Forage: Create the Future
The well-known saying is something along the lines of “You never know what the future holds.” We all know what that means. It is saying that you don't know what will happen tomorrow, often encouraging us to not worry about…
Does Residue Grazing Affect Later Crop Yields?
Stalk grazing appears to have no negative effect on subsequent corn or soybean yields. Grazing on harvested corn fields provides a fall and winter management option for cattle owners and an income opportunity for landowners. Baling corn residue also provides…
TPP-11 Agreement Heightens Concerns about Market Access
The 11 remaining members of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)* recently announced plans to move forward with a modified trade agreement. U.S. Meat Exporter Federation (USMEF) Economist Erin Borror explains that if the agreement, now known as the Comprehensive and Progressive…
The Touchy Issue of Pesticide Drift
It’s been 20 years since the RoundUp Ready soybean revolutionized crop production, providing farmers with a powerful tool to control yield-robbing weeds and usher in widespread adoption of conservation tillage methods. However, nature has caught up with the herbicide-resistant technology.…
Commodities Seek Global Transit Security
The Corn Belt dodged a rain-soaked bullet this summer when hurricanes Harvey and Irma—while inflicting immense local damage—failed to take out key ports where farm goods meet global markets. But the potential for disruption remains tremendous, which is why industry…
China Tops Canada As Lead Buyer of U.S. Ag Goods
Tensions are rising when it comes to the future of trade. As leaders from Canada, Mexico and the United States are in the midst of round 5 of North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) 2.0 negotiations, new numbers from U.S.…
Look to Hit Singles with Old- and New-Crop Marketing
Marketing clichés are as tiresome as a drawn-out harvest season. But in almost all clichés is a nugget of wisdom that turned into an analogy that was eventually repeated enough times to make it “tiresome.” If the saying represents a…
U.S. Tree Nuts Lead Export Growth
The growth rate for U.S. imports of agricultural goods has more than doubled the pace of U.S. ag exports since 1995, a new report on agricultural trade reveals. Rising incomes in developing countries will create more export demand for U,S,…
Farm Exports Jump Nearly $10.9 Billion this Year
This past year U.S. Agriculture exports reached its third-highest level on record at $140.5 billion (in fiscal year 2017). The nearly $10.9 billion jump lead to another year of trade surplus, a $21.3 billion excess. "U.S. agriculture depends on trade.…
December through February Outlook 'Heavily Influenced' by La Nina
The National Weather Service's (NWS) forecast for December through February signals a typical La Nina winter is ahead. The forecast calls for below-normal temps across the Pacific Northwest into the Northern Plains, while above-normal temps are expected across the South. Additionally,…