Rye has long lived in the shadow of bigger US grains. Once a practical staple for farmers working with cold weather and poor soils, rye gradually lost ground to wheat and corn as US agriculture industrialized and consumer tastes shifted. Now, after decades as a niche crop, rye fans are hoping the grain can find …
NEW FARMCON PODCAST Kevin and Todd cover everything from corn, soybeans and cattle to government policy, investing, selling the family farm, hiring great people, and why some of the biggest lessons in business come down to knowing when to change direction. THIS WEEK’S CONVERSATION 03:00 — What Liquid Death Can Teach AgricultureKevin explains why FARMCON …
Food companies are rushing to find natural replacements for food colorings that are being phased out, a task that’s more challenging than it might seem. Researchers at the University of Missouri think a variety of purple corn could be a good substitute for some red dyes that are proving particularly tough to replace. They are …
Natural Food Colors Could Open a New Lane for Corn Farmers Read More »
Everyone in agriculture understands the bullish argument behind expanding biofuel demand. More renewable diesel should mean more soybean oil demand, more crush capacity, and ultimately more demand for U.S. soybeans. But there is a part of the equation we probably do not talk enough about: Who actually gets paid? Government policy can create billions of …
Biofuel Policy Is Creating Value Again—But Will It Reach the Producer? Read More »
The North American commercial drone market is undergoing a structural transformation driven by supply-chain vulnerabilities, federal legislative pushes for domestic component sourcing, and the rapid adoption of heavy-lift aerial platforms in precision agriculture. Reliance on foreign-made propulsion systems, once the industry standard, has introduced mounting regulatory and operational risks. Emerging from this shift, American startup …
“USA Drone Motors”… and the Race to Build American Drones Read More »
WASDE Wild Cards, Trading Volatility & Why Good Producers Still Struggle This week Kevin and Todd dig into today’s WASDE report, where Kevin sees the biggest potential surprises, and why he believes the market may be sitting in a spot where one USDA number could trigger a much larger technical move. Kevin also explains why …
Most growers know the monthly USDA WASDE report can move the grain markets. But what many may not fully appreciate is how those moves actually happen, and how quickly the opportunity can disappear. A new fifteen-year study from Dan Maycock at Dataplai looked at 181 WASDE reports from July 2010 through April 2026 across corn, …
WASDE Does Not Reward Hope — It Rewards Having a Plan Read More »
If you drive across Illinois, Indiana, or Iowa during the growing season, the landscape tells a familiar story. Row after row of corn and soybeans stretch to the horizon. In fact, these two crops account for a staggering 94% of crop production across the region. For most Midwestern producers, this isn’t simply a preference—it can …
This week’s FarmCon Conversations starts with what makes FarmCon different from a normal ag event: it is not built around vacation travel, generic networking, or people telling producers how to farm. Kevin explains why FarmCon is positioned as a room for serious producers, operators, ranchers, ag businesses, and decision-makers who are trying to make better …
FARMCON Conversations 08-05-2026: Special Guest, Dan Maycock, co-founder of Dataplai Read More »
For over a year, the US border was closed to live Mexican cattle to keep out the New World screwworm (NWS). Now, the US Department of Agriculture is slowly reopening border entry points under strict inspection rules. While consumers will no doubt welcome relief at the grocery store, but the decision has split the livestock …
USDA Testing Controlled Return of Mexican Cattle Imports Read More »
