Blogs

  • Ag Policy Blog

    An attempt by a Chinese-owned company, Fufeng Group, to buy land near a North Dakota Air Force Base in 2021 to 2023 was one of the sparks prompting Congress to take more actions on foreign ownership of land. A bill led by Rep. Frank Lucas, R-Okla., was passed by the House on Monday under suspension rules, meaning no roll-call vote was needed. (DTN file image)

    The bill is directed heavily at land ownership from Chinese companies, as well as countries such as Iran, North Korea and Russia. USDA shows Chinese companies reported owning 277,336 acres of land as of Dec. 23, 2023. The bill also permanently puts the Agriculture secretary on a...

  • Canada Markets

    With Monday's acreage estimates and June 1 grain stocks report potentially setting the tone for the next year, it's worth a review of how precarious the situation is for soybeans and thus the entire oilseed complex. Even with the prospective planting estimate of 83.5 million acres, there is very little room for error, especially considering the USDA assumed a record 52.5-bpa yield for their 2025-26 estimates. If all else remains the same and yield ends up at 51 bpa, ending stocks fall to levels not seen since 2013 (in orange), leaving an issue if final area turns out to be even lower yet. (DTN chart, USDA and DTN data)

    The soybean market has shown very few signs of concern recently but given how little room there is for production shortfalls, Monday's acreage update should take on added importance.

  • Technically Speaking

    This is a daily chart of December corn futures showing the vulnerable support area and little below that. (DTN ProphetX chart)
    Posted by Dana Mantini , Senior Market Analyst

    December corn on Monday is under severe pressure again and for about the eighth time is challenging the support area of $4.33 to $4.34. The more a chart point is challenged, the more vulnerable it becomes with each additional test. A look at the weekly version of the December...

  • Ag Weather Forum

    This week's hot spell is before most corn moves into pollination, which helps mitigate yield loss potential. (DTN photo by EllaMae Reiff)
    Posted by Bryce Anderson , Ag Meteorologist Emeritus

    Soil moisture and duration of extreme temperatures are key to avoiding yield loss.

  • Sort & Cull

    Cattle market fundamentals remain extremely bullish. Some extra volatility comes naturally with these record high prices. (DTN photo by ShayLe Stewart)
    Posted by ShayLe Stewart , DTN Livestock Analyst

    Record high cattle prices come with more volatility. You'll never outthink the cattle market, but you can have a plan to deal better with it.

  • Market Matters Blog

    A ripe, hard red winter wheat field in southern Kansas waiting for harvest after rains slowed progress. This field is leaning quite a bit according to the farmer, but not laying on the ground. (Photo courtesy of Scott Van Allen)
    Posted by Mary Kennedy , DTN Basis Analyst

    Areas in the Southern Plains hard red winter wheat territory have been inundated with heavy rain and severe storms, slowing harvest and negatively affecting quality.

  • Ethanol Blog

    A federal court remanded a Renewable Fuels Standard rule back to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Friday. (DTN file photo by Joel Reichenberger)

    A federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., remanded the first Renewable Fuels Standard set rule back to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

  • Minding Ag's Business

    Join us for an exclusive webinar focused on the biggest near- and long-term trends in the cattle markets on June 24 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. CDT. (DTN image by Nick Scalise)

    Join Oklahoma State University Livestock Marketing Specialist Derrell Peel and DTN experts for an in-depth examination of cattle market dynamics, as well as what you can expect from weather and prices for the rest of the year.

  • An Urban's Rural View

    In the dot plot, the 19 members of the interest-rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee give their forecasts for the path of the Fed's benchmark federal funds rate. In the latest plot, 10 members see two cuts by the end of this year, two expect one cut and seven expect rates to remain at today's level between 4.25% and 4.5%. (Federal Open Market Committee graphic)

    Though the effects of tariff hikes have yet to show up in the inflation reports, the Federal Reserve expects to learn a lot more about their effects in the next few months. In the meantime, it's keeping its benchmark interest rate unchanged.

  • Fundamentally Speaking

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

    Price change in the July-December corn spread from January 1 to June 1 vs. the change in the old crop corn stocks-to-use ratio from January to the June WASDE report and the change from last June to this year's June figure.

  • Production Blog

    Depending on the crop height or growth stage, time may be running out to spray herbicides over the top of corn. (DTN photo by Pamela Smith)

    With application windows narrowed by either wind or rain, time may be running out for spraying herbicides over the top in some corn fields.

  • Editors' Notebook

    According to a recent informal, online DTN/Progressive Farmer poll as well as interviews with experts and national statistics, finding good ag labor is difficult these days. (Photo by Debra Ferguson)
    Posted by Anthony Greder , DTN/Progressive Farmer Content Manager

    Stemming from multiple factors, agricultural employers nationwide find hiring workers difficult, reflecting a widespread farm labor shortage.

  • MachineryLink

    CNH reports lower sales and moderate price increases as it releases first quarter 2025 financial results. (Image courtesy of Case-IH)

    CNH Industrial, parent company of Case IH and New Holland, forecasts lower ag sales and income for 2025, while also announcing a moderate price increase "in the low single digit(s)."

  • South America Calling

    The April forecast from DTN is calling for well-below-normal rainfall for the tail end of Brazil's wet season. (DTN graphic)
    Posted by John Baranick , DTN Meteorologist

    Soil moisture is below normal in many of Brazil's safrinha corn growing areas. A drier outlook for April puts that corn crop at a higher risk of drought and damage.

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