News, Insights & Interviews Archive

The struggles of American farmers and ranchers could get some assistance in the form of a delay in paying some of their bills. The USDA announced that farmers can have an additional 60 days to pay crop insurance premiums, administrative fees, and amounts due under written payment agreements that establish the required terms for repaying delinquent debts or setting up installment plans. Supplementary Payment Agreement for Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans or Rural Housing Servic

When Terrain Ag Agricultural Economist Matt Erickson examined more than three decades of farmland returns in a comprehensive study, one group of states stood out. While Illinois, Indiana, and much of the Eastern Corn Belt generated much of their wealth through steady land appreciation, states like South Dakota, Kansas, and Nebraska followed a different path. Their strength wasn't simply rising land values; it was their ability to generate income. So, what makes those states d

The National Corn Growers Association has released a new report saying U.S. farmers are paying significantly more for crop inputs than Brazilian farmers, one of their biggest competitors in the global marketplace. In some cases, the report showed that U.S. farmers are paying nearly twice as much as their Brazilian counterparts. NCGA posted the report and reactions from its leaders on Wednesday. "I think there has long been a belief among U.S. farmers that we pay more for the

More American farmers may have had shrinking profit margins on their minds as they planted their 2026 crops. Lower crop prices and higher production costs could have come into play as some producers chose to shift acres away from crops like corn and wheat and focus more on commodities that could be more cost-effective in the near-term like soybeans and cotton. According to the new Acreage report from the National Agricultural Statistics Services released on June 30, the pla

Some of the largest egg producers have agreed to pay $3.3 million and donate 53 million eggs to food banks and nonprofits after reaching a tentative settlement agreement with the U.S. Justice Department and 17 states. The settlement could resolve allegations that the companies -- using their massive egg producing capacity – colluded to illegally raise egg prices at a time when the United States dealt with the spread of avian influenza. The three companies, according to the co

Most farmers don't dream about testifying before Congress. They are usually thinking about weather forecasts, equipment repairs, markets, or whether they will get the crop in before the next rain. But sometimes, representing agriculture means trading muddy boots for a microphone in Washington, D.C.

Taxpayers have stepped in with billions of dollars in aid after Del Monte’s bankruptcy that led to the closure of the company’s California canneries in Modesto and Hughson that left cling peach growers without a processor for their 75,000 tons of product. California lawmakers lobbied the USDA for emergency aid for peach farmers, which led to a $9 million assistance package. “Following our urging to the Trump administration to deliver relief to peach farmers, I am pleased that

Midwest states’ renewable fuels industries also received promising news with the long-awaited vote by the U.S. House of Representatives that approved nationwide, year-round sales of E15, which followed years of battling between ethanol supporters and leaders from other states that prioritize continued focus on the oil industry. Ethanol supporters believe the expansion could bring new markets, grow existing ones, and allow the industry to make better use of its surplus product

The rapid rise of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs is reshaping how Americans eat. And that shift is beginning to slice through one of the country’s most iconic crops: potatoes. For growers, particularly in states like Idaho, Washington, Wisconsin, and Colorado, the health phenomenon could lead to piles of potatoes unless the potato industry can overcome this latest challenge.

There are numerous new reports on how the Trump administration’s decision to launch military strikes on Iran has raised prices for American farmers and ranchers, threatened to push costs higher for months, and strained the vital supply chain. And the failure to end Russia’s attack on Ukraine also continues to elevate costs. Purdue University’s Center for Commercial Agriculture laid out several numbers in a new report that showed why American farmers are exposed due to supplie

A new set of long-term projections from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) points to a subtle but important shift in the U.S. farm economy: a significant reduction in the number of acres used to plant row crops over the next ten years. Economists with the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics at the University of Illinois outlined this trend and wrote about what it means for farmers and landowners on the farmdoc website. Ten-Year USDA Outlook Total Planted

Younger generations haven’t been drinking nearly as much milk as their parents’ generation or especially their grandparents’ generation. But America’s new focus on higher protein consumption could increase demand for dairy products. The country’s newfound use of GLP-1 drugs for weight loss has emphasized the need for protein to maintain muscle mass. GLP-1 drugs have helped decrease appetite for adults, but they can also lead to decreased muscle during the weight loss process.

The decision by the Trump administration to attack Iran in retaliation for that country’s previous and potential future attacks on Americans continues to raise costs for producers, especially fertilizer. The economic hardship caused nearly two dozen U.S. agricultural organizations to already reach out to the U.S. Department of Commerce to ask for reductions in tariffs that have further increased fertilizer costs. Here is how much more expensive it has become for America’s far

Mark Mueller is a fourth-generation farmer from northeast Iowa who has grown corn for three decades and serves in a statewide role with a national voice. Those credentials are likely the reason that he received a V.I.P. invite to an event at the White House.

Purdue study finds U.S. soybean farmers face higher costs, limited land, and competition from Brazil, highlighting need for yield gains and diversification.

American consumers may get a break, while American cattle ranchers just got some added competition. President Donald Trump followed through with his talk about importing more beef from Argentina, where his political ally is president. Trump signed off on a deal to quadruple the amount of beef from Argentina coming into the United States as he acknowledged record beef prices. Part of his announcement proclamation read: “As President of the United States, I have a responsibili

corn harvesting silos in background

As farmers wait to find out how much a new federal bridge payment could replace some of the income that they have lost from higher costs, lower market prices, and international trade complexities, they are assessing their finances for 2026. Jerry Gulke is president of the Gulke Group, an Illinois-based research and information analysis firm that provides marketing strategies for agribusinesses. Gulke has also farmed corn and soybeans for the past 40 years, but he isn’t sure t

Farmers who failed to accurately report their 2025 acreage reporting by 5 p.m. Friday, December 19, could miss out on their share of the $12 billion USDA Farmer Bridge Assistance Program. The program provides emergency help for farmers struggling with repercussions from President Donald Trump’s higher tariffs on imports, low commodity prices, and higher costs. Acreage reporting will help the USDA determine individual assistance for farmers. USDA Farmer Bridge Assistance Prog

Listen and subscribe on SPOTIFY | APPLE When lifelong dairy enthusiast and former IT professional Brian Burgett began researching milk digestion, it wasn’t for a new business venture. It was for his daughter. What began as a personal mission to help her navigate dairy sensitivities has evolved into a potentially industry-shifting proposal: a new certification seal for A2 milk products, called “NonBCM7 Certified.” BCM-7 – “beta-casomorphin-7, is a peptide derived from the di