Month: July 2023

The folks over at FarmdocDaily have released new research showing the dramatic change in farm employment over the last five decades. It probably comes as no surprise that farm employment has fallen by -35% since 1969 amid greater adoption of labor-saving technologies and the ongoing trend of farm consolidation. These changes have also had consequences …

Farm Employment in the US has Declined -35% Over the Last 50 Years Read More »

With all of the fresh watermelon hitting the market, I thought it would be good to again review a few tips about how to pick just the right one. A few of our readers happen to be some of the largest watermelon producers in the U.S. and have passed along a few inside tips through …

How To Pick The Perfect Watermelon Read More »

Vertical farming seems to have lost its appeal to venture capitalists, with funding for the sector plunging some -91% over the last year. The once-hot industry promised to change the future of farming with its high-tech approach but has instead delivered exorbitant energy costs and a lot of high-priced leafy greens. Despite some $4 billion …

What is the Future of Vertical Farming? Read More »

Update on the Farm Bill – Will Congress Pass a New One Before Farm Bill 2018 Expires?The current Farm Bill, inked in 2018, expires in just over two months. Unfortunately, many lawmakers are expressing doubts that a new one will be completed before the September 30 expiration date. Revisited every five years, the Farm Bill …

Update on the Farm Bill – Will Congress Pass a New One Before Farm Bill 2018 Expires? Read More »

Hot temperatures and extremes in weather have hit the state of Georgia hard this year, as producers say they have lost 90% of the state’s peaches. According to the University of Georgia, the state normally produces more than 130 million pounds of peaches annually. This season they lost more than 90% of their crop after …

Peach Prices Might be Surprisingly High the Next Several Months Read More »

Once again, the world is trying to understand what an end to Ukraine grain shipments out of the Black Sea will mean for the international grain market. On July 17, Russia terminated the Black Sea grain deal that had kept Ukraine’s corn, wheat, sunoil, and other critical agricultural exports flowing. Ukraine farmers do have some …

What the End of Black Sea Grain Deal Means for Global Food Supplies Read More »

We constantly hear all of the talk about weather extremes and climate change, but it was on this day back in 1935 that “The Dust Bowl” heatwave reached its peak, with temperatures of 109°F in Chicago, Illinois and 104°F in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The drought itself actually came in three waves, 1934, 1936, and 1939–1940, but …

Weather Extremes Then and Now… Dust Bowl Read More »

German agtech developer NEXAT GmbH is not a well-known name in the US but that may not be the case for long. The company’s all-in-one machine is dubbed “the world’s first complete holistic crop production system.” Specifically, the NEXAT system is an autonomous, 1,100 horsepower carrier unit with interchangeable implements that can tackle every step …

All-in-One “NEXAT” Farming System Cultivates, Sows, Sprays, and Harvests Autonomously Read More »

Farmers around the world have found an unlikely hero in former “Top Gear” and “Grand Tour” host Jeremy Clarkson. The subject of his latest show, “Clarkson’s Farm”, is his aptly named farm “Diddly Squat,” which is exactly how much Clarkson knew about farming when the project began. The show’s first season was actually released back …

How a Famous British Personality Has Become an Unlikely Hero and Spokesman for Farmers Around the World Read More »

Current high temperatures, coupled with drought in some growing areas, raise concerns about the potential for US production this season. Both corn and soybean crops are in or entering into critical growth stages, but the impact of weather conditions will vary by crop and development stage. Below are details about the impact of extreme heat …

What is the Heat and Drought “Danger Zone” for Corn and Soybeans? Read More »