Blogs

  • Fundamentally Speaking

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

    U.S. corn yield vs. both the annual yield as a percent of the 25-year trend and the harvested/planted ratio acreage ratio.

  • Minding Ag's Business

    USDA forecasts 2024 net farm income at $140.7 billion dollars, while net cash farm income is projected at $158.8 billion. (Chart courtesy of USDA)
    Posted by Katie Micik Dehlinger , Farm Business Editor

    The Economic Research Service's third reading of net farm incomes is lower than 2023, but the decline is softer than initially forecast due to better-than-expected production expenses.

  • Ag Policy Blog

    Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., who will chair the Senate Agriculture Committee in the next Congress, with Brooke Rollins, who is President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for Agriculture secretary. (photo courtesy of Sen. Boozman's office)

    Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., on Tuesday met with Brooke Rollins, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to head USDA. Boozman also is pressing fellow senators to provide farmers with economic aid before Congress adjourns for the year. In a Senate speech on Monday, Boozman said...

  • Ag Weather Forum

    Arctic, cold air has descended east of the Rockies due to an upper-level trough that has settled over eastern North America (in blue). We'll see some changes to this picture during the next couple of days. (Tropicaltidbits.com graphic)
    Posted by John Baranick , DTN Meteorologist

    A taste of true winter temperatures has settled in during the last week. Arctic air has been forced into areas east of the Rockies and that continues all this week, too. However, warmer air will get pushed eastward this weekend. Systems are still forecast to move through next...

  • Sort & Cull

    After a good start, by Monday's close the feeder cattle market had dropped anywhere from $2 to $3 lower. (DTN ProphetX chart)
    Posted by ShayLe Stewart , DTN Livestock Analyst

    The market resistance at $260 is substantial, but so is the cattle market's rally and power right now. If all the stars continue to align, the resistance at $260 isn't unbearable.

  • Technically Speaking

    This is the November 2025 soybeans daily chart, showing the contract finally breaking down below the support area (dotted blue line). (DTN ProphetX chart)
    Posted by Dana Mantini , Senior Market Analyst

    After having support since mid-August at the $10.12 to $10.15 area, new-crop November 2025 soybean futures last week broke down slightly below that support area and may just have begun another leg lower. Although there is plenty of growing weather yet to endure in South...

  • An Urban's Rural View

    The dollar is strong and likely to get stronger. (DTN file image)
    Posted by Urban C Lehner , Editor Emeritus

    The dollar is strong and many investors and economists think it's likely to get stronger. That's a problem for foreigners, not to mention U.S. ag exporters.

  • Canada Markets

    With another stellar weekly export sales report, this chart of outstanding soybean oil sales puts the current pace into perspective. Something will have to change and it's looking more likely to be the USDA's estimate of annual exports. (USDA/FAS/Export Sales Reporting chart)
    Posted by Mitch Miller , DTN Contributing Canadian Grains Analyst

    Soybean oil export commitments in the first eight weeks of the marketing year now total 146% of the annual projection. Something clearly needs to change.

  • Ethanol Blog

    Scott McPheeters, a farmer from Gothenburg, Nebraska, and vice chairman of the Nebraska Ethanol Board, spoke to a group of agriculture journalists during an Agricultural Communicators Network workshop in Omaha last week. (DTN photo by Elaine Shein)

    Nebraska Ethanol Board Vice Chairman Scott McPheeters addressed a group of agriculture journalists last week during an Agricultural Communicators Network workshop in Omaha.

  • South America Calling

    The difference in the forecast (left) and actual (right) precipitation over South America during the last week generally shows lower amounts have fallen than the forecast has suggested. This has been a recurring issue during the last few weeks. (DTN graphics)
    Posted by John Baranick , DTN Meteorologist

    Forecasts called for heavier precipitation than what actually fell during the last few weeks.

  • Market Matters Blog

    The East Coast Port of Wilmington, North Carolina, has nine berths with 6,740 feet of wharf frontage, including on-dock rail and container berths with more than 2,600 contiguous feet. (Photo courtesy of North Carolina Ports)

    Just as renewed contract talks began between International Longshoremen's Association and United States Maritime Alliance, they quickly ended as automation once again became a sticking point with the union.

  • Production Blog

    Matt Plitt has served as president and CEO of Valent U.S.A. since April 2022. His tenure with the company began in 2010. (Photo courtesy of Valent U.S.A.)

    Matt Plitt, president and CEO of Valent U.S.A., gave DTN/Progressive Farmer an update on the latest happenings at the company headquartered in San Ramon, California.

  • Editors' Notebook

    At the All American Quarter Horse Congress, more than 200 Congress champions are crowned each year. Trophies represent the champion in each class, while medals are awarded to reserve champion, top 15 and finalists. (DTN photo by EllaMae Reiff)
    Posted by EllaMae Reiff , DTN Content Editor

    A weekend at the All American Quarter Horse Congress filled with exciting classes, shopping, delicious food and a strong sense of community that makes the event truly special.

  • MachineryLink

    The Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a watch for a minor-level geomagnetic storm this weekend (DTN image courtesy of the Space Weather Prediction Center)

    The Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a minor-level geomagnetic storm watch for this weekend. A storm of this intensity will have little to no impact on farming guidance systems.