Blogs

  • Ethanol Blog

    Members of Congress have asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to minimize volumes increases in the Renewable Fuel Standard. (DTN file photo by Joel Reichenberger)

    Forty-two members of Congress are pressing the Trump administration to minimize Renewable Fuel Standard volumes increases and to not reallocate gallons lost to small-refinery exemptions.

  • Production Blog

    Are you seeing a dab of darkness at the end of the kernel? That's black layer, and it means the corn plant is done moving sucrose into the kernel. (DTN photo by Pamela Smith)
    Posted by Pamela Smith , Crops Technology Editor

    Here's why black layer means game over on building dry matter in a corn crop.

  • Ag Policy Blog

    Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins sits with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., as they release a series of health and food recommendations set by the Make America Healthy Again Commission. After agricultural backlash in May, the report tones down specific criticisms of pesticides and the EPA's science. (DTN image by Jerry Hagstrom)

    The official release of the latest MAHA report mirrored a leaked copy from last month that backs away from criticisms of pesticide use by farmers. The report does tout agricultural investments in precision spraying with drones and repeatedly champions soil health...

  • Ag Weather Forum

    The NOAA Climate Prediction Center expects drought to develop over the majority of the eastern Midwest during September. (NOAA graphic)
    Posted by Bryce Anderson , Ag Meteorologist Emeritus

    Precipitation deficits of 2 to 4-plus inches in the past 30 days have brought widespread degradation to soil moisture conditions in the eastern Midwest.

  • An Urban's Rural View

    The federal government has become the largest shareholder in the semiconductor company Intel. Is that a good idea?

    President Donald Trump demanded and got a 10% stake for Uncle Sam in the semiconductor company Intel and is talking about acquiring interests in other companies. Critics have cried socialism.

  • Sort & Cull

    Between running slower chain speeds and being able to buy just over 73,000 head in last week's fed cash cattle market, packers gained some leverage in last week's market. (photo by Jim Patrico)
    Posted by ShayLe Stewart , DTN Livestock Analyst

    Packers were able to buy a sizeable volume last week in the fed cash cattle market, which likely means that they'll aim to work prices even lower in the weeks ahead.

  • South America Calling

    The primary row-crop areas in South America (outlined) have a long growing season, but have characteristically different weather that makes them unique. (DTN graphic)

    The growing season is long in South America and weather conditions can produce various effects depending on when they occur.

  • Market Matters Blog

    DTN's weekly spot price for domestic distillers dried grains for the week ended Sept. 4 is up $1 on average versus one week ago. (DTN file photo)
    Posted by Mary Kennedy , DTN Basis Analyst

    DTN's weekly average spot price for domestic distillers dried grains is slightly higher versus one week ago.

  • Canada Markets

    Corn export sales to date for 2025-26 (shown in green) are more than double the pace seen over the past three years and have only been exceeded once in the last 25 years (by a mere 20 mb), thanks to China buying aggressively to satisfy their phase 1 commitments during the first Trump term. That could play a critical role in determining if the seasonal low has indeed been set in the corn market. (DTN chart, USDA data)
    Posted by Mitch Miller , DTN Contributing Canadian Grains Analyst

    Very strong new-crop corn export sales to date, combined with slow farmer sales and disease and late-season drought concerns, may result in the Aug. 12 contract low for December corn marking the seasonal low as well.

  • MachineryLink

    The Farm Progress Show was filled this year with new tractors and tractor technology. AGCO is extending its driverless retrofit grain cart autonomation, OutRun, to its Fendt 900 and for the first time, to tillage, both coming in 2026. (DTN photo by Dan Miller)
    Posted by Dan Miller , Progressive Farmer Senior Editor

    Didn't get to the Farm Progress Show last week? Here, take a tour with us. See what we saw.

  • Technically Speaking

    This is a daily chart of November soybean futures showing key moving averages just below. (DTN ProphetX chart)
    Posted by Dana Mantini , Senior Market Analyst

    The jury is still out on the 2025 soybean crop; but a decision may be close at hand. Dryness in parts of the southern and eastern Midwest in August might very well have compromised yield to some extent. However, there is a far bigger issue facing soybean growers and...

  • Fundamentally Speaking

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

    Both spreads in dollars per bushel vs. the September corn/December corn and September soybean/November soybean price ratios.

  • Editors' Notebook

    Many 4-H and FFA exhibitors from across the state bring cattle and other livestock each year to show at the Iowa State Fair. These steers were shown last week in the historical pavilion in Des Moines. (DTN/Progressive Farmer photo by Jennifer Carrico)
    Posted by Jennifer Carrico , Senior Livestock Editor

    The Iowa State Fair has created lasting family memories over the past 171 years. The annual celebration proves people are what make the fairs special.

  • Minding Ag's Business

    As demand for farm loans continues to grow, lenders report plenty of funding is available to meet the demand. (Chart courtesy of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City)

    While more farmers are leaning on bank financing for 2025, others are finding it tough to stay in business. Farm banks are well-situated to support increased loan demand as capital levels and profitability grew in 2024.

P[L1] D[728x90] M[320x50] OOP[F] ADUNIT[] T[]
DIM[2x3] LBL[blogs-list] SEL[[data-native-ad-target=articleList]] IDX[4] TMPL[news-lg] T[]