Foreign-held agricultural land grew to 47.2 million acres in 2024, driven mostly by Canadian and European timber and renewable energy interests rather than purchases of working cropland, reports Jim Henry.

Many Americans regularly enjoy dairy foods, but few have the opportunity to step onto a farm and see firsthand the people, technology and care behind the milk they purchase. A new dairy checkoff initiative aims to help close that gap.

Tight margins, rising input costs, shifts in global trading and changing biofuels are all impacting U.S. corn growers.

There is a growing concern about the economics of operating the farm right now. And input costs are playing a huge role in that angst.

The price of diesel is hitting record highs just when many U.S. farmers need it to power combines, tractors and other equipment to harvest two of the nation’s largest commodities, soybeans and corn.

Participating in leadership programs provides a variety of opportunities for farmers that include improving communication skills, learning new farming techniques and enhancing their business plans.

Utilizing beef semen to breed dairy females and produce beef-on-dairy cross calves is impacting dairy herds in several ways.

Average swine finishing feed costs could be about 10% higher in 2027 than in 2026. But the range matters: depending on where corn prices land, the increase could be closer to 5% or as high as 15%.

R-CALF USA is calling for an immediate federal investigation into the shrinking cattle market and recent major beef plant closures.

Agricultural conditions across the Federal Reserve districts in the Corn Belt continued to be described as subdued due volatile commodity prices and a surge in diesel prices.

Starting a farm transition or retirement plan early helps protect the land, reduce family conflict and keep the business running smoothly.

A $15 million investment in the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will expand the facility and provide opportunities for new bio-products using corn to scale to commercialization.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposes to reallocate 100% of the renewable fuel volume requirements recently waived via 29 small refinery exemptions.

Many major grocery and supermarket chains offer senior discounts ranging from 5% to 10% off on designated days of the week or month, though availability varies by location and requires a loyalty card or proof of age.

If you’ve done your grocery shopping at the same store for a long time, believing that they have the best prices in town, it might be time to revisit that thought.

Corn and soybean harvest has begun for Cliff Lane with yields ranging from average to above average.

It’s time to seriously consider whether we are investing enough in the research and development and market promotion of our industry.

Every cent matters when fuel bills are already stretching farm budgets, so being able to use tax-exempt diesel could make a real difference.

Ahead of the crop production estimates report, trade pundits expected a reduction in the U.S. corn yield average, but the U.S. Department of Agriculture thought differently.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s crop production report included increases in its corn and soybean production forecasts.

Higher production estimates pushed up ending stocks in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s supply and demand estimates report.

President Donald Trump issued an executive order that eases limits on the use of tax-exempt diesel fuel, and Indiana and Illinois governors made similar moves.

Farmers, truckers and economists say a move to cut taxes on diesel will provide little relief from record-high fuel prices that have soared since the United States attacked Iran months ago.

America’s entire cattle industry depends on a market that is disappearing before our eyes: the negotiated cash cattle market.

The corn has been more consistent performance yield-wise than the soybeans, but no real disappointments or loss so far with either crop.

Beijing and Washington released a tariff-reduction plan covering U.S. crops and dairy, but excluded top-export soybeans, reports Jim Henry.

Legislation to permanently ban the sale of Chinese vehicles in the United States stalled out as senators struggled to seal an agreement, virtually guaranteeing that the bill will have to wait until after the November elections.

Southern Illinois University Carbondale researchers are working to design a robot and program its artificial intelligence models to detect soybean diseases before symptoms appear.

Hog supplies continue to tighten as farmers resist expansion, but lower futures prices are signaling concerns that pork demand may be weakening faster than supplies are shrinking, reports Jim Henry.

Market conditions matter, but the policy and economic environment can shape how farmers view what comes next.

The United States and China released reciprocal lists of nonsensitive products worth about $30 billion each that will see tariff cuts, from American hair products to Chinese toys, in a deal expected to help bolster bilateral trade.

U.S.-Canada relations, already tense, are likely to deteriorate further after the United States went ahead with a decision to ban nearly $1 billion worth of Canadian imports, including alcoholic beverages, dairy products and motorcycles.

U.S. farmers in 2026 harvested the smallest all wheat crop since 1970, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s small grains summary.

While basis has broadly weakened since the start of September, the regional picture tells a more interesting story.

Higher fuel costs are compounding already tight farmer budgets.

State officials nationwide are focusing on rising gas and diesel prices tied to the war in Iran, offering gas tax holidays and other measures to ease costs as affordability remains a top voter concern in the critical midterm elections.

The Trump administration released new fuel economy standards that relax regulatory requirements for automakers to control pollution from gasoline-powered cars and light trucks.

From the outside looking in, the corn looks good. However, yield monitors are telling a different story.

If you're willing to do the legwork and find a solid adviser to help you navigate the system, you can tap into some great new government programs.

Chad Bell is working on the final steps to prepare for harvest as he waits for field conditions to be favorable and his corn to dry to appropriate moisture levels.

While rural voters seem unlikely to support Democrats on a large scale, Trump and the Republican Party could face challenges with them in November.

The Trump administration relied on flawed logic to justify scrapping vehicle emissions standards this year, making errors in how it accounted for fuel savings, the price of technology and mileage, according to a new study by a group of economists.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s quarterly stocks reports are known for their surprises — and the Sept. 30 estimates did not disappoint.

Old crop marketing year-end corn stocks are up 35% from a year ago, while soybeans and wheat stored in all positions are lower.

The market fundamentals that raised beef prices have not gone away — tight cattle supplies and strong consumer demand continue to support higher consumer beef prices, says Jim Henry.

Dairy Management Inc. is accepting entries for its 2027 New Product Competition, challenging undergraduate and graduate students across the United States to develop innovative dairy-based products for consumers seeking sustained energy.

There’s a reason the U.S. House passed the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act — and for those of us who live and work in rural America, that reason hits pretty close to home.

Soy buyers from several countries took advantage of the opportunity to see soybeans growing on an Illinois farm during a tour of Ryan Frieders’ farm.

Buyers are paying closer attention to productivity, location and long-term return potential when making land purchasing decisions.

Market development and a new farm bill continue to be among the top priorities for the Illinois Soybean Association.