Blogs

  • Production Blog

    After three days of constant reference, a Commodity Classic program booklet may get a little bruised and battered, but it's still a vital resource to navigating all the event has to offer. (DTN photo by Jason Jenkins)

    The 2023 Commodity Classic drew a record crowd to a sold-out trade show. Here's a rundown on three more items from the event that caught the attention of one DTN crops editor.

  • Canada Markets

    This week's move in May soybean oil has seen the breach of the 50% retracement of the move from the March 2020 low to the April 2022 high, calculated at 56.17 on this continuous active chart. The move has also resulted in the breach of the neckline of a head and shoulders pattern. (DTN ProphetX chart)
    Posted by Cliff Jamieson , Canadian Grains Analyst

    Soybean oil for May delivery has faced a sharp drop this week, breaching potential support levels.

  • South America Calling

    The forecast for central Brazil for April suggests dry weather for the primary safrinha corn growing areas. (DTN graphic)
    Posted by John Baranick , DTN Meteorologist

    After some delayed planting for safrinha corn, Mother Nature is not helping out by reducing rains across central Brazil going into and through April.

  • Ethanol Blog

    The Renewable Fuels Association asked EPA Administrator Michael Regan to grant a waiver to allow E15 sales to continue this summer. (DTN file photo)
    Posted by Todd Neeley , DTN Staff Reporter

    The Renewable Fuels Association pressed EPA Administrator Michael Regan to grant a waiver to allow E15 sales to continue beginning on June 1. Without a waiver, E15 would not be available at the pump throughout the summer.

  • Ag Weather Forum

    The Southern Plains region is almost entirely void of precipitation in the past 30 days, giving no moisture for winter wheat exiting dormancy. (NOAA graphic)
    Posted by Bryce Anderson , Ag Meteorologist Emeritus

    Winter wheat and row crops face a second straight season of significant dryness and production shortfalls.

  • Fundamentally Speaking

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

    Percent change in U.S. soybean planted area from the March intentions to June acreage report, the June acreage to the final production figure and also the March intentions to the final number

  • Ag Policy Blog

    A pipeline project under construction. States across the Midwest and Plains are holding hearings with states and counties deciding on whether to approve projects or tighten permit requirements for carbon pipelines. The Iowa House voted overwhelmingly for a bill Wednesday that would require carbon pipelines to get 90% of easement miles voluntarily before seeking eminent domain approval. The bill now goes to the Iowa Senate. (DTN file photo)

    A bill passed the Iowa House on Wednesday that would require carbon pipeline projects to get at least 90% of their easement miles through voluntary agreements with landowners before seeking eminent domain authority from state regulators. A poll in Iowa shows more than...

  • Sort & Cull

    The March 17 Cattle on Feed Report may lend the cattle complex some support and help it look past the current anxiousness of the banking systems. (Photo by Benjamin Krain)

    Regardless of what the futures complex decides to do with the recent COF report, we know where the market's fundamentals sit; when it comes to buying and selling cattle, these fundamentals remain relevant.

  • Market Matters Blog

    The Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 allows the Federal Maritime Commission to protect the interests of U.S. businesses that rely on ocean transportation. (DTN photo by Mary Kennedy)

    Federal Maritime Commissioner Max Vekich spoke recently at the annual Transportation Go! conference on the importance of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act enacted last summer.

  • Technically Speaking

    In the week ended March 17, 2023, spot soybeans fell below their 100-day average, preceded by a sharp break in soybean prices in China, the world's largest buyer (DTN ProphetX chart).
    Posted by Todd Hultman , DTN Lead Analyst

    A technical look at weekly soybean, soybean meal and bean oil prices.

  • Editors' Notebook

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

    March 21 is National Ag Day. Hope you'll join us to salute all the important things agriculture brings to our nation and the world.

  • An Urban's Rural View

    The rescue of Silicon Valley Bank propelled a historic bond-market rally, driving down interest rates and highlighting a dilemma facing the Federal Reserve. (DTN ProphetX chart)
    Posted by Urban C Lehner , Editor Emeritus

    Depositors in Silicon Valley Bank were protected, but what happens to the Federal Reserve's fight against inflation as a result?

  • MachineryLink

    Trimble combined hardware with its autonomous systems in the purchase last year of French technology company Bilberry, which specializes in selective herbicide applications. It's camera and data management system are shown here attached to the top of the sprayer booms. (DTN image courtesy of Bilberry.)
    Posted by Dan Miller , Progressive Farmer Senior Editor

    Before a group of its agricultural customers, Trimble showed off its systems and offered thoughts on its future. An important part of the presentation focused on Trimble's work in autonomy and managing the data systems that will generate profit and sustainable returns on...

  • Minding Ag's Business

    The average interest rate on a non-real estate farm loan hovered around 6% in the fourth quarter of 2022. While that's the highest rate farmers have seen in 10 years, it's close to the 20-year average. (Chart courtesy of the Kansas City Federal Reserve)

    The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City's most recent survey of lenders shows that non-real estate farm loans increased by 20% on average as production costs climbed. Interest rates also climbed to a 10-year high, putting additional pressure on financing costs.