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Bayer has licensed a UC Davis gene-editing technology that could help cereal crops obtain more nitrogen from soil bacteria, potentially reducing their dependence on fertilizer. The project also reflects a broader direction in the seed industry: building more agronomic capabilities into the plant, from insect and disease protection to improved nutrient supply. That strategy is …

Bayer’s Nitrogen Project Reflects a Bigger Shift in Seed Technology Read More »

The traditional architecture of global grain trade is undergoing a structural realignment. A combination of ongoing war in the Black Sea, expanding bioenergy mandates in South America, and shifting price dynamics among major producers has fundamentally altered traditional trade flows. These factors are actively reallocating export market share and internal supply priorities across the world’s …

How War and Biofuels are Reshaping Global Corn Trade Read More »

Today on FARMCON Conversations, Kevin and I spend a good part of the show on something producers are going to be talking about: NASS acknowledging a processing error in its September corn estimates for Kansas and Nebraska. The correction itself changed the national number only modestly, but the bigger conversation is about confidence, risk management and …

FARMCON CONVERSATIONS – USDA Numbers, Collectibles, Lifestyle Inflation, and More! Read More »

FMC Corporation’s announcement of a -$625 million to -$675 million commercial adjustment and a dramatic reduction in third-quarter 2026 revenue expectations (down to $65 million to $125 million from initial forecasts around $900 million) marks a watershed moment for the crop protection sector. While presented as an inventory write-down and restructuring of U.S. pricing models, …

Are Agricultural Chemical Prices Facing a Fundamental Reset Read More »

For generations, American producers have viewed farmland as one of the most dependable stores of wealth. Commodity prices fluctuate, operating margins tighten and equipment depreciates, but productive farmland generally maintains its long-term value. Now an emerging environmental issue is introducing a risk that has little to do with yields, commodity markets or interest rates. A …

Next Threat to Farmland Values May Not Simply Be Crop Prices… Read More »

Today on FARMCON Conversations, Kevin and I are joined by longtime FARMCON partner David Elser of UPL. David has a unique view across crop inputs, distribution, innovation and producer economics, and our conversation quickly moved beyond products into the bigger question of how agricultural businesses have to change when their customer’s economics change. We get …

FARMCON CONVERSATIONS…with Special Guest DAVID ELSER of UPL Read More »

American agriculture has become incredibly good at producing. In 2025, farmers harvested record or near-record crops across large parts of the country, yet USDA says ARC and PLC payments tied to that crop year will total roughly $13.8 billion, the largest annual payout since the programs were created under the 2014 Farm Bill. At the …

We Grew a Record Crop, So Why Are Farm Payments Breaking Records? Read More »

Quadrupedal “dog” robots are beginning to find a real, if still limited, place in agriculture. Their four-legged design lets them traverse uneven ground, narrow rows, and other terrain that can challenge wheeled machines, while carrying cameras, sensors, computing hardware, or treatment tools directly to the work area. For now, most are used as mobile sensing …

“Robot Dogs” Heading to the Farm Read More »

Today on FARMCON Conversations, Kevin and I get into a question that may make some people uncomfortable: is straight farming, by itself, still a durable enough business model for most families? That conversation takes us into why Kevin believes free cash flow and additional revenue streams are becoming increasingly important, why a producer’s cost of …

FARMCON CONVERSATIONS Read More »

There’s an interesting agricultural investment taking place in Canada that I think deserves more attention than the headline might suggest. Mondelēz Canada recently committed capital to Area One Farms Fund V, a Canadian farmland investment strategy that partners with growth-oriented family farms. The stated goals include strengthening agricultural supply chains, helping producers expand, and advancing …

The Next Farm Growth Model May Look Very Different Read More »