Russ Quinn

DTN Staff Reporter
Russ Quinn is a DTN editor and reporter. He was born and raised in east central Nebraska on a cow-calf and row-crop farm near Elkhorn, which he still operates with his dad.

Russ attended Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and graduated with an associate's degree in agribusiness and farm management in 1994. He then attended the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Nebraska, and graduated with a bachelor's degree in agricultural sciences in 1996.

After graduating, he began working for DTN in May of 1997 in the agriculture telesales department. In May of 1998 he was promoted to his current position in the DTN ag newsroom. Over the years, Russ has had many different editing and reporting duties and currently writes original articles including the growing-season series "View From the Cab" and the weekly column "Russ' Vintage Iron."

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  • Russ Quinn's grandpa, John B. "Jack" Quinn, and Jack's son (Russ' uncle), James V. Quinn, were photographed in spring 1951 on Russ' grandma's 1945 Farmall M, plowing the family farm east of Elkhorn, Nebraska. Among the vintage iron Russ would like in his shed is this long-lost tractor. (Photo courtesy of Russ Quinn)

    Russ' Vintage Iron

    DTN's Russ Quinn recently came across an interesting column on the internet titled "17 Classic Tractors We Want in Our Shed." That got him thinking: What vintage iron would he want if money and shed space were no objects?

  • The historic Cato Soldier Creek Ranch in Wyoming is for sale. The ranch was formerly known as the PK Ranch. (Photo courtesy of Icon Global)

    Cato Soldier Creek Ranch for Sale

    Icon Global is offering for sale the historic Cato Soldier Creek Ranch located in Sheridan, Wyoming. The ranch was formerly known as PK Ranch and its homestead was a stagecoach stop along the Bozeman Trail. Businessman Wayland...

  • The average retail price of urea during the third week of June 2025 was $655 per ton, up just slightly from a month ago. However, the conflict between Israel and Iran could have an impact on the fertilizer's price. Roughly 52% of global urea exports come from the Middle East. (DTN chart)

    DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

    For the second week in a row, average retail prices for all fertilizers saw only slight movement -- mostly to the higher side. However, according to one expert, the fertilizer market is intently watching Iran's response to the U.S...

  • Poison hemlock is poisonous to both animals and humans. Livestock producers need to be aware of the plant, its negative effects on livestock, as well as methods of control. (DTN photo by Pamela Smith)

    Poison Hemlock Needs To Be Watched

    The plant, poison hemlock, is poisonous to both livestock and humans. The toxic plant can grow just about anywhere but is often found in fence lines and into pastures and hay fields. Control of the plants can be done by physical...

  • DAP was above the $800-per-ton price level for the first time since the third week of July 2023. (DTN graphic)

    DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

    Prices of seven of the eight major fertilizers were higher compared to last month. Just one fertilizer had a sizable price increase compared to a month earlier for the third consecutive week. Urea was 7% higher with an average...

  • Urea was 11% higher compared to last month with an average price of $662 per ton. (DTN chart)

    DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

    Seven of the eight major fertilizers were higher compared to last month. Two fertilizers (urea and UAN28) had a sizable price increase compared to last month for the third consecutive week. DTN designates a significant move as...

  • University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) Extension is offering a week-long, in-person small meat processer management training course for those who want to enhance their skills and industry knowledge. (DTN photo by Russ Quinn)

    UNL Small Meat Locker Training Offered

    A week-long, in-person program is available to small meat lockers through the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) Extension. The program is Sept. 7-13 on UNL's East Campus in Lincoln. The course will guide participants to ensure a...

  • Stevan Patterson from Castlederg in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, plowing with his 1944 Ford-Ferguson tractor. (Photo courtesy of Stevan Patterson)

    Russ' Vintage Iron

    After DTN's Russ Quinn wrote about tractor innovator Harry Ferguson, Quinn received an email from a Northern Ireland man who is campaigning for a museum be built in his country to honor Ferguson as the man who changed...

  • Urea was 13% higher compared to last month with an average price of $652 per ton. (DTN chart)

    DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

    Seven of the eight major fertilizers were higher compared to last month. Once again three fertilizers (urea, UAN28 and UAN32) had a sizable price increase compared to last month for the third consecutive week. DTN designates a...

  • Agricultural producers need to be proactive to protect their home, buildings, equipment and livestock from wildfires. (DTN file photo)

    Protect Homes, Buildings From Wildfires

    As a higher-than-average number of wildfires are already being seen in the U.S. and the Canadian Prairies, landowners should take steps now to reduce the risk for wildfires on their property. University of Missouri Extension gives...

  • Urea was one of three fertilizers leading prices higher in the past week compared to last month at $596/ton. (DTN chart)

    DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

    Once again all eight of the major fertilizers were more expensive compared to last month. Three fertilizers (urea, UAN28 and UAN32) had a large price increase looking back to last month. DTN designates a significant move as...

  • Take the time to prepare hay equipment now before the hay harvesting season begins, according to the University of Missouri Extension. (DTN file photo)

    Complete Hay Equipment Maintenance Now

    While nothing can prevent some breakdowns in the field, pre-season hay equipment maintenance will help the haying season go smoother. The University of Missouri Extension has some tips for hay producers as they prepare their...

  • The average retail price of UAN28, at $381 per ton, was 6% higher than the previous month during the last full week of April 2025, according to retailers surveyed by DTN. The price of UAN28 is now 5% higher than it was a year ago. (DTN chart)

    DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

    Average retail prices for all eight major fertilizers were more expensive compared to last month. Two fertilizers (UAN28 and UAN32) had a substantial price increase looking back to last month. DTN designates a significant move as...

  • The average retail price of UAN32, at $448 per ton, was 9% higher than the previous month during the last full week of April 2025, according to retailers surveyed by DTN. The price of UAN32 is now 7% higher than it was a year ago. (DTN chart)

    DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

    All eight of the major fertilizers were more expensive than last month during the last full week of April 2025. Two fertilizers, UAN28 and UAN32, had a substantial price increase from last month...

  • The average price of potash was $467/ton, which is 5% more expensive compared to the prior month. (DTN chart)

    DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

    All eight of the major fertilizers were more expensive compared to last month. Three fertilizers (UAN32, UAN28 and potash) had a sizeable price increase looking back to last month. DTN designates a significant move as anything 5...

  • Alfalfa weevil larvae can inflict much damage to alfalfa plants, lowering both yield and crop quality. (Photo courtesy of Purdue University)

    Watch for Alfalfa Weevils as Weather Warms

    As warmer temperatures return to the Midwest, so do alfalfa weevils. The pests feast on alfalfa plants in the early spring and, if not treated, tonnage and quality can be reduced significantly. There are several insecticide...

  • The average retail price of UAN32 was $423 per ton during the first week of April 2025, up $26 per ton, or 6%, from $397 during the first week of March. (DTN chart)

    DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

    All eight of the major fertilizers were more expensive again compared to last month during the first week of April 2025. One fertilizer, UAN32, had a sizeable price increase, which DTN designates...