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Input costs aren’t dropping alongside inflation
General inflation has cooled off from the high points in recent years, but input costs are not following suit. Dr. Michael Langemeier is the director of Purdue’s Center for Commercial Agriculture, and he said farm input prices don’t always follow inflation up or down. Langemeier said some costs stick close to rising and falling inflation rates. Langemeier said that disconnect is why break-even prices for grain won’t come down. Langemeier said inflation is a big part of the story, but there are...
Yield numbers starting to roll in
Going out in the field for some early harvest results in some of the driest areas of the state. Jason Russell farms near the Linn-Jones County line, where his rain gauge has measured just under four inches of precipitation this growing season. With harvest results so...
NCBA says WOTUS changes are “a start”
Recently, the Environmental Protection Agency released its revised rules for the Water of the United States (WOTUS). This was in response to the Biden Administration’s reintroduction of the Obama-era rule which drew the ire of farmers and Ag groups for being far too...
Monitoring your grain bins from the palm of your hand
Harley Janssen is vice president of product and operations at AGI and says that AGI digital offers a suite of digital tools that allow you to closely monitor your grain bins. However, the number one focus remains on safety. Janssen says sensors in the bin provide a...
Taking yields back from tar spot
Tar spot comes back every year to pester farmers across the country, and, while the severity is variable throughout the U.S., it is critical for farmers to have a plan to combat it. This year, six of the twelve Corn Belt states have observed tar spot. Adam Theis, U.S....
Demand and value of farmland remains strong
Farmland values and demand remain strong. Farmland values across the country climbed this year and hit record levels despite challenges like rising interest rates and extreme weather according to recently released data from the federal government. The USDA’s annual...
Barge freight rates climb on lower water levels
The cost of transporting harvested commodities down the Mississippi River is climbing. The rates are rapidly rising as shrinking water levels drive barge freight rates higher. The forecast calling for below-average rainfall isn’t offering any relief. Bloomberg says...
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More Ag News
Effects of the Tyson plant closure on the hog industry
It was announced this week that Tyson plans to shut down another food production facility—this time, a pork production plant in Perry, Iowa. That plant has nearly 1,300 employees and kills about 8,000 head a day. Karl Setzer with Consus Ag Consulting said that, while...
What would return of La Niña weather pattern mean for growers?
The National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center this week announced that it foresees a transition from El Niño to ENSO-neutral by April-June 2024 (83% chance), with the odds of La Niña developing by June-August 2024 (62% chance). Typically, the La Niña pattern...
Secretary Naig encourages Iowans to celebrate Iowa ag week
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today encouraged all Iowans to celebrate Iowa Ag Week from Sunday, March 17 through Saturday, March 23. The weeklong statewide celebration, which includes National Ag Day on March 19, will highlight the immense importance of...
Some lawmakers believe a Farm Bill is still possible
The Farm Bill question is a hot topic as we have discussed in the past few months. There is a lot of worry and concern that the clock is ticking and both sides of the political spectrum have dug their feet in so hard, that politics is going to affect the biggest piece...
Precision ag tech assisting growers with soil fertility and analysis
In 2024 precision agriculture tools are available for nearly every aspect of row crop farming. These precision ag technology tools have made farms more efficient and sustainable while allowing producers to refine their management practices each year. Soil nutrient...
