Blogs

  • Ag Policy Blog

    A Jersey cow on a Michigan dairy farm last year. The H5N1 outbreak has affected 33 farms in eight states. Scientists are voicing opinions that USDA is not sharing enough information or data about what officials have learned about the outbreak. (DTN file photo by Chris Clayton)

    Articles over the past several days from multiple national news and science outlets challenge how USDA is handling information about H5N1 infections involving now 33 dairy herds in eight states.

  • Ag Weather Forum

    Heavy rainfall is forecast for large areas of the Plains and Midwest going into early May. (DTN graphic)
    Posted by John Baranick , DTN Meteorologist

    Several storm systems will line up in a pattern that will promote widespread precipitation through much of the Plains and Midwest, including dry areas which missed recent storm systems. A very active pattern is set up to start April 25 that should last into early May.

  • Fundamentally Speaking

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

    State yields of the top 18 soybean producing states as a percent of the U.S. yield looking at the twenty, ten and then five-year averages

  • An Urban's Rural View

    War games indicate that in a Taiwan Strait conflict, the U.S. would run out of long-range, precision-guided munitions like this Patriot missile in less than a week. (Photo by Frank Trevino, Public Domain)
    Posted by Urban C Lehner , Editor Emeritus

    The U.S. won World War II in large part because of its ability to out-manufacture its enemies. Today China is the world's manufacturing powerhouse.

  • Sort & Cull

    It's still early in the week, but maybe Friday's Cattle on Feed report will serve as a strong enough springboard to turn the market and send the cattle complex back higher. (DTN file photo by Joel Reichenberger)
    Posted by ShayLe Stewart , DTN Livestock Analyst

    Pre-report estimates forecast placements to be anywhere from 90.0% to 94.7% of a year ago, so when the report showed placements in March were actually 88% -- cattlemen and traders alike were slightly taken back.

  • Market Matters Blog

    A Neopanamax ship passes through the Panama Canal's Agua Clara lock in 2019. This lock was a result of the Panama Canal Expansion in 2016 to allow the transit of larger ships. The Atlantic Bridge is seen in the background. (Photo courtesy of Wikipedia)
    Posted by Mary Kennedy , DTN Basis Analyst

    It's been a struggle for ships trying to move through the Panama Canal since early 2023 due to low water issues from drought. Some good news came on April 15 when the Panama Canal Authority announced an increase in booking slots in the Panamax locks beginning May 16...

  • Technically Speaking

    As of Friday, April 19, 2024, November soybeans closed at $11.61 a bushel and are holding up fairly well, considering the top two U.S. soybean competitors are harvesting somewhere between 7.3 billion and 7.5 billion bushels (DTN ProphetX chart)
    Posted by Todd Hultman , DTN Lead Analyst

    While the top two U.S. soybean competitors are both harvesting soybeans, November soybean prices are only showing limited bearish pressure in April. Is something more going on?

  • Production Blog

    Avoid sticky situations by checking the condition of seed in the planter. (DTN photo by Pamela Smith)
    Posted by Pamela Smith , Crops Technology Editor

    Try these seed conditioning tips to avoid the hassle and downtime of gummed-up planters.

  • South America Calling

    Soil moisture as of April 10, the latest image available, still paints most of Brazil with below-normal soil moisture. (USDA/CPC graphic)

    Wet season showers have effectively ended this week in most of Brazil, which puts the onus on fronts coming from Argentina to supply any excess moisture for the safrinha corn crop in central and southern Brazil. Corn conditions from here on out will be watched closely as the...

  • Minding Ag's Business

    It's not uncommon for blowing dust to cause traffic accidents, but it's far less common for a farmer to be held legally responsible for it. (DTN file photo)

    A dust storm shut down an Illinois interstate Tuesday, just about a year after a tragic accident caused by blowing dust killed eight. Rain is on the way and research is underway to determine factors contributing to these Midwestern dust-ups.

  • Canada Markets

    After close to 12 years with DTN covering markets from a Canadian analyst perspective, including the production and marketing cycle for crops, I've made a difficult decision to leave. (DTN file photo by Cliff Jamieson)
    Posted by Cliff Jamieson , Canadian Grains Analyst

    After close to 12 years with DTN, I will be moving on while showing extreme gratitude to DTN for a wonderful opportunity within a noble profession.

  • Ethanol Blog

    The head of the Renewable Fuels Association asked USDA to reconsider a decision to stop reporting county-level crops data. (NASS logo)

    The head of the Renewable Fuels Association asked USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service to reconsider a decision to stop reporting county-level farm data.

  • MachineryLink

    The Port of Baltimore is a key import-export point for farm and construction machinery, with a record 1.3 million tons of equipment rolled off and onto ships last year. (DTN photo courtesy of Maryland Department of Transportation, Port Administration)
    Posted by Dan Miller , Progressive Farmer Senior Editor

    The Port of Baltimore is a key import-export point for farm and construction machinery. The port tallied a record 1.3 million tons of roll on/roll off farm and construction machinery in 2023. The previous record was 1 million tons in 2012.

  • Editors' Notebook

    Posted by Greg D Horstmeier , DTN Editor-in-Chief

    March 19 is National Ag Day in the U.S. DTN hopes you'll join us to recognize and celebrate the many benefits agriculture brings to our nation, to our overall economy, and to the world.

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