A Roadmap to Better Decision Making

Farmers have a new tool available this year that can forecast the risk of disease pressure in both corn and soybeans. The “Crop Risk Tool” from the Crop Protection Network (CPN), which is totally free, currently has forecast models for tar spot and gray leaf spot in corn, as well as white mold and frogeye leaf spot in soybeans.The Crop ...
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The Trump Administration recently sued California over the state’s chicken-related animal confinement rules. The U.S. Department of Justice charges that the state’s mandates—requiring cage-free housing and specific labeling on eggs sold in California—are in conflict with the federal Egg Products Inspection Act (EPIA), which vests exclusive regulatory authority in the USDA. The filing targets three California laws — Proposition 2 ...
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Cover crop adoption has risen significantly in the last ten years, though research into their use and effectiveness has been slow to catch up. As part of a $10 million effort funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the first “National Cover Crop Variety Test Report” aims to help farmers learn what works best ...
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President Trump’s landmark tax and spending cuts bill, aka the “Big Beautiful Bill,” was signed into law earlier this month, ushering in several policy changes affecting U.S. agriculture. Some of the most impactful parts of the legislation for farmers are higher reference prices under the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) and the Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) programs, as well as a ...
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In the annals of agricultural innovation, few breakthroughs rival the significance of what Ohalo is bringing to market, the world’s first true potato seed. This milestone promises to transform not just how potatoes are grown, but the economics, sustainability, and resilience of one of humanity’s staple crops. As Ohalo moves into production with this technology, the company stands at the ...
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With the short holiday week, I wanted to keep it light and easy. I've always enjoyed Paul Harvey's reading of this piece, as the true author is "unknown". There's something about Paul Harvey's voice that makes it very hard to imagine hearing it recited any other way. I have included the actual words below, along with a link where you ...
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Among the pests that farmers deal with every year, cute little “Bambi” is a particularly difficult menace to manage. Estimated annual losses to U.S. farmers from damaged caused by deer reaches into the millions. Researchers at University of Tennessee hope to cut the losses for soybean farmers with a new variety that literally gives deer a stomach ache.A study published ...
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Rabobank is out with the sixth edition of its “Grains and Oilseeds World Map,” which shows that trade has continued to grow despite global upheaval. Trade volumes have increased by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of +3.2% for grains and +2.4% for oilseeds, based on data analyzed from 2018/19 to 2023/24. Rabobank does note that this is a slower ...
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The USDA recently released an interesting analysis, “The Rise and Fall of Bulk Commodities (As a Share of Total U.S. Agricultural Exports).” The report finds that major bulk commodities, as a share of total U.S. agricultural exports, have risen and fallen dramatically since 2020. Beyond short-term price volatilities that have largely driven these developments, changes to the largest overseas market ...
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Farm-ng is a California-based agricultural technology startup founded in 2020 with the mission, for now, to empower small and mid-sized farmers through accessible robotics and artificial intelligence. The company was established by Ethan Rublee, who, inspired by the challenges faced by farmers, including persistent labor shortages and operational inefficiencies, saw an opportunity to blend robotics with practical agricultural needs.Guided by AI expert Gary Bradski, ...
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