Blogs

  • Canada Markets

    European Union data as of week 12 of its crop year shows durum imports largely shifting from Canadian sources in 2022-23 (brown bar) to a combination of supplies from Turkey and Russia (blue bars), measured on a percentage basis. (DTN graphic by Cliff Jamieson)
    Posted by Cliff Jamieson , Canadian Grains Analyst

    Canada's share of European Union durum imports has fallen sharply due to competitive pressures. The International Grains Council has forecast 2023-24 global ending stocks at the lowest in over 30 years.

  • Ag Weather Forum

    A front in southern Brazil should move into central Brazil by late next week where rain could be moderate to heavy (greater than 25 millimeters or one inch). That may be the kicker to start the wet season rains. (DTN graphic)
    Posted by John Baranick , DTN Meteorologist

    The average date for the start to the rainy or wet season in central Brazil is around Sept. 26. Are those rains going to be delayed?

  • Fundamentally Speaking

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

    Percent of the 1895-2023 average August and total June through August precipitation for the top 21 corn and soybean producing states vs. the rank of where each state stands for both August and cumulative June-August precipitation

  • South America Calling

    A front in southern Brazil should move into central Brazil by late next week where rain could be moderate to heavy (greater than 25 millimeters or one inch). That may be the kicker to start the wet season rains. (DTN graphic)
    Posted by John Baranick , DTN Meteorologist

    The average date for the start to the rainy or wet season in central Brazil is around Sept. 26. Are those rains going to be delayed?

  • Ethanol Blog

    Geoff Cooper, center, president and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association, talked to farmers at the Farm Progress Show last month with RFA's flex-fuel/electric hybrid Ford Escape that RFA modified to run on E85 fuel. RFA and other groups continue to be locked in a battle with EPA's Science Advisory Board about studies used to validate corn ethanol's greenhouse gas reductions compared to gasoline. (Photo courtesy of RFA)

    Geoff Cooper, president and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association, was among those during public comment to the EPA Science Advisory Board on Thursday seeking to push back on the board's initial draft statements that "the best available science" suggests there are "minimal...

  • An Urban's Rural View

    The U.S. ran small ag trade deficits in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 and USDA is predicting bigger ones in fiscal 2023 and 2024. (USDA table)

    Here are some reasons not to get too worked up about ag trade's swing into negative territory.

  • Ag Policy Blog

    The Rural Veterinary Workforce Act would provide tax benefits to veterinarians who have student loan debt and choose to work in communities that are short of veterinarian services. (DTN file photo)

    Several senators this week introduced a bipartisan bill, the Rural Veterinary Workforce Act that would provide incentives such as tax benefits and paying down student loans to encourage veterinarians to practice in rural areas.

  • Production Blog

    When someone says "BLT," most think of a hearty summertime sandwich, but EPA wants farmers to get familiar with another "BLT" when using pesticides. (DTN photo by Pamela Smith)

    The EPA's proposed strategy for protecting threatened and endangered species from exposure to herbicides uses terms that are likely unfamiliar to farmers. Here's a rundown on the ones you should know.

  • Sort & Cull

    Last week's negotiated cash cattle trade totaled 74,039 head, of which 90% were committed for nearby delivery, while the remaining 10% were committed for deferred delivery. (DTN photo by Pamela Smith)
    Posted by ShayLe Stewart , DTN Livestock Analyst

    Tight fed cattle supplies continue to support the cash cattle market and send prices higher as packers scramble to find enough cattle.

  • Market Matters Blog

    The current National Weather Service at Memphis forecast shows the river may come close to, or maybe surpass, last year's record low of -10.81 ft on 10/21/2022. As for the rest of the river, low water stages are causing problems for tows and barges from St. Louis to the Gulf. (Graphic courtesy of NOAA)

    River levels are already lower than they were a year ago, causing higher barge costs and slowdowns for barges at harvest time.

  • Technically Speaking

    Spot prices of natural gas have held below $3.00 for most of 2023, thanks to U.S. supplies that are higher than a year ago. Spot propane supplies are also up from a year ago, but prices have been rising since early July, showing some concern about winter (DTN ProphetX chart).
    Posted by Todd Hultman , DTN Lead Analyst

    Natural gas prices are staying cheap this fall, but propane prices have already started turning higher.

  • Minding Ag's Business

    Natural disasters in recent years, such as when a derecho hit the Corn Belt in 2020, have emphasized the importance for farmers to shift their focus towards strategic risks. (Photo courtesy of Ben Riensche)
    Posted by Katie Micik Dehlinger , Farm Business Editor

    If you're looking to build a more resilient farm business, The Executive Program for Agricultural Producers (TEPAP) may be the course of action for you.

  • MachineryLink

    Targeting farming, ranching, large properties and hunting, the Polaris Ranger XD 1500 is the first entry in an entirely new class of high-horsepower, side-by-side utility vehicles. (Photo courtesy of Polaris)
    Posted by Dan Miller , Progressive Farmer Senior Editor

    In this Equipment Roundup, DTN/Progressive Farmer looks at the Polaris Ranger XD 1500, CNH's agreement for combine wear parts, the FAA's approval of a high-capacity spray drone and a California company being fined for emission control tampering.

  • Editors' Notebook

    Join us for the DTN Digital Yield Tour, with stories Aug. 7-11, and then for our DTN Ag Summit Series virtual session Aug. 15.

    Some upcoming DTN events will help farmers to fill in their informational blind spots.