Supreme Court Tariff Decision Sparks Refund Claims
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6‑3 that the president lacks authority to impose tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, declaring the contested tariff void. The decision has triggered a wave of refund litigation as importers seek reimbursement through Customs protests. Lawyers warn the refund process may be protracted, and the ruling could cloud future trade agreements with allied nations.
CONAB: Big Brazil Soybean Crop Getting Bigger
Brazil’s agricultural agency CONAB lifted its 2026 soybean forecast to a record 179.152 million metric tons, a 4.5 % increase over 2025, driven by an all‑time high yield outlook. The same report projects total corn production at 139.572 million tons, with the second‑crop...
Review What’s Really Covered by Your Insurance Policy
Country Financial’s insurance specialist Zachary Hinthorn urges farmers to meet with their agents before the planting season to review their policies. He notes that coverage terms, deductibles, and exclusions often shift year‑to‑year, leaving farms exposed to unanticipated losses. By conducting...
It’s Tick Season and Reports Are on the Rise
Tick season is intensifying across the United States as the Lone‑Star tick expands its range northward and westward. Over the past 15 years, reported cases of Alpha Gal Syndrome—a meat allergy triggered by the tick’s bite—have surged, mirroring the tick’s geographic...
Secretary Rollins Highlights New Specialty Crop Research Funding, Automation Investments
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced a $227 million annual investment in the Specialty Crop Research Initiative and Block Grant Program, including $20 million earmarked for mechanization and automation research. The funding comes from the One Big Beautiful Bill and aims to support specialty‑crop...
Ethanol Helps a Wisconsin Farmer Make up for Low Corn Prices
Wisconsin farmer Cal Dalton, a co‑owner of United Wisconsin Grain Producers, uses ethanol revenues to offset low corn prices. With ethanol selling above $2 per gallon, he can afford to sell corn below cost while still turning a profit. The...
U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Does Little for Fertilizer Availability, Prices
The recent U.S.-Iran cease‑fire will not quickly restore fertilizer flows through the Strait of Hormuz, according to StoneX market specialist Josh Linville. About 930,000 tons of fertilizer are stranded on ships, yet India alone still requires roughly 600,000 tons more to meet...
Cattle Futures Finish the Week Higher
Cattle futures closed the week higher on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, with June live cattle up $2 to $240.20 and August live cattle gaining $1.40 to $244.75 per hundredweight. Feeder cattle also rose, as May contracts added $1.92 to $372.25...
Greer: U.S. and China Relationship Is Stable
U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer told a Hudson‑hosted forum that the United States and China have settled into a stable trade relationship, even as substantial tariffs on advanced Chinese goods remain in place. He emphasized the dual priority of...
“Parking Equipment”: Minnesota Ag Commissioner Says Farmers Are Sitting Out 2026
Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen warned that negative profit margins are prompting a handful of grain growers to sit out the 2026 crop year, effectively "parking" their equipment. He said some farmers are choosing to rent their land for roughly...
Nebraska Ecologist Warns Early Turnout Could Delay Grassland Recovery This Season
University of Nebraska‑Lincoln rangeland ecologist Dirac Tidwell warns that early herd turnout on newly greened pastures could postpone grassland recovery after this season’s extensive wildfires. The fires destroyed many rotational grazing paddocks, limiting producers’ ability to move cattle and forcing...
Rain Key to Grassland Recovery Following Nebraska Wildfires
University of Nebraska rangeland ecologist Dirac Tidwell says recovery of sandhill grasslands burned by recent wildfires hinges on rainfall in the coming weeks. An inch of precipitation can trigger primary production, while ongoing drought could delay regrowth for years. Medium‑term...
Ag Economist Warns Middle East Conflict Has Economy Teetering
Dr. David Kohl, a Virginia Tech agricultural economist, warns that the ongoing Middle East conflict—fueling gasoline at $4, diesel at $5, and oil at $100 a barrel—could trigger a global recession if it endures for 15 weeks. He notes that...
Agronomist Warns Growers to Stay Ahead of Corn Rootworm This Season
Agronomist George Huckabay of Vive Crop Protection warns that corn rootworm will be the top pest challenge for Midwest growers in 2026. He says infestations damage root systems, leading to poor standability and lodging as plants mature. Recent comments from...
Soybeans Rise, Corn and Wheat Fall Ahead of WASDE Report
Soybean futures edged higher on short covering as Brazil’s near‑record harvest nears completion and Argentina’s early season picks up. Traders are watching China’s pending high‑level talks, which could reshape U.S. bean export demand. Meanwhile, corn and wheat prices slipped on...
MU’s FAPRI: Fertilizer Price Relief Could Take Longer than Expected
The Food and Ag Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) at Missouri University warned that even if the Middle East cease‑fire holds, U.S. fertilizer prices will remain elevated through the fall. Economists Bob Maltsbarger and Seth Meyer said the lingering impact of reduced...
Diversifying the Corn Belt
A new policy brief from the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) outlines pathways to diversify the U.S. Corn Belt, where 94% of Illinois, Indiana and Iowa cropland is devoted to corn and soybeans. Researchers Lauren Asprooth and Brennan...
Ethanol Exports Continue Upward Trend, RFA Says
U.S. ethanol exports have surged, with 2025 setting a record of about 1.9 billion gallons and 2026 off to a rapid start, delivering over 200 million gallons in each of the first two months. Canada remains the largest importer, purchasing nearly 800 million...
Mixed Outlook for Corn Belt as Planting Conditions Improve but Drought Lingers
The Corn Belt faces a mixed planting outlook as warmer temperatures improve conditions in Iowa and parts of the Midwest, while precipitation remains uncertain. A potential active storm track in April could deliver needed moisture later in the season. However,...
Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: April 8, 2026
On April 8, 2026, U.S. grain and livestock futures closed with mixed moves. Corn slipped 1.75 cents to $4.47 per bushel, while soybeans rose 3.75 cents to $11.62. Wheat fell sharply 17.75 cents to $5.80, and live cattle gained 12 cents to $245.92 per head. Lean...
Congresswoman Concerned About Lack of Communication on E15 Negotiations
Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski, a member of the House Agriculture Committee, warned that Democrats have been shut out of ongoing negotiations over a nationwide, year‑round E15 ethanol blend. The Rural Domestic Energy Council has missed its self‑imposed deadline to move legislation...
Early Growth Last Fall Paying Off for Cover Crops in Southern Minnesota
South‑central Minnesota farmer Sam Ziegler reports that an unusually warm October allowed his cover crops to germinate early in bean stubble, delivering visible green‑up this spring. He plants covers, primarily oats, after corn harvest, and the early start is now...
Cash Dairy Prices Steady-to-Lower Tuesday
Cash dairy prices were largely unchanged Tuesday, with most commodities holding steady or slipping slightly. Dry whey remained flat at $0.69 per pound, while cheese blocks held at $1.6725 per pound after four sales. Butter edged down $0.0050 to $1.7475...
Midday Cash Livestock Markets
Midday cash cattle trading remained inactive on April 7, with no bids and lower showlists across feeding regions, pushing expected volume to later in the week. Boxed beef prices showed a mixed picture as Choice fell $1.87 to $386.17 while Select...
New App in MO to Track Flood and Drought Conditions in Real Time
Missouri’s Department of Natural Resources launched the Missouri Hydrology Information Center (MOHIC) app, delivering real‑time flood and drought monitoring across the state. The platform aggregates data from an extensive network of stream gauges and soil‑moisture sensors, translating raw measurements into...
Southeast Nebraska Farmer Sees $50K Spike in Fertilizer Costs
Nebraska farmer Ben Steffen reported a $50,000 jump in fertilizer expenses as the 2026 growing season begins, compounding an already red‑lined operation. He also anticipates an additional $4,000‑$5,000 in diesel costs over the next eight weeks. Similar input‑price pressures are...
Confidence in Transition to El Nino Weather Pattern Climbing
Aura Commodities meteorologist Xander Lowry says the United States could see a shift toward an El Niño pattern as early as next month, with model forecasts assigning a 75‑80% probability for the May‑July window. The warm central Pacific waters that drive...
Some Missouri Producers Are Seeing Early Alfalfa Weevil Pressure
Missouri’s Department of Agriculture reports an unusually early onset of alfalfa weevil activity, driven by March temperatures that were roughly seven degrees above normal. Some growers have already begun pesticide applications, with a few contemplating a second spray before the...
A Light Round of Direct Cattle Business on Friday
Direct cattle trading was muted on Friday, with only a handful of deals reported in the South. Weekly live cattle prices in the South edged up $8‑$9, while dressed cattle in the North averaged $385, about $13 higher than the...
Transportation Cost Increases Likely to Trickle Down to the Farmer
Diesel fuel prices have jumped nearly 40% since the Middle East conflict, pushing the national average to $5.49 per gallon, up from $3.76 last month. Transportation providers warn that rates could increase by 30 to 50 cents per mile to...
U.S. Farms Double Biogas Capture in 5 Years, New Report Finds
U.S. farms operating biogas capture systems have more than doubled over the past five years, reaching over 630 installations according to the American Biogas Council. Dairy farms dominate the sector, accounting for nearly 80% of the projects, while California alone...
Iowa Fields Turning Green as Cover Crop Season Kicks Into Gear
Iowa’s southeast and east‑central fields are greening as cover crops emerge with warming spring temperatures. Extension agronomist Rebecca Vittetoe notes that growers are already planning termination timing based on objectives such as erosion control, weed suppression, or forage. Some producers...
NGFA Tracking Key Ag Transportation Bills
The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) is monitoring two critical pieces of legislation: the surface transportation authorization, which lapses at the end of September, and the biennial Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). The highway bill, originally enacted under the...
Finstad Eyes Quick Action on Year-Round E15 After Recess
Republican Representative Brad Finstad, a member of the House Agriculture Committee, says the year‑round E15 ethanol blend legislation is nearing completion, with the latest draft now at the House legal counsel’s office. He reports growing support from small and medium‑sized...
Michigan Growers Invited to Join On-Farm Soybean Research Trials
Michigan State University extension specialist Eric Anderson is inviting soybean growers to join 11 on‑farm research trials across the state. The trials use donated inputs and limit farmer exposure to risk by testing products on a modest acreage. Current focus...
Fall Fertilizer Applications a Boost for some Iowa Farmers
Iowa extension agronomist Rebecca Vittetoe reports that most southeast and east‑central Iowa farms have already applied fall manure, delivering the bulk of phosphorus and potassium needs, and have completed most lime applications. However, nitrogen prices remain volatile, prompting some producers...
Sorghum Acres at Least Partially Impacted by Drought in Plains
USDA forecasts sorghum planting at 6.12 million acres for 2026, an 8 % decline from 2025. The drop reflects drought impacts in the Plains, with Kansas acreage cut by 10 % and Texas also seeing reductions. Conversely, South Dakota’s sorghum area jumps 53 %...
Hay Harvested Area Likely to Increase in 2026
The USDA projects 50.113 million acres of hay will be harvested in 2026, a 1% increase over 2025, suggesting a modest boost in national supply. State‑level data reveal mixed trends: Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin expand acreage, while Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Nebraska...
Lender: Keep Fine-Tuning Finances
Chris Schneider of Nicolet National Bank told Brownfield that agricultural operating loans are growing as input costs rise, yet loan amounts per acre have stayed relatively flat. He urged farmers to trim controllable expenses, noting that cutting many small costs...
Michigan Corn Says New RVOs Could Lift State Efforts to Expand Biofuel Markets
The EPA announced higher Renewable Volume Obligations, expanding the mandated share of renewable fuels and boosting demand for corn‑based ethanol. Michigan Corn Growers Association leader Scott Piggott says the change could help offset the average 93‑cent‑per‑bushel loss reported by corn...
Dairy Innovation Takes Center Stage with Midwest Dairy’s Startup Accelerator
Midwest Dairy, in partnership with venture capital firm VentureFuel, has launched its second annual accelerator program aimed at dairy‑focused entrepreneurs. The initiative seeks startups developing products such as beverages, spreads, yogurts, cheeses, ice creams, sauces and other dairy‑derived snacks. Applications...
Markets React Negatively to EPA Renewable Fuel Standard Announcement
The EPA finalized the 2026‑2027 Renewable Fuel Standard, setting the largest biomass‑based diesel volume ever approved. Grain markets reacted sharply negative, with futures dropping as traders processed the news. Analysts suggest the decline stems from uncertainty about future RFS targets...
Farmland Outlook Remains Solid Even as Farm Incomes Lag, Economist Says
Economist Ernie Goss of Creighton University says farmland values are strengthening even as farm incomes remain flat. The Rural Mainstreet Index showed the March farmland index rose above growth‑neutral for the first time in 2026, signaling renewed price momentum. Goss...
Cash Dairy Prices Fell Friday
Cash dairy prices slipped on Friday at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, with most benchmarks posting modest declines. Forty‑pound cheese blocks fell $0.0375 to $1.5825 per pound, while cheese barrels dropped $0.0075 to $1.5650. Butter prices decreased $0.02 to $1.8250, and...
Midday Cash Livestock Markets
Midday cash livestock markets showed muted cattle activity, with live bids at $235, still below the $238‑$240 asking range in Texas, while Thursday’s deals held steady at $370‑$372 per head. Boxed beef prices rose, with Choice beef up $4.24 to...
Middle Eastern Conflict Compounding Already Volatile Fertilizer Markets
U.S. farmers are confronting a new wave of fertilizer cost pressure as the Middle Eastern conflict has shut the Strait of Hormuz, a key conduit for sulfur imports. The disruption threatens sulfur supplies essential for producing sulfuric acid, a core...
Higher Moves in Soybeans, Corn, and Wheat
Soybean futures rose on fund buying and anticipation of the EPA's upcoming blending mandate announcement, buoyed by optimism from Middle East peace talks and a scheduled Trump‑China meeting. A recent Brazil‑China phytosanitary agreement is expected to smooth soybean shipments that...
Time Is Right for New, Young Cattle Producers
Dan Schaefer of Schaefer Beef Consulting says the convergence of an aging cattle‑producer base, robust consumer demand for beef, and underutilized land makes now an optimal moment for young entrepreneurs to launch beef operations. He highlights that leasing arrangements—particularly cost‑sharing...
Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: March 25, 2026
U.S. grain futures closed higher on March 25, with May corn edging up to $4.67 per bushel and soybeans climbing to $11.71. Livestock prices slipped, as April live cattle fell to $234.42 and feeder cattle slipped modestly, while lean hogs...
Increasing Diesel Prices Are Driving up Livestock Transportation Costs
Diesel prices have climbed to $5.15 per gallon, up from $4.89 a week earlier and $1.57 above the month‑ago average, marking a $1.69 year‑over‑year increase. Ag economist Charley Martinez warns that the higher fuel cost is inflating livestock trucking expenses,...