Planting delays

Planting Delays Continue Due to Weather Conditions

Planting delays continue in certain areas of the country due to weather conditions. Mark Oppold explains what that means for the crop and how the markets are reacting to it. Sponsored ContentStrong Relationship Exists Between the Florida Cattle Enhancement Board and UF-IFASApril 17, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Funding For Quicker Response to Research QuestionsApril 10, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides …

trade agreement

Trade Update with China

We are hearing a lot of stories about the trade war currently underway with China. Mark Oppold has a look at what is being discussed by some about the situation. Sponsored ContentStrong Relationship Exists Between the Florida Cattle Enhancement Board and UF-IFASApril 17, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Funding For Quicker Response to Research QuestionsApril 10, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board …

meat

Americans See Meat as Part of a Healthy Lifestyle

Meat sales hit a record high of $104.6 billion in 2024. The pounds sold increased by 2.3 percent compared to 2023, and consumers, on average, purchase meat more than once per week. That keeps meat the largest fresh department in grocery stores.  The 20th annual Power of Meat Report says almost all (98 percent) American households purchase meat, and 73 …

Live cattle

Keeping an Eye on the Cattle Trade

Traders are keeping an eye on the cattle trade right now. Mark Oppold has a look at what has been transpiring and what expectation are. Sponsored ContentStrong Relationship Exists Between the Florida Cattle Enhancement Board and UF-IFASApril 17, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Funding For Quicker Response to Research QuestionsApril 10, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Opportunities That Spark Research …

soybean

Archer Daniels Midland Closing SC Soybean Processing Plant

Archer Daniels Midland said it will permanently close its soybean processing plant in Kershaw, South Carolina, later this spring as part of its cost-cutting plan announced earlier this year, according to Reuters.  The Kershaw plant is the smallest of more than a dozen dedicated soy processing facilities operated by ADM in the U.S., with the capacity to crush 50K bushels …

commodities

Tracking Agricultural Commodities in April

With April almost over, Mark Oppold takes time to review how certain agricultural commodities have performed thus far this month. Sponsored ContentStrong Relationship Exists Between the Florida Cattle Enhancement Board and UF-IFASApril 17, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Funding For Quicker Response to Research QuestionsApril 10, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Opportunities That Spark Research ProjectsApril 3, 2026United Dairy Farmers of …

cautious rebound

Cautious Rebound on Wall Street

It’s been a cautious rebound this week for Wall Street. Mark Oppold has been watching the slow upward movement. Sponsored ContentStrong Relationship Exists Between the Florida Cattle Enhancement Board and UF-IFASApril 17, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Funding For Quicker Response to Research QuestionsApril 10, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Opportunities That Spark Research ProjectsApril 3, 2026United Dairy Farmers of …

Great Plains

American Agriculture History Minute: Crop Insurance, Conservation Techniques Revive Great Plains Agriculture

I’m Mark Oppold with an American Agriculture History Minute. Early settlers discovered that the Great Plains were not all that great. They found very harsh climate with tornadoes, blizzards, drought, hailstorms, floods and grasshoppers. It made for high risks and ruined many crops and many settlers that became financially ruined and either protested through the populist movement or went back …

cattle futures

Watching Prices for Cattle Futures

Some new highs have been seen when it comes to cattle futures. Mark Oppold has been watching what has transpired over the past week. Sponsored ContentStrong Relationship Exists Between the Florida Cattle Enhancement Board and UF-IFASApril 17, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Funding For Quicker Response to Research QuestionsApril 10, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Opportunities That Spark Research ProjectsApril …

Farm bankruptcies

Farm Bankruptcies Climbing in 2025

Farm bankruptcies grew 55 percent from 2023 to 2024 and are trending even higher in 2025. Farmers are continuing to struggle with low prices for their agricultural commodities and the high costs of inputs needed to grow those crops. Bloomberg says unpredictable tariffs, immigration overhauls, federal programs being cut, and frozen USDA funding are now part of the challenges farmers …