Farmer sentiment remained weak in June as the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer fell slightly to a reading of 97, two points below its May reading. During June, farmers were a bit more optimistic about current conditions as the Current Conditions Index of 99 was 5 points higher than...

U.S. beef exports set new volume and value records in May, topping $1 billion for the fourth time this year, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). While pork exports were well below last year’s large totals, shipments were the largest of 2022 in...

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) sales report for the month of June 2022 compared to the same month in 2021 shows overall tractor sales were down 8.3%. Four-wheel drive tractor sales down by 8.2% while combine sales trended up by 25.3%. Within the two-wheel drive category, the sale...

The U.S. Solicitor General, one of the highest-ranking officials in the Department of Justice, filed a brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in support of a challenge to California’s Proposition 12. The state law seeks to ban the sale of pork from hogs that don’t meet California’s production standards,...

U.S. poultry production during May 2022 was up 3% from May 2021. The USDA says the amount of poultry certified as wholesome last month was 4.247 billion pounds, including 3.824 billion pounds of chicken, 5% higher, and 412.758 million pounds of turkey, 8% lower.The chicken slaughter was 6% above a...

U.S. consumers will pay more for their favorite Independence Day cookout foods, including cheeseburgers, pork chops, chicken breasts, homemade potato salad, strawberries and ice cream, based on a new American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) market-basket survey.

Few things are more annoying than being broken down in the field and knowing you have the perfect tool to make the repair … back in your shop. That’s why so many farmers outfit their farm truck as a mobile shop. For some that means throwing a 5-gallon bucket full of hand tools into the bed of the...

Companies from Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran would be barred from purchasing U.S. agricultural land under language approved by the House Appropriations Committee. “More needs to be done to ensure the U.S. food supply chain is secure and independent,” said Representative Dan Newhouse,...

Clean Fuels Alliance America (CFAA) says demand for biodiesel is ratcheting up because of corporate pressure. CFAA says it expects 15 billion gallons of yearly biodiesel use by 2050. Scott Fenwick, Technical Director with CFAA, says clean energy market growth is going from being pushed by...

Total domestic commercial red meat production during May was 4.485 billion pounds, 4% more than in May 2021.Of that total red meat production, beef accounted for roughly half with 2.288 billion pounds, which was 3% higher than last year at this time. Also, a 4% increase in the slaughter rate...

Ag equipment dealer consolidation has long been a mainstay of the farm equipment industry, and the recently released 2022 Big Dealer Report published by Lessiter Media suggests consolidation is continuing its rapid pace.

Did that Holstein cow really sell for nearly $2 million? If so, why? Yes, she did! S-S-I Doc Have Not 8784-ET, also simply known as “Doc”, sold on June 11 at the Summer Selections II Sale in Wisconsin. The four-year-old Holstein cow is not only good looking but combines some of the best genomics in...

With the average price for gas at over $5.00 nationwide, drivers are searching for the cheapest prices. Gasoline with higher blends of ethanol are seeing an uptick in demand. In fact, E85 is priced significantly less than other blends of fuel across the country, even $2 below at some locations.

From record-high gas and diesel prices to a major spike in the price Americans paid for their weekend barbecue essentials, shoppers are seeing price hikes everywhere they go.

Osceola County, Michigan is home to nearly 25,000 people. Located in the west-central part of the state's lower-peninsula, the county is home to many farms that raise different crops such as corn, soybeans, wheat and forages. The county is also sitting on a large underground supply of potassium and...