus spending package was released early Tuesday morning. The Senate will vote first and intends to pass the measure before Thursday, leaving the House no time to demand changes.

Sometimes the greatest lesson we can learn in life is how to not see a setback as a failure. Here's how five FFA members are discovering challenges are never the end of the road, but rather the beginning.

Jeff Pybus is farming’s invisible grim reaper, slaying rats in the dark as he shoots and films for an addicting, no-frills YouTube channel.

According to Secretary Vilsack, these efforts will “increase the competitive advantage of U.S. agriculture both domestically and internationally,” while building wealth in rural America.

Agriculture producers with Federal crop insurance for crops in transition to organic or a certified organic grain or feed crop are eligible to receive premium assistance from the USDA for the 2023 reinsurance year.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced details of the USDA’s $300 million investment, that aims to help build new and better markets and streams of income for farmers and producers through organic production.

With silage harvest approaching, manure application may soon follow. Do you have a plan for optimum application rates and methods? Here's some tips to help make the best management decisions!

USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey is concerned about the impact this week's high heat could have on corn production as the majority of the crop was planted late. The August forecasts are also concerning for soybeans.

A potential stoppage on the nation's railways this fall is spurring concern, even after President Biden signed an executive order Sunday to keep U.S. rail traffic on track and the collective bargaining process going.

Triple digit heat blankets the Southwest this week, and forecasters expect the ridge of high pressure to park over the western Corn Belt next week. AccuWeather projects U.S. corn production could be severely impacted.

Solar energy offers numerous benefits for agricultural irrigation, including energy savings, efficiency, reduced environmental impact and potential tax savings through incentive programs.

In a world of competition, there is value in U.S. agriculture producers finding ways to work together in search for separate, yet common goals.

UNL researchers found that planting, harvest and calving season shave off 28 minutes of a farmer’s sleep each night, while fewer than 7.5 hours increases their risk of injury by 61%.

Less than 50% of the continental U.S. is in moderate drought for the first time since November, but with another drought record still running strong, forecasts show drought could grow over the summer months.

Arm mangled inside a hay baler, Doug Bichler fought a gruesome battle for life, determined to escape the machine at all costs.

Texas received crucial rains this week, reviving farmers’ hopes of producing a crop this year. A dire drought situation already robbed farmers of their winter wheat, but rains are now sprouting hope for other crops.

The invasive, jumping worm makes its way through 14 states in the Midwest, disturbing native soil and plant species and causing an infestation with only one worm.

Based on the National Weather Service North Central River Forecast Center’s latest forecast, there is a 90% chance that the Red River will exceed the major flood stage this spring.

Researchers have adapted a crop model to use in the High Plains to simulate crop water use and corn yield that can help producers adjust center-pivot irrigation strategies and maximize profitability with limited water.

More than 70% of the country is still covered in drought. And while the latest winter storm was packed with needed moisture for some areas, it didn't blanket every area needing moisture to restore depleted soils.

“Food inflation is a hot topic,” Michael Swanson says noting that overall prices in the category are running at 6% higher than a year ago, whereas typically year-to-year food inflation is 1%.

As drought plagued the West and Plains in 2021, grasshoppers took over many pastures and crops, which demolished grasses and hayfields. In the South and Midwest, fall armyworms were a costly battle for farmers.