Blogs

  • An Urban's Rural View

    This new book is upbeat about AI and technology generally. (Photo courtesy Simon and Schuster)
    Posted by Urban C Lehner , Editor Emeritus

    "Superagency: What Could Possibly Go Right with Our AI Future" is a thought-provoking antidote to the angst so many feel about the rise of artificial intelligence.

  • Ag Weather Forum

    The Upper Missouri River Basin mid-April Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) amount was 85% of the 30-year average in the reach above Fort Peck, Montana. The Fort Peck to Garrison, North Dakota, reach SWE was also 85% of the 30-year average. Both reaches have likely peaked for the season. (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers graphic)
    Posted by Bryce Anderson , Ag Meteorologist Emeritus

    Below-average runoff forecast indicates reduced soil moisture in northwestern Corn Belt.

  • Sort & Cull

    Boxed beef prices could begin to see stronger seasonal demand, but offsetting trade news will be a challenge for traders. (DTN photo by ShayLe Stewart)

    Beef demand may be exceptional and could even increase seasonally through the Memorial Day weekend, but it's going to take a lot of market support for traders to remain steadfast and focused amid any more trade chatter that could arise.

  • Canada Markets

    During an extremely aggressive liquidation event in the corn market, managed money funds and commodity index traders reduced their combined net-long positions a whopping 433,391 contracts (2.167 bb) in six weeks. It now looks like they may want back in. (DTN ProphetX chart)
    Posted by Mitch Miller , DTN Contributing Canadian Grains Analyst

    Various funds rushed back into the corn market with the underlying corn fundamentals of exceptional demand not changed, resulting in a $0.49/bushel rally in two weeks.

  • Ag Policy Blog

    A bulk cargo ship waiting to be loaded at port. The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) noted fees on bulk commodity ships arriving empty at ports would be waived under the Trump administration's plan. (DTN file photo by Chris Clayton)
    Posted by Chris Clayton , DTN Ag Policy Editor

    Based on comments from a few commodity groups, perhaps the docking fees on Chinese ships might not be as bad as expected. Still, DTN ran some numbers on what a $50 per metric ton fee would look like if Chinese companies choose to impose the fee on outbound cargo.

  • Market Matters Blog

    A soybean field underwater for almost two weeks on land near the Cache River in Arkansas, which has been just under moderate flood stage for well over two weeks and not expected to fall anytime soon. And it's no secret that soybeans don't like wet feet. (Photo courtesy of Joe Christian)

    The Cache River flooding has been almost nonstop for Arkansas farmers in its path who need to finish spring planting.

  • Minding Ag's Business

    University of Illinois crop budget estimates show it will cost an average of $4.60 to raise an acre of corn on highly productive, central-Illinois farmland. (DTN file photo)
    Posted by Katie Micik Dehlinger , Farm Business Editor

    During low-margin years, farmers should consider carefully four main areas to maintain a strong financial position.

  • Technically Speaking

    The chart above is a daily chart of December corn futures on a weekly basis. (DTN ProphetX chart)
    Posted by Dana Mantini , Senior Market Analyst

    New crop December corn futures have been on a tear since the end of March. In that time, December futures rallied 33 cents above the low set on March 31. A look at the weekly chart would show December bumping up against a long-term trendline, and close to what should be...

  • Fundamentally Speaking

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

    State yields of the top 18 soybean producing states as a percentage of the U.S. yield looking at the five, ten and then 25-year averages vs. the percent of each state's soybean harvested area over the past 25 years.

  • Ethanol Blog

    U.S. senators asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday to raise Renewable Fuel Standard volumes in an upcoming proposal. (DTN file photo by Joel Reichenburger)

    A bipartisan group of U.S. senators asked the administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to set a multi-year Renewable Fuel Standard proposal to provide certainty to the biofuels market.

  • MachineryLink

    Among all the safety rules of chain sawing is one most important. Never move a running saw without engaging the brake. I didn't. If not for the chaps, I would have put a 6-inch gash across my upper leg. (DTN/Progressive Farmer photo by Dan Miller)
    Posted by Dan Miller , Progressive Farmer Senior Editor

    Tornado season started early this year, and we are only now getting into the thick of it. Chainsaws are a powerful tool of recovery. Used improperly, they also are deadly.

  • South America Calling

    The April forecast from DTN is calling for well-below-normal rainfall for the tail end of Brazil's wet season. (DTN graphic)
    Posted by John Baranick , DTN Meteorologist

    Soil moisture is below normal in many of Brazil's safrinha corn growing areas. A drier outlook for April puts that corn crop at a higher risk of drought and damage.

  • Production Blog

    The upcoming growing season will present challenges for farmers, agreed Rob Clayton, Nutrien Ag Solutions senior vice president of North American retail. Amid these challenges, Nutrien has opened an Illinois-based Innovation Farm aimed at finding practical ways to simplify farmer decision making by providing data-backed insights. (DTN photo by Pamela Smith)
    Posted by Pamela Smith , Crops Technology Editor

    New center puts boots in the field for repeatable and economic solutions that make sense for farmers.

  • Editors' Notebook

    Posted by Greg D Horstmeier , DTN Editor-in-Chief

    March 18 is National Ag Day in the United States. DTN hopes you'll join us in recognizing and celebrating the many benefits that agriculture brings to our nation, to our overall economy, and to the world.