Blogs

  • Ag Weather Forum

    Satellite imagery from mid-January shows the lowest western U.S. snow cover in 25 years of recordkeeping, less than one-third of the median. Snowpack moisture in river basins is mostly less than 50% of average, including the North and South Platte river basins in the western Plains. (NASA satellite image; USDA/NRCS graphic)
    Posted by Bryce Anderson , Ag Meteorologist Emeritus

    Plains dryness brings a comparison to the harsh 2002 drought year.

  • Ag Policy Blog

    Farmer sentiment weakened sharply in January as the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer (AEB) Index dropped from 136 in December 2025 to 113 in January 2026. (Chart Courtesy of Purdue University)

    Producers responding to the monthly Purdue survey took a dive in optimism in January. Purdue economists noted the January barometer survey was Jan. 12-16, while USDA's January World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report came out Jan. 12. Crop prices fell...

  • Canada Markets

    Amid constant global efforts to increase vegetable oil blending requirements for biodiesel and renewable diesel production, the growing demand for soybean crush from the world's top three suppliers is often overlooked. (DTN chart, USDA data)
    Posted by Mitch Miller , DTN Contributing Canadian Grains Analyst

    Record crush in South America is required to help the U.S. meet world demand for soybean oil and meal.

  • Fundamentally Speaking

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

    Percent change in U.S. corn area & percent change in harvested area vs. harvested/planted ratio

  • Sort & Cull

    The USDA Cattle Inventory report was crystal clear. The U.S. beef cowherd contracted for the seventh consecutive year in a row and now sits at a mere 27.6 million head, the lowest inventory since 1951. (DTN photo by ShayLe Stewart)

    Friday's USDA Cattle Inventory report was entirely bullish. Producers should expect another rallying year where the story remains mostly the same. Limited supplies amid robust demand will likely push prices even higher.

  • An Urban's Rural View

    Long-time inflation hawk Kevin Warsh has been nominated to chair the Federal Reserve Board by a president who demands big interest rate cuts. (Photo courtesy of Fox Business)
    Posted by Urban C Lehner , Editor Emeritus

    Kevin Warsh changed his views on monetary policy at the right time and won the president's nomination to succeed Jerome Powell as Federal Reserve Board chair. Will he be able to maintain the Fed's independence?

  • Ethanol Blog

    Several agriculture, biofuels and petroleum groups have asked the newly formed E15 Rural Domestic Energy Council to quickly work toward passing E15 legislation. (DTN file photo)

    Agriculture, biofuels and petroleum groups urged the E15 Rural Domestic Energy Council to quickly pass legislation making E15 fuel permanently available nationwide.

  • South America Calling

    The soil moisture situation in Brazil's safrinha corn areas (circled) is not looking favorable based on satellite estimates as planting increases going into February. (DTN graphic)

    Rainfall has been good enough for soybeans, but not for building soil moisture for the coming safrinha corn crop.

  • Market Matters Blog

    DTN's weekly spot price for domestic distillers dried grains for the week ended Jan. 29 is steady on average versus one week ago. (DTN file photo)
    Posted by Mary Kennedy , DTN Basis Analyst

    DTN's weekly average spot price for domestic distillers dried grains is steady versus one week ago.

  • Production Blog

    Feeling blue over gray and snowy skies? Bring the outdoors in with these fun coloring books that will bring out the farm kid in all ages. (DTN photo by Pamela Smith)
    Posted by Pamela Smith , Crops Technology Editor

    Coloring books can make snow days brighter, especially when they involve farm themes. Here's some that will encourage all ages to get creative.

  • Editors' Notebook

    The Purdue Memorial Union Gateway arch while driving through campus en route to a conference in September 2025. The university's Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication department will close in June 2026, a symptom of larger concerns. (DTN photo by EllaMae Reiff)

    One conversation during a campus visit changed college plans completely. The agricultural communication department that resulted from that choice is now closing its doors in June 2026 due to low enrollment.

  • Technically Speaking

    The chart above is a daily chart of March corn futures showing plenty of overhead resistance. (DTN ProphetX chart)
    Posted by Dana Mantini , Senior Market Analyst

    While the corn market has reacted in a positive manner from the renewed concern about dryness in the southern half of Argentina, the sharp fall in the U.S. dollar, rise in crude oil and recent talk about a policy in favor of year-round E15, there are some technical roadblocks...

  • Minding Ag's Business

    Determine your price and time action points based on your operation's cost of production and cash-flow needs. (Photo by Michael Westhoff, Getty Images)
    Posted by Katie Micik Dehlinger , Progressive Farmer Editor-in-Chief

    Commodities brokers advise farmers to develop disciplined grain marketing plans based on production costs, stick to price targets, seek professional guidance and utilize futures and options for effective risk management.

  • MachineryLink

    The Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a Severe G4 geomagnetic storm watch, the result of a coronal mass ejection (CME) that left the sun on Jan. 18 that is anticipated to arrive at Earth as early as late Jan. 19 (EST) to early Jan. 20. (DTN image courtesy of NOAA)
    Posted by Dan Miller , Progressive Farmer Senior Editor

    A G4 geomagnetic storm may degrade satellite navigation for some hours and disrupt low-frequency radio navigation. But given this is January and not the middle of spring planting, this storm if it arrives will have negligible effect on U.S. farms.

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