Russ Quinn

DTN Staff Reporter
Russ Quinn is a DTN editor and reporter. He was born and raised in east central Nebraska on a cow-calf and row-crop farm near Elkhorn, which he still operates with his dad.

Russ attended Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and graduated with an associate's degree in agribusiness and farm management in 1994. He then attended the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Nebraska, and graduated with a bachelor's degree in agricultural sciences in 1996.

After graduating, he began working for DTN in May of 1997 in the agriculture telesales department. In May of 1998 he was promoted to his current position in the DTN ag newsroom. Over the years, Russ has had many different editing and reporting duties and currently writes original articles including the growing-season series "View From the Cab" and the weekly column "Russ' Vintage Iron."

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  • Poison hemlock is poisonous to both animals and humans. Livestock producers need to be aware of the plant, its negative effects on livestock, as well as methods of control. (DTN photo by Pamela Smith)

    Poison Hemlock Needs To Be Watched

    The plant, poison hemlock, is poisonous to both livestock and humans. The toxic plant can grow just about anywhere but is often found in fence lines and into pastures and hay fields. Control of the plants can be done by physical...

  • DAP was above the $800-per-ton price level for the first time since the third week of July 2023. (DTN graphic)

    DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

    Prices of seven of the eight major fertilizers were higher compared to last month. Just one fertilizer had a sizable price increase compared to a month earlier for the third consecutive week. Urea was 7% higher with an average...

  • Urea was 11% higher compared to last month with an average price of $662 per ton. (DTN chart)

    DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

    Seven of the eight major fertilizers were higher compared to last month. Two fertilizers (urea and UAN28) had a sizable price increase compared to last month for the third consecutive week. DTN designates a significant move as...

  • University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) Extension is offering a week-long, in-person small meat processer management training course for those who want to enhance their skills and industry knowledge. (DTN photo by Russ Quinn)

    UNL Small Meat Locker Training Offered

    A week-long, in-person program is available to small meat lockers through the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) Extension. The program is Sept. 7-13 on UNL's East Campus in Lincoln. The course will guide participants to ensure a...

  • Stevan Patterson from Castlederg in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, plowing with his 1944 Ford-Ferguson tractor. (Photo courtesy of Stevan Patterson)

    Russ' Vintage Iron

    After DTN's Russ Quinn wrote about tractor innovator Harry Ferguson, Quinn received an email from a Northern Ireland man who is campaigning for a museum be built in his country to honor Ferguson as the man who changed...

  • Urea was 13% higher compared to last month with an average price of $652 per ton. (DTN chart)

    DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

    Seven of the eight major fertilizers were higher compared to last month. Once again three fertilizers (urea, UAN28 and UAN32) had a sizable price increase compared to last month for the third consecutive week. DTN designates a...

  • Agricultural producers need to be proactive to protect their home, buildings, equipment and livestock from wildfires. (DTN file photo)

    Protect Homes, Buildings From Wildfires

    As a higher-than-average number of wildfires are already being seen in the U.S. and the Canadian Prairies, landowners should take steps now to reduce the risk for wildfires on their property. University of Missouri Extension gives...

  • The average retail price of UAN32, at $484 per ton, was 10% higher than the previous month during the first week of May 2025, according to retailers surveyed by DTN. The price of UAN32 is now 16% higher than it was a year ago. (DTN chart)

    DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

    Once again, all eight of the major fertilizers were higher compared to last month. Three fertilizers (urea, UAN28 and UAN32) had a sizable price increase from a month ago, for the second consecutive week. DTN designates a...

  • Urea was one of three fertilizers leading prices higher in the past week compared to last month at $596/ton. (DTN chart)

    DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

    Once again all eight of the major fertilizers were more expensive compared to last month. Three fertilizers (urea, UAN28 and UAN32) had a large price increase looking back to last month. DTN designates a significant move as...

  • Take the time to prepare hay equipment now before the hay harvesting season begins, according to the University of Missouri Extension. (DTN file photo)

    Complete Hay Equipment Maintenance Now

    While nothing can prevent some breakdowns in the field, pre-season hay equipment maintenance will help the haying season go smoother. The University of Missouri Extension has some tips for hay producers as they prepare their...

  • The average retail price of UAN28, at $381 per ton, was 6% higher than the previous month during the last full week of April 2025, according to retailers surveyed by DTN. The price of UAN28 is now 5% higher than it was a year ago. (DTN chart)

    DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

    Average retail prices for all eight major fertilizers were more expensive compared to last month. Two fertilizers (UAN28 and UAN32) had a substantial price increase looking back to last month. DTN designates a significant move as...

  • The average retail price of UAN32, at $448 per ton, was 9% higher than the previous month during the last full week of April 2025, according to retailers surveyed by DTN. The price of UAN32 is now 7% higher than it was a year ago. (DTN chart)

    DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

    All eight of the major fertilizers were more expensive than last month during the last full week of April 2025. Two fertilizers, UAN28 and UAN32, had a substantial price increase from last month. DTN designates a significant move as...

  • The average price of potash was $467/ton, which is 5% more expensive compared to the prior month. (DTN chart)

    DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

    All eight of the major fertilizers were more expensive compared to last month. Three fertilizers (UAN32, UAN28 and potash) had a sizeable price increase looking back to last month. DTN designates a significant move as anything 5...

  • Alfalfa weevil larvae can inflict much damage to alfalfa plants, lowering both yield and crop quality. (Photo courtesy of Purdue University)

    Watch for Alfalfa Weevils as Weather Warms

    As warmer temperatures return to the Midwest, so do alfalfa weevils. The pests feast on alfalfa plants in the early spring and, if not treated, tonnage and quality can be reduced significantly. There are several insecticide...

  • The average retail price of UAN32 was $423 per ton during the first week of April 2025, up $26 per ton, or 6%, from $397 during the first week of March. (DTN chart)

    DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

    All eight of the major fertilizers were more expensive again compared to last month during the first week of April 2025. One fertilizer, UAN32, had a sizeable price increase, which DTN designates as anything 5% or more.

  • It is the beginning of spring when tractors return to the field to spread manure. (DTN file photo by Russ Quinn)

    Russ' Vintage Iron

    This month on Russ' Vintage Iron, we look back at some vintage manure spreaders. New Idea, International, Hampton and Kelly Ryan are some of the names of the past which helped farmers turn animal waste into valuable fertilizer for...

  • The average retail price of UAN32 was $412 per ton during the third week of March 2025, up $18 per ton, or 5%, from $394 a month ago, according to data collected by DTN. UAN32 is now 2% more expensive than it was a year ago. (DTN chart)

    DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

    Average retail prices for all eight of the major fertilizers were higher than last month during the third week of March 2025. UAN32 saw a sizeable price increase, which DTN designates as anything 5% or more.

  • The average retail price of potash was $447 per ton during the second week of March 2025, up from $442 a month ago. However, the average price of potash is still 12% lower than it was a year ago. (DTN chart)

    DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

    Average retail prices for all eight of the major fertilizers were up from last month during the second week of March 2025. But for the first time in seven weeks, no fertilizer saw a sizeable price change, which DTN designates as...

  • A new UC Davis study shows a feed methane emission product reduces methane in cattle production significantly. (DTN file photo)

    Study Shows Feed Product Reduces Methane

    A new study from UC Davis found feed ingredient, Rumin8, designed to reduce methane emissions in cattle production, decreases methane in cattle by 95.2%. In addition, the product has no impact on animal production or rumen...

  • Among the non-lethal methods for controlling predators is the use of guardian animals. (DTN file photo)

    Predators Pose a Risk to Livestock

    Predators prey on livestock, causing millions of dollars in losses annually. Coyotes, dogs and even migrating birds can all be predators, especially to young livestock. There are several non-lethal control methods to keep livestock...