Blogs

  • Ag Policy Blog

    The government shutdown will now not only affect the incomes of federal employees, but also now risks cutting off food-aid benefits to roughly 42 million who are on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
    Posted by Chris Clayton , DTN Ag Policy Editor

    Declaring that nearly 42 people won't receive food-aid benefits in November because of the government shutdown is unprecedented and reflects a policy choice to use low-income people as leverage to end the shutdown.

  • South America Calling

    DTN is predicting a rather dry southern Brazil and much of Argentina for the month of November, a flip from the current pattern. (DTN graphic)
    Posted by John Baranick , DTN Meteorologist

    Long-range models seem to agree that a flip in the weather pattern will occur in November, bringing heavier rain to central Brazil, but drying out southern Brazil and Argentina.

  • Ethanol Blog

    Clean Fuels Alliance America asked the U.S. trade representative to close a loophole in the reciprocal tariff regime that's hurting U.S. biofuels producers. (DTN file photo)

    Clean Fuels Alliance America asked the Trump administration to close a tariff loophole allowing duty-free imported renewable diesel into the U.S., which disadvantages U.S. biofuels producers and American farmers.

  • Canada Markets

    Excessively overbought stocks compared to the commodities that are used to help generate that wealth are on display here. With the S&P index 64 times the Bloomberg Commodity Index compared to 5.35 in 2008 (amid similar concerns), are we about to see a flow of funds from equity to commodity markets? (DTN ProphetX chart)
    Posted by Mitch Miller , DTN Contributing Canadian Grains Analyst

    Is it time for money to flow out of the overbought stock market and into cheap commodity markets as valid concerns about the former increase?

  • Ag Weather Forum

    Research using NASA satellites, along with studies of coastal environments facing weather extremes, face significant cuts in the 2026 federal budget. (NOAA satellite image; flood photo by Thea Quinnt)
    Posted by Bryce Anderson , Ag Meteorologist Emeritus

    The proposed 2026 federal science budget would be the lowest this century.

  • Minding Ag's Business

    Talk to your local grain buyers on basis contracts and look for impending market opportunities. (DTN photo by Elaine Shein)
    Posted by Rhett Montgomery , DTN Lead Analyst

    Following a frustrating past year for marketing of 2024 and 2025 crops, time is quickly approaching to begin making plans for 2026-27, as well.

  • Market Matters Blog

    USACE New Orleans district built an underwater sill near Myrtle Grove, Louisiana to prevent further upriver progression of salt water from the Gulf. (Photo courtesy of USACE)
    Posted by Mary Kennedy , DTN Basis Analyst

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District, finished construction of an underwater sill across the bed of the Mississippi River channel near Myrtle Grove, Louisiana.

  • Sort & Cull

    Cattle producers are watching what is happening with market prices daily. (DTN file photo)
    Posted

    Comments from the Trump administration have caught beef producers' attention. Prices have been driven by low inventory, and beef producers prefer it to be that way.

  • Fundamentally Speaking

    Chart by Joel Karlin, DTN Contributing Analyst
    Posted by Joel Karlin , DTN Contributing Analyst

    2024 and 2025 winter wheat yields for the top 18 growing states and the U.S. vs. the percent those yields deviated from the 25-year trend.

  • An Urban's Rural View

    In up years and down for U.S. exports, China has been far and away the biggest customer. (USDA Foreign Agricultural Service chart)
    Posted by Urban C Lehner , Editor Emeritus

    When your biggest customer buys more from you than the next nine customers combined, you've got a problem.

  • Editors' Notebook

    The American Bankers Association-Farmer Mac Agricultural Lender Survey, done in August 2024, showed "Lenders' Top Concerns for Producers" were liquidity (working capital) at No. 1 followed by farm income. (Source: ABA-Farmer Mac Agricultural Lender Survey)
    Posted by Elaine Shein , DTN/Progressive Farmer Associate Content Manager

    Discussing farm financing is difficult but necessary. Farmers often need supportive financing tools and programs to navigate challenges. Additionally, numerous strategies and advice can help farmers manage costs and face those challenges.

  • Production Blog

    The black dust fogging your combine may not be pleasant, but it is likely harmless and just nature's way of breaking down plant tissue. (DTN photo by Pamela Smith)
    Posted by Pamela Smith , Crops Technology Editor

    That cloud of black behind the combine might be more than dust. It's nature's way of degrading plant tissue.

  • MachineryLink

    With some evidence that U.S. sales of 40- to 100-horsepower tractors are improving, Kubota has high expectations for its new line of next-generation Grand L70 Series compact tractors. (Photo courtesy of Kubota)
    Posted by Dan Miller , Progressive Farmer Senior Editor

    Newly appointed Kubota Tractor Corporation President Alex Woods said as Kubota struggles with tariffs, it has some evidence a bottom in the slumping compact tractor market is on the near horizon.

  • Technically Speaking

    Looking back to September 1990 and adjusting prices for inflation, there have been only five instances of monthly closing prices for the most active KC wheat contract falling below $5. (DTN chart by Rhett Montgomery)
    Posted by Rhett Montgomery , DTN Lead Analyst

    Most-active December Kansas City wheat futures have fallen below long-term support at $5, cementing late 2025 wheat prices amongst the lowest in history.

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