Blogs

  • Canada Markets

    Since the U.S. Federal Reserve embarked on its current rate-cutting cycle in September, it has cut the Fed Funds target rate by a full percent. In the meantime, the rate on the U.S. 10-year note jumped from 3.64% at the time to 4.80% on Tuesday. Will this week's PPI and CPI reports mark the end of the break in Treasurys and accompanying increase in interest rates? (DTN ProphetX chart by Mitch Miller)
    Posted by Mitch Miller , DTN Contributing Canadian Grains Analyst

    U.S. Treasury markets have been under relentless pressure on fears of a resurgence of inflation. At the same time, central banks around the world have been cutting interest rates with market debates having more to do with how many more cuts are coming instead of whether...

  • Ag Policy Blog

    The U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee has scheduled a Jan. 23 confirmation hearing for Agriculture Secretary nominee Brooke Rollins. On Wednesday, more than 400 agricultural groups wrote the committee leaders calling for them to quickly confirm her. (Photo from America First Policy Institute website)

    On Wednesday, 427 agricultural groups from a broad spectrum of commodities and organizations wrote leaders of the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee calling for swift confirmation of Brooke Rollins as President-elect Donald Trump's Agriculture secretary. The committee scheduled...

  • Ethanol Blog

    Green Plains Inc. announced progress on a carbon capture and storage project for its ethanol plants in Nebraska. (Green Plains logo)
    Posted by Todd Neeley , DTN Environmental Editor

    Green Plains Inc. announced on Thursday it had acquired all the necessary property to complete a carbon-capture project at its ethanol plants in Nebraska.

  • Ag Weather Forum

    The DTN seasonal forecast points toward a weakening of La Nina's influence this spring and potential hot and dry conditions this summer. (DTN graphic)

    A weak La Nina is in place this winter, but it will not stick around long. What is expected for this spring and summer?

  • Fundamentally Speaking

    Chart by Joel Karlin, DTN Contributing Analyst

    Percent change in the 2024 corn and soybean yields for the top growing states and the U.S. from the September to the January report vs. the past year's August to October total precipitation as a percent of the 1895-2024 Aug-Oct average.

  • Sort & Cull

    At the start of each new week, cattlemen, traders and everyone else in between ask themselves the same question: Does the market stand a chance at trading higher again this week? (DTN file photo by Jim Patrico)
    Posted by ShayLe Stewart , DTN Livestock Analyst

    We all know at some point packers will gather enough cattle for the market, causing this incredible rally to cool down. But I'm personally not convinced packers have enough supply purchased just yet.

  • Production Blog

    Purchasing a new bottle of Corn Huskers Lotion stirs memories and hope that not everything changes over time. (DTN photo by Pamela Smith)
    Posted by Pamela Smith , Crops Technology Editor

    Those who work outside may remember the soothing attributes of Corn Huskers Lotion and be surprised to learn it is still available after all these years.

  • Market Matters Blog

    The ship you see in the harbor is the arriving 1,000-foot James R. Barker (Interlake Steamship Company) to load ore at the CN dock, its last trip of the season, according to David Sauer. (Photo courtesy Schauer Photo Images)

    Shipping season will end on the Great Lakes for the winter as the last of the Soo Locks close on Jan. 15.

  • An Urban's Rural View

    Last April Congress passed a law ordering TikTok to be sold or cease operations by Jan. 19, 2025. A Supreme Court decision on that law looms. (Photo by nordskovmedia.dk, Public Domain)
    Posted by Urban C Lehner , Editor Emeritus

    Unless it's unexpectedly saved by the Supreme Court, the popular social-media platform TikTok will soon either cease operations in the U.S. or be sold to a non-Chinese owner.

  • South America Calling

    There is a big difference in the forecast rainfall amounts with a couple of fronts between the European and GFS ensemble models. (DTN graphic)
    Posted by John Baranick , DTN Meteorologist

    It has been very dry in Argentina for the last couple of weeks and will continue to be dry into next week. A pair of fronts are forecast to move through the country late next week and weekend, but models disagree on how much precipitation will fall from them.

  • Technically Speaking

    Most active (March) corn futures traded to their highest level since mid-June on Monday. Pulling well ahead of the major moving averages but have been unable in recent sessions to close above $4.60. (DTN ProphetX chart by Rhett Montgomery)
    Posted by Rhett Montgomery , DTN Lead Analyst

    Corn futures through the last quarter of 2024 have been quick to accelerate through technical roadblocks and prices are facing another technical test at $4.60.

  • Editors' Notebook

    The final stories on our Top 10 ag stories of 2024 point to a lot of frustration through the year, especially with Congress. (Image by smartboy10, Getty Images)
    Posted by Greg D Horstmeier , DTN Editor-in-Chief

    Our No. 1 story for 2024, for the first time in memory, is the same as in 2023. And that is frustrating, and concerning, no matter how you slice it.

  • Minding Ag's Business

    USDA forecasts 2024 net farm income at $140.7 billion dollars, while net cash farm income is projected at $158.8 billion. (Chart courtesy of USDA)
    Posted by Katie Micik Dehlinger , Farm Business Editor

    The Economic Research Service's third reading of net farm incomes is lower than 2023, but the decline is softer than initially forecast due to better-than-expected production expenses.

  • MachineryLink

    The Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a watch for a minor-level geomagnetic storm this weekend (DTN image courtesy of the Space Weather Prediction Center)

    The Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a minor-level geomagnetic storm watch for this weekend. A storm of this intensity will have little to no impact on farming guidance systems.