Blogs

  • An Urban's Rural View

    In up years and down for U.S. exports, China has been far and away the biggest customer. (USDA Foreign Agricultural Service chart)
    Posted by Urban C Lehner , Editor Emeritus

    When your biggest customer buys more from you than the next nine customers combined, you've got a problem.

  • Ag Weather Forum

    Near-normal rainfall is forecast for a lot of the country through the end of October, indicative of a more active weather pattern. (DTN graphic)
    Posted by John Baranick , DTN Meteorologist

    Though the first half of October has generally been quiet, the second half looks to favor frequent storm systems through the country.

  • Sort & Cull

    Last week was powerful for the cattle complex as fed cash cattle prices, boxed beef prices and futures all traded higher. (Photo by Kristen Shurr)
    Posted by ShayLe Stewart , DTN Livestock Analyst

    It's yet to be seen what the market will do this week; but with traders fully acknowledging the outlook for 2026 is strong, there's still plenty of upside potential.

  • Market Matters Blog

    On Oct. 14, 2025, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) will implement special port fees on Chinese-owned or Chinese-built vessels, following a Section 301 investigation. (DTN file photo)

    China surprised the USTR when on Friday, Oct. 10, they announced retaliatory U.S ship fees to begin the same day USTR Chinese ship fees were to commence.

  • South America Calling

    Scattered showers should make for more consistent rainfall across central Brazil over the next week (circled). (DTN graphic)
    Posted by John Baranick , DTN Meteorologist

    After two weeks of nearly no rain, consistent showers are finally starting to build in central Brazil.

  • Ag Policy Blog

    Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, at the group's annual meeting last January. Duvall wrote a letter Friday to President Donald Trump and leaders in Congress stressing dire conditions among farmers while calling for aid and other specific policy measures. (DTN file photo)

    Along with calling for an aid package, the letters by the American Farm Bureau Federation to the president and Congress also propose other multiple actions on trade, biofuels and competition.

  • Editors' Notebook

    The American Bankers Association-Farmer Mac Agricultural Lender Survey, done in August 2024, showed "Lenders' Top Concerns for Producers" were liquidity (working capital) at No. 1 followed by farm income. (Source: ABA-Farmer Mac Agricultural Lender Survey)
    Posted by Elaine Shein , DTN/Progressive Farmer Associate Content Manager

    Discussing farm financing is difficult but necessary. Farmers often need supportive financing tools and programs to navigate challenges. Additionally, numerous strategies and advice can help farmers manage costs and face those challenges.

  • Production Blog

    The black dust fogging your combine may not be pleasant, but it is likely harmless and just nature's way of breaking down plant tissue. (DTN photo by Pamela Smith)
    Posted by Pamela Smith , Crops Technology Editor

    That cloud of black behind the combine might be more than dust. It's nature's way of degrading plant tissue.

  • MachineryLink

    With some evidence that U.S. sales of 40- to 100-horsepower tractors are improving, Kubota has high expectations for its new line of next-generation Grand L70 Series compact tractors. (Photo courtesy of Kubota)
    Posted by Dan Miller , Progressive Farmer Senior Editor

    Newly appointed Kubota Tractor Corporation President Alex Woods said as Kubota struggles with tariffs, it has some evidence a bottom in the slumping compact tractor market is on the near horizon.

  • Minding Ag's Business

    Rising land costs and retiring experienced bankers threaten a generation of farmers. (DTN file photo)
    Posted by Katie Micik Dehlinger , Farm Business Editor

    Unlike the 1980s when farmers could take off-farm jobs to survive tough times, today's $66K average salary won't even cover loan interest.

  • Technically Speaking

    Looking back to September 1990 and adjusting prices for inflation, there have been only five instances of monthly closing prices for the most active KC wheat contract falling below $5. (DTN chart by Rhett Montgomery)
    Posted by Rhett Montgomery , DTN Lead Analyst

    Most-active December Kansas City wheat futures have fallen below long-term support at $5, cementing late 2025 wheat prices amongst the lowest in history.

  • Canada Markets

    If gold truly is the ultimate reserve currency, then comparing grains and oilseeds to gold shows how grossly undervalued they are. This shows almost 950 bushels of corn can be purchased with the value of one ounce of gold compared to just 235 bushels at the start of 2022. (DTN ProphetX chart)
    Posted by Mitch Miller , DTN Contributing Canadian Grains Analyst

    With the attention that gold is receiving lately, it may be making the trade question what fair value of the various crops should be, regardless of crop size.

  • Ethanol Blog

    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has asked at least one federal court to hold biofuels cases in abeyance during the current government shutdown. (DTN file photo by Joel Reichenberger)
    Posted by Todd Neeley , DTN Environmental Editor

    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency filed multiple requests to hold biofuels litigation in abeyance because of the federal government shutdown.

  • Fundamentally Speaking

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

    Percent that USDA's September 1 corn in all stocks estimate deviated from the average trade estimate and percent change in the USDA's old crop U.S. corn ending stocks estimate from the September to October WASDE reports vs. percent of Sep 1 corn stocks stored on...

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