Minding Ag's Business

Lending activity declined in the fourth quarter of 2020 as farmers used proceeds from higher crop prices and government payments to cover their non-real estate expenses, according to a recent survey by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.

Coronavirus-generated demand for land, whether it's to find a stable investment or a place to go when the city feels too crowded, lends firm tone to farmland market at start of 2021.

A recent UDSA study finds midsize to large corn and soybean farms are the most likely to use futures and options, although cash contracts with local buyers are by far farmers' favorite tool to sell their grain.

As satellite data become more ubiquitous, frequent and cheap, yield models like the ones DTN relies on for its Digital Yield Tour are expected to become more accurate, giving farmers and other market participants a better understanding of yield potential before USDA's counts...

China may be hard-pressed to make up ground to fulfill its $36.5-billion commitment to the United States in phase one of a trade deal.

While the National Grain and Feed Association largely supports the CFTC's fifth attempt to create a position limits rule, its official statement on the rule offers a number of suggestions, including adding another strategy to its list of bona fide hedges.

Cash is king right now, and if your business is feeling the pinch of the coronavirus pandemic, it's worth talking to your lenders to see if they can help you weather these uncertain times.

Even experienced investors and traders can fall victim to fraud, especially amid times of market turmoil and uncertainty. The CFTC shared a good reminder of how to spot fraud and identify when something is too good to be true.

The CFTC's latest attempt to establish speculative position limits aims to limit potential squeezes and corners in the markets while maintaining users' ability to hedge, and it's getting good reviews for its bona fide efforts to strike the right balance.

The Farm Credit Administration issues guidance for its member institutions that are considering financing hemp operations, the latest salvo from regulators attempting to shape the future of hemp production. But for bankers, regulatory guidance doesn't negate all of the...

Despite the challenging economic environment, there are farms that are thriving.

It's hard to maintain a positive outlook with the trade war, tough growing season, thin profit margins, etc., but it's worth the effort. Research shows positive leadership is a competitive advantage.

Two machine-learning models that incorporate large amounts of data produce two very different corn yield estimates, and it's a good reminder that in all crop estimates, the recipe is in the soup.

Smaller-than-expected corn stocks at the end of the 2018-19 marketing year puts the spotlight on the residual's role in USDA's supply and demand balance sheet.

Farmers aren't the only ones being tested by this year's weather; satellite-driven yield models will have to prove they've accounted for all the variables that influence yield.

The Executive Program for Agricultural Producers may be conducting its 30th annual event this year, but the lessons it's taught have already spanned generations.

Attention to three areas can help keep people on the same page and prevent deeper conflicts from tearing the fabric of family relationships.

Effective transitions require more than planning.

Some management scenarios call for saying more, not less.

Nebraska farmland values declined 3% over the past year, extending a 5-year slide.