A leading ethanol industry group, Growth Energy, says it will keep working to gain approval for year-round use of E-15, following the Supreme Court’s announcement this week that it had denied a petition from the biofuels group. The petition would have allowed E-15 rules to remain in place and...

The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer rose for the second time since May, up 9 points to a reading of 125 in December. The Index of Current Conditions and the Index of Future Expectations also rose in December with stronger current conditions primarily responsible for the barometer's...

During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and economic recession in 2020, the share of U.S. consumers' disposable personal income (DPI) spent on food decreased from 10.1 percent the previous year to 8.62 percent, the lowest in the past 60 years. DPI is the amount of money that U.S. consumers have...

Net export sales of U.S. corn got a major boost from Japanese buyers in late December. Japanese customers committed to buy 385,800 metric tons of U.S. corn for delivery in the 2021-22 marketing year, helping push total U.S. sales to Japan to more than 1.2 million tons.

Some sectors of the ag industry are eagerly watching the Supreme Court as the justices decide whether to hear petitions filed over housing standards for sows, the summertime use of E-15 ethanol blend, and wetlands regulation. The court is scheduled to discuss the petitions and announce its...

By Bob Clements, Founder & CEO of Bob Clements International

An ag economist expects labor shortages to continue for the foreseeable future. Nick Paulson, with the University of Illinois, says labor is in short supply with fewer people in the workforce compared to pre-pandemic levels. “The outlook from our perspective is that’s probably not something that...

A mental health counselor says dealing with stress on the farm has changed in the past few years. Jessica Beauchamp from Off the Couch Counseling and Consultation says, “It’s probably always existed. People are just reaching out more now.”

While the U.S. and global economies have continued to grow, the pace has slowed over the second half of 2021. But in the construction and agriculture equipment industries, stronger-than-expected growth this year has many manufacturers feeling optimistic about 2022.According to results from AEM's...

It's hard to believe that we are days away from the end of 2021.  Before you know it, we will be welcoming in a new year and new dreams about what the year will bring us. 

According to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, sales of all categories of agricultural equipment were up year-to-date (January through November). The 2WD tractor category increased by 11.2% with 100+ HP tractors leading the way, up 23.4%. For the 4WD category, sales were up by 17.1%....

High commodity prices and low interest rates fueled a sharp 15% increase in the value of cropland in the Midwest and Plains in the third quarter, according to surveys of ag bankers by four regional Federal Reserve banks (Chicago, Kansas City, Minneapolis and Dallas). “Alongside prospects for...

According to the USDA, agricultural export sales are forecast at a record $175.5 billion this fiscal year, but just like the record set last year, the crest was not as high as it looked in the summer.

In the recently released 2021 Progressive Farmer Reader Insights Study, John Deere was ranked the top tractor brand in the Most Durable, Best Ownership Experience and Highest Owner Loyalty categories for full size tractors.                                     

USDA's Economic Research Service (ERS) updated the 2021 farm sector profit projections last week. The ERS now forecasts U.S. net farm income to increase by $18.4 billion from 2020 to $116.8 billion in 2021. Net farm income is a broader measure of farm sector profitability that incorporates noncash...