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."

Recent Blogs by Author

More From This Author

  • At $763 per ton, the average retail price of anhydrous was up 21% from last month during the third week of September 2023. (DTN chart)

    DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

    Most retail fertilizer prices are down from last month, with one big exception: Anhydrous is 21% higher than last month with an average retail price of $763 per ton. Only three fertilizers -- potash, 10-34-0, DAP -- had significant...

  • Thanks to growing propane stocks in the United States and an apparent normal crop drying season this fall, the propane outlook looks favorable. Cold weather remains the wild card that could alter this outlook. (DTN/Progressive Farmer file photo)

    Propane Supply Higher than Last Year

    As harvest begins across the Corn Belt, the propane outlook looks to be promising for farmers. Thanks to increasing natural gas production, propane stocks are roughly 23% higher than a year ago. Combine this will a relatively...

  • After months of falling prices, anhydrous price moved higher in the last week. (DTN chart)

    DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

    Once again, most fertilizer prices continued to move lower compared to last month. For the first time in several months, one fertilizer moved higher compared to last month. Anhydrous was 7% more expensive compared to last month...

  • Anhydrous and UAN32 prices were 10% lower than a month ago. (DTN chart)

    DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

    Five of the eight major fertilizers saw large moves lower compared to a month earlier. Leading the way down were anhydrous and UAN32, which were 10% less expensive compared to last month. Anhydrous had an average price of...

  • The average retail price of UAN32 was down 13% from last month at $399 per ton in the second full week of August 2023. This is the first time since the first week of May 2021 that UAN32's price has been under $400 per ton. (DTN chart)

    DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

    Prices for six of the eight major fertilizers were down significantly from last month in the second full week of August 2023. Leading the way down was UAN32, which was 13% less expensive compared to last month and had an average...

  • UAN32 was 14% lower than a month ago. The nitrogen fertilizer had an average price of $400 per ton. (DTN chart)

    DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

    Like last week, all eight of the major fertilizer prices saw large moves lower compared to a month ago. Leading the way lower were anhydrous and UAN32, which were both 14% less expensive compared to last month. Anhydrous had an...

  • Long workdays can lead to fatigue for workers. Farmers, considering they operate machinery and handle livestock for many hours, are reminded to get enough sleep to avoid fatigue problems. (DTN file photo by Elaine Shein)

    Fatigue's Impact on Farmers' Health

    As farmers work long days, they may not get enough sleep. This can lead to fatigue, which can become dangerous, especially when they work with machinery and livestock. Here's how farmers can improve their situation.

  • Anhydrous led the decline in prices. The nitrogen fertilizer was 15% lower than a month ago with an average price of $638/ton.

    DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

    All eight of the major fertilizer prices saw large moves lower compared to a month ago. Leading the way was anhydrous, which was 15% less expensive compared to last month. The nitrogen fertilizer had an average price of $638/ton.

  • Urea dropped below the $600-per-ton level for the first time since the third week of September 2021. The nitrogen fertilizer's price that week was $585 per ton. In the third week of July 2023, the average urea price was $596 per ton. (DTN chart)

    DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

    Prices for all eight of the major fertilizers are lower compared to last month for the second consecutive week. Urea dropped below the $600-per-ton level for the first time since the third week of September 2021.

  • Harmful algal blooms (HAB) can produce toxins called cyanobacteria that are harmful to people, livestock and pets. (DTN file photo)

    Watch for Harmful Algae This Summer

    Water sources such as lakes, ponds and streams are subject to the formation of harmful algal blooms (HAB). HABs are usually caused by the rapid growth of blue-green algae, known as cyanobacteria. NCRS has five steps livestock...

  • Continuing drought is having a negative effect on forage production in parts of Nebraska and Kansas. Because of this, hay prices are expected to stay elevated longer term. (DTN photo by Elaine Shein)

    Forage Concerns Persist

    Forage production levels appear to be all over the board this growing season in the region where the Western Corn Belt and the High Plains meet. While some western areas of the region have seen adequate moisture, continuing...

  • A unrestored 1930s Thieman tractor. (Photo courtesy of antiquetractors.com)

    Russ' Vintage Iron

    A simple conversation with a neighbor turns into a Vintage Iron column idea. A long-defunct tractor manufacturer built an inexpensive tractor during the Great Depression until World War II. Thieman tractors came in a kit and...