Disease Issues in Alabama Corn and Soybeans

A combination of the rain, heat and humidity has been a recipe for diseases in the many row crop fields. Alabama Cooperative Extension System Plant Pathologist, Edward Sikora, recently said foliar diseases have become more prevalent on soybeans during the last several weeks. Sikora said the weather is mostly responsible for the higher levels of foliar disease pressure. He said approximately 80 …

Vilsack and Tai to Meet with USDA Ag Policy Committee

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai will meet with the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee Friday. Topics include current and new trade deals, trade agreement implementation and concerns within the agreements. The committee, managed by the Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Trade Representative’s office, offers advice on U.S. trade policy. The committee consists of six technical …

AFB President Disputes Administration Claims on New Capital Gains Tax

American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duval pushed back against the Biden administration’s stance that most small family farmers will escape a proposed capital gains tax to replace the so-called “stepped-up basis.” Duval disputed the claim that a $2 million per couple exclusion on the gain on farm assets and that passed onto children, will let most off the hook on …

Soy Sustainability Protocol Reaches 100-Million Metric Tons of Exports

The U.S. Soybean Export Council, United Soybean Board, and the American Soybean Association are happy to announce a new milestone for U.S. soy exports. More than 100 million metric tons of U.S. Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol (SSAP) verified soy has been exported internationally over the seven years since the program launched in 2014. With the growing demand for sustainable soy …

Fewer Cotton and Peanut Acres, More Corn and Soybeans

While the June 30 acreage report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA-NASS) shows cotton and peanut acreage is down slightly, it indicates corn and soybean acreage is up slightly. The USDA-NASS report notes cotton growers planted 11.7 million acres this year, down 3 percent from 2020, while peanut growers planted 1.63 million acres in 2021, down two …

Safely Fumigating Grain Bins

While recent rains have slowed planting progress once again across the Southeast, storage of those grain crops being planted is something to think about. According to the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES), grain bin fumigation is a crucial but dangerous aspect of any grain farmer’s operation. They note the process of fumigating for pests begins well before grain enters the …

Crop Scouting Basics Available in New Web Book

Pest management is an essential part of crop scouting for both corn and soybean producers. And to help, the Crop Protection Network (CPN) has released a crop scouting and integrated pest management web book to assist agriculturalists. According to a release from Auburn University, crop scouting is important in order to assess pest pressure and help determine what is necessary to mitigate …

Highlights from USDA March Reports

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released their monthly round of crop production and supply and demand reports Tuesday. Rod Bain has a story looking at some of the notable items within those reports. 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, …