Chris Clayton

Some positive signs about U.S. soybean sales to China began to emerge late this week, but questions remain about China's commitments. Speculation about an aid package for farmers is also growing.

A ruling on Thursday by U.S. District Judge John McConnell was just the latest twist in the government shutdown and food aid to nearly 42 million Americans who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The...

The inclusion of phosphate and potash on the U.S. Geological Survey's final 2025 List of Critical Minerals signals a heightened government policy around the production and supply chains for both...

President Donald Trump's use of emergency powers to impose tariffs is being challenged in the Supreme Court while the administration says tariffs are vital to economic security. Some farmers are raising concerns but didn't file...

The president and CEO of ADM said farmers are reluctant to sell more than hand-to-mouth right now until they see better basis and more stability around policies such as biofuel decisions that remain up in the air.

USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) on Friday posted that some key reports will be released in November, including the monthly Cattle on Feed report.

The October prices for corn and soybean contracts both averaged lower than the February price discovery period. Price protection in crop insurance policies will use the February price...

The truce between the U.S. and China could provide three years of steady soybean sales to China, and more sorghum sales as well. The deal doesn't necessarily address some of the challenges farmers face with high input prices...

FSA loans can be an important financial tool for farmers, but there are changes farmers and bankers would like to see to make the loans more convenient and useful.

China has agreed to start buying 25 million metric tons (918 million bushels) of U.S. soybeans. That will allow farmers, grain elevators and shipping infrastructure to begin more deliveries after spending the last few months trying to...

Analysts at Rabobank on Tuesday highlighted their outlook for crops, inputs and profitability by diving into trends affecting global stocks and production. Unfortunately, U.S. farmers remain stuck at the bottom of an economic...

An executive at an independent seed company in Iowa highlighted some of the reasons why major seed companies have been able to continue raising their technology fees and avoid competing with smaller companies trying to use...

The U.S.-China framework was laid out on Sunday while Trump administration officials were holding talks in Malaysia. The administration also announced four smaller trade deals with Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, which include...

Declaring that nearly 42 million people won't receive food-aid benefits in November because of the government shutdown is unprecedented and reflects a policy choice to use low-income people as leverage to end the shutdown.

President Donald Trump on social media on Wednesday said cattle markets are high because of his tariffs, but he needs to lower beef prices for consumers. It was reported the Trump administration wants to quadruple imports of...

In an open letter, Nobel and World Food Prize laureates warned that the world is not close to meeting future food needs while more than 700 million people are hungry, and 2 billion people do not have reliable access to food...

In posts on social platform X, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said FSA offices will resume core operations, including critical services for farm loan processing, ARC/PLC payments and other...

The U.S. is already importing more beef than at any time on record, but Argentina currently accounts for just under 2.2% of total U.S. beef and veal imports. Looking at the numbers, it doesn't...

Senate Majority Leader John Thune has been trying to convince the White House to reopen Farm Service Agency offices so farmers can utilize Marketing Assistance Loans. Based on MAL usage, that is likely affecting farmers of...

Farmer voices are being used for political messages over national debates, such as the government shutdown and the trade war with China. The videos and livestream events highlight how farmers are caught in the middle of national...

There is anger in the countryside among farmers who are facing their third straight year of negative returns on their crops, but also overwhelmingly support President Trump. Farmers are coping with low prices, high inputs and...

Iowa ethanol producers are now losing ground as Nebraska's Tallgrass Trailblazer Pipeline begins operations. The lack of carbon-capture infrastructure in Iowa adds greater risks to a weakened farm economy.

President Donald Trump and members of his administration continue to tease that an aid package of up to $15 billion for farmers could be announced this week. More than 200 farm organizations wrote the president to thank him for...

USDA's Lapse of Funding Plan spells out what positions and obligations at various agencies will continue to operate and which agency activities will be halted. All told, USDA will furlough 42,256 employees out of 85,907 total employees...

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, in a television interview, said Thursday some form of support for farmers will be announced next week. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, on Fox Business News, blamed Democrats for shutting...

Economists and others weighed in this past week over lost U.S. soybean sales to China and how Brazil is taking advantage of its competitive edge right now. China ended September with no new U.S...

Corteva's announcement confirms speculation that began weeks ago about the separation. The crop protection side will become "New Corteva," while the seed business will be named "SpinCo." Each will be independent and publicly...

FSA loans can be an important financial tool for farmers, but there are changes farmers and bankers would like to see to make the loans more convenient and useful.

An inaugural forum at Kansas State University recognized the legacy of Dr. Barry Flinchbaugh, an agricultural economist who was known for his cigars and blunt way of explaining complex economic topics to both farmers and...

In a wide-ranging speech, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins laid out an agenda for supporting crop producers while teasing plans to rebuild the U.S. cattle herd. In an immediate announcement, Rollins said the final $2 billion under...

The American Soybean Association expressed its frustration over U.S. moves to support Argentina, which then led China to aggressively purchase Argentine soybeans. A leader for the National Sorghum Producers also highlighted how...

Manitoba's new trade envoy in Washington, D.C., said supply management will continue to be an issue in the USMCA review. He also discussed how Canadian national and provincial officials try to navigate the Trump administration.

Farmers in North Dakota are facing wide basis levels as they go into harvest. Normally their soybeans would be heading on trains to ports in the Pacific Northwest to ship to China; but the trade war has halted all Chinese...

In a news release, the National Association of Farmer Elected Committees (NAFEC), the group reiterated that FSA offices are critically understaffed yet USDA officials have publicly denied those concerns.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins is in London, England, and told the Financial Times newspaper that the administration could soon provide details about an aid package for U.S. farmers.

USDA on Sept. 12 announced approximately $1 billion will become available to livestock producers under the Emergency Livestock Relief Program for 2023 and 2024 Flood and Wildfire (ELRP 2023 and 2024 FW). Sign-up for the ELRP 2024...

Farmers are blending tradition with innovation, using cover crops, no-till, and diversified practices to cut input costs, fight weeds, and protect soil while there is a growing push for regenerative agricultural practices. But these...

Prices for popular cover crops such as cereal rye and nitrogen-fixing brassicas are a little cheaper for producers this fall. A range of programs offers farmers incentives to try the practice and rewards farmers who have...

The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that Corteva Agriscience is looking at potentially splitting its seed and crop input businesses into separate companies. Corteva was created in 2019 after becoming a standalone company...

At Husker Harvest Days, farmers raised concerns about cash flow issues facing crop farmers going into harvest but advocated for more market solutions such as E15 sales and boosting trade. Nebraska's governor, fresh off a...

The official release of the latest MAHA report mirrored a leaked copy from last month that backs away from criticisms of pesticide use by farmers. The report does tout agricultural investments in precision spraying with drones...

USDA's Economic Research Service released an updated look at farm income and finances on Sept. 3. Farm income was boosted by strong livestock cash receipts and higher government payments...

A gathering of between 400 and 500 farmers from northeast Arkansas underscored that even as USDA projects overall net farm income to rise this year, income for crop farmers is actually projected to fall. Nationally, cash...

A new report looks at improvements to the farm safety net under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which will add $47.4 billion to commodity programs over 10 years. The OBBBA shifts more federal money into the commodity safety net...

USDA's Economic Research Service released an updated look at farm income and finances Wednesday. Farm income was boosted by strong livestock cash receipts and higher government payments. Still, USDA projects a typical farm...

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it will end the Agricultural Labor Survey just days after a federal judge in Louisiana threw out the Biden administration's wage rule for H-2A workers that failed to use the...

Leaders from the American Soybean Association (ASA) and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) at the Farm Progress Show found themselves in constant conversations about market conditions. Soybean leaders pressed on a...

Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Stephen Vaden spoke to farmers and visited companies on Tuesday at the Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Illinois. He talked about the need to open markets and increase demand for farmers, but also...

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and other officials used the Farm Progress Show as a backdrop Tuesday to announce Cronus Chemicals has secured all necessary state and federal environmental permits and is preparing to begin...

The European Union has long maintained an agricultural trade surplus with the U.S., but agricultural groups are optimistic after the Trump administration tied tariffs on European autos to opening up more access to U.S. agriculture.

The Risk Management Agency has released some details about crop insurance changes under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Among the bigger changes are reduced premium subsidies for beginning farmers.

The Trump administration's lead agricultural negotiator said her office recognizes the need to get new trade deals in place by harvest to boost market access. At a conference on Aug. 13, governors and others expressed optimism...

The Trump administration's lead agricultural negotiator said her office recognizes the need to get new trade deals in place by harvest to boost market access. At a conference on Wednesday, governors and others expressed...

DTN's Digital Yield Tour forecasts North Dakota's statewide average corn yield at 151.9 bushels per acre, which is above average but not record-setting, and soybeans at 34.7 bpa, which is about even with the five-year average.

The DTN Digital Yield Tour projects Iowa corn yields will reach a record 223.7 bushels per acre statewide while soybean yields could fall just short of a record at 62.3 bpa.