Supply Chain

As farmers and ranchers, our work is never just about getting the job done, but looking for the best practices and embracing innovation for whatever challenges may lie ahead.

A new study revealed a tariff-induced trade war would have a serious impact on corn and soybean farmers via lost global market share.

A groundbreaking technology has been developed that could boost domestic corn demand by over a billion bushels.

After years of research and planning, Janie’s Mill began milling certified organic grain grown on Harold Wilken’s farm in 2017.

Dairymen can reduce the methane produced by their cows with the addition of the feed ingredient Bovaer to the ration.

Like farmers and ranchers, veterinarians love to pour concrete. Many build customized facilities dedicated to their animal health mission: examination rooms, operating theaters, cattle chutes, holding pens, loading docks.

Every day, rain or shine, farmers rise to do their jobs. Whether we’re tired or stressed, we press on. If we disagree with a family member, we find a way forward. We don’t stall on planting or harvesting or caring for our animals.

Whether they’re taken to heart to taken with a grain of salt, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s monthly crop and livestock estimates are crucial for the entire farm supply chain.

Time is running out for Congress to pass a modernized farm bill this year. Families — on and off the farm — cannot afford a delay.

Two years ago, the Masters of Beef Advocacy program managed by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, hit 20,000 graduates. This year, the program celebrates an additional 5,000 graduates.

The third round of Fertilizer Production Expansion Program grant recipients, including four in Illinois, was recently announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The farm-to-port export chain from Illinois to Oregon and beyond was the focus of a recent tour for 12 South Koreans hosted by Kansas State University’s International Grains Program.

CHS has signed an intent to purchase agreement for eight grain assets in five states from Cargill.

Food companies are using technology to improve sustainability at every step of the supply chain.

There’s not a day that goes by, when farmers aren’t thinking about how to leave the land better than we found it.

Farming is a beautiful way of life for many families. It’s also a business. An often-quoted phrase is an important one in agriculture: the business of business is relationships.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is offering over $6.7 million in competitive grant funding for projects designed to build food supply chain resilience in Indiana.

“We have a ton of stuff packed into two days.” That’s the succinct description of the 2024 Mid-West Truck and Trailer Show, scheduled for Feb. 2-3 at the Peoria Civic Center, 201 SW Jefferson Ave., Peoria.

In 2023, my first full year serving as executive vice president at the American Farm Bureau Federation, I enjoyed witnessing the complete cycle of the grassroots policy development process, from county Farm Bureau meetings to last year’s convention in Puerto Rico.

Although indicators pointed to a recession in 2023, the U.S. economy has grown during this year.

Compeer Financial introduced its upcoming webinar series, “Navigating the Dairy Industry Today,” designed to equip professionals with strategies to thrive in the constantly evolving dairy landscape.

A producer-based survey across the nation’s primary corn and soybean states estimates yields below the August U.S. Department of Agriculture projections.

I managed to avoid COVID for almost four years, but it finally tagged me. I had a cold and wanted to get ahead of a sinus infection, so I went to urgent care in hopes of a steroid shot or Z-Pak.

Victor Tsvyk harvested 4,800 tons of wheat this month, but after Russia exited a wartime deal that allowed Ukraine to ship grain to the world, he has no idea where his produce will go, or how his beloved farm will survive.

The clock is ticking for the farm bill as it is set to expire at the end of September. Farmers and ranchers aren’t the only ones with eyes on the clock, either.

The U.S. Senate confirmed Xochitl Torres Small as deputy secretary. “Xochitl Torres Small has dedicated her career to serving the agriculture industry and the American people,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

Farmers markets gave people something they desperately sought during the pandemic: A place to shop outdoors, and at the same time support smaller, often local businesses.

The 2023 Rail & Maritime Summit, a prominent event that unites distinguished professionals from the rail and maritime sectors, has presented the esteemed Diolkos Award to Rod Weinzierl, Illinois Corn executive director.

Prairie Farms kicked off Dairy Month in a big way by partnering with 30 Feeding America food banks to donate 85 pallets of milk, which is over 346,000 milk servings.

For more than one organization, recent remarks by U.S. Trade Ambassador Katherine Tai fell short of what ag groups wanted to hear from the Biden administration on agricultural trade.

The farm sector shouldn’t see quite as many transportation-related challenges this year compared to 2022, according to industry experts at the Grain and Feed Association of Illinois’ 130th annual convention in Peoria.

Farmers across the state are gearing up for another productive spring planting season. Once the frost melts and the soil temperatures rise, it will be time to hit the fields, but for many farmers high prices for fertilizer, fuel and other critical tools remain a challenge.

If the cost of eggs is breaking the household budget, also consider the effect on the restaurant industry.

The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture set its federal policy focus for 2023.

Root, stalk and foliar diseases, as well as stressful environmental conditions, are among the constant threats to yield potential — and going “cleaner and greener” can provide the protection needed.

For many, 2022 was a year of change and transition. New challenges arose as post-pandemic changes in consumer behavior, global supply chains and monetary policy caused major shifts in the economy.

Developing the supply chain is an important part of adding value to products sold by farmers to consumers. “We are working in five geographic areas located in Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota for the Grassland 2.0 project,” said Sarah Lloyd.

One question that Ryan Reeverts might be asked is how he prepared for the Illinois Farm Bureau Discussion Meet, which he won at the IFB’s annual meeting in Chicago earlier this month. A better question is — how did he find the time? “I definitely try to stay busy,” Reeverts said.

Indiana Farm Bureau members continue to step up and make sure their voices are heard by making phone calls and sending texts to lawmakers, beamed INFB President Randy Kron at the organization’s annual state convention.

Agriculture conditions were flat to slightly improved across Corn Belt Federal Reserve districts, the Beige Book reported. The survey-based Beige Book publication summarizes comments received from contacts outside the Federal Reserve System.

Those 2- to 4-inch weeds that emerge amid young corn plants may appear harmless, but are stealing water, costly nutrients and yields before they are eliminated with a post-emergence herbicide application.

The past two years have been a learning experience for Lincoln Slagel at Emancipation Brewing Company as he turns his focus to 2023 using those lessons learned.

The lyrics of a Grateful Dead song, “What a long, strange trip it’s been,” could best sum up the past few years and the impacts continue turning toward 2023. Jeff Cecil, Syngenta Crop Protection marketing head, kicked off a media summit with a look at hot topics and trends in ag.

Take a moment to think back to April 2020. The United States was one month into the COVID-19 pandemic, and consumers across the country were panic buying all the necessities they could get their hands on.

Ford Motor Co.’s top quality executive is retiring as the company continues to struggle with high warranty claims and reliability issues. Stuart Rowley, chief transformation and quality officer, is leaving after 32 years with the company.

Toyota said that its profit fell 31% in the last quarter as a shortage of computer chips offset foreign exchange gains from a weaker yen. Toyota Motor Corp.’s quarterly profit through September totaled $2.9 billion, down from nearly $4.3 billion a year earlier.

Football games on TV, combine harvesters rolling through farm fields and pumpkin patches are all signs that fall is officially here. This year, we can add in political attack ads on TV and campaign signs dotting the countryside to the mix, as well.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that $500 million in grants have been made available to increase domestic fertilizer production through the Fertilizer Production Expansion Program.

The Kron family is preparing for harvest in southern Indiana. Randy Kron, farmer and president of Indiana Farm Bureau, shared an update with AgriNews.

Gebisa Ejeta, World Food Prize laureate and professor of agronomy at Purdue University, is one of many scholars concerned about global food security. “I am bothered by the inequity around the world both within and between nations,” Ejeta said.