Looking ahead to the 2025 corn crop, one company says the cost to raise that crop is down. Farmers National Company (FNC) says 2025 crop inputs are expected to see a slight reduction compared to 2024. While some farms may experience increased costs for specific reasons, such as adding lime, improving drainage, or boosting fertility, the overall picture suggests a …
American Agriculture History Minute: Trade, Barter, Pay Taxes
I’m Mark Oppold with an American Agriculture History Minute. As settlers moved west across the Mississippi River, great expansion continued. Early farmers planted crops that supplied their families and livestock with food. They kept a few chickens a hog or two, a cow, maybe some sheep. They cleared more land each year, grew bigger crops. Extra wheat, corn, oats, or …
Sales of Agricultural Tractors and Combines Fall in October
Sales of agricultural tractors decreased last month compared to the year before. New numbers from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) indicate a 14.2% drop in tractor sales, while combine sales also fell, dropping 34.6% compared to 2023. “October’s sales of ag tractors and combines follow a September that also showed a slowdown in sales,” said AEM Senior Vice President Curt Blades. “These …
Some Pent-up Purchasing Expected
Many folks were holding off on making any major purchases until after the Presidential election. With that now over, Mark Oppold notes we may start seeing some pent-up purchasing taking place. Sponsored ContentWhat Sets Provysol® Fungicide ApartJuly 8, 2025CIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2025Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024
No Support from the Crop Report
The latest crop report is not expected to have much of a factor on the trade. Mark Oppold has more details. Sponsored ContentWhat Sets Provysol® Fungicide ApartJuly 8, 2025CIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2025Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024
Pre-Election Farmer Sentiment Bounces Back
October (.pdf) provided a surprising pre-election bounce in farmer sentiment as the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer climbed to 115, 27 points above the September index. The biggest driver of the sentiment improvement was an increase in producers’ confidence in the future. The Future Expectations Index jumped 30 points to 124. The Current Conditions Index also rose in October …
Crop Futures Looking for Solid Support
Many of the crop futures continue to look for solid support. Mark Oppold has an update on various issues affecting the trade. Sponsored ContentWhat Sets Provysol® Fungicide ApartJuly 8, 2025CIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2025Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024
New Legislation Aims to Support Farmers’ Financial Needs for 2024
The Farm Assistance and Revenue Mitigation (FARM) Act, introduced last month and supported by over 40 members of Congress, seeks to address immediate financial needs in the farming community. Endorsed by major agricultural groups like the National Sorghum Producers, the legislation proposes economic assistance targeted for the 2024 crop year. Under the FARM Act, payment calculations would be based on …
Farm Loans Soar as Ag Economy Deteriorates
Farmers are taking out loans at a rate and scale not seen in years as weakened crop prices weigh on the agricultural sector, according to a report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. The volume of new operating loans increased at its fastest pace since 2017, the report said, with commercial banks issuing 40% more of these loans …
USDA Awards $33.5 Million to Boost Local Food Systems Across 43 States
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded over $33.5 million to strengthen local food systems and expand the availability of locally grown products across the United States. This funding, provided through the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP), supports 113 projects in 43 states and territories through three grant programs: the Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP), the Local Food Promotion …