Field Posts

On May 19th, the annual Winter Wheat Tour wrapped up its survey of the Southern Plains wheat crop, which were estimated yields based on the results of 550 stops through the region. Progressive Farmer Crops Editor Matt Wilde made his way to Kansas with dozens of other industry experts to participate in collecting the data, and reports what he saw on the ground. Today, we’ll talk about crop development and weather risk still to come, in addition to pest and disease pressure and quality...

In the last few years, the ethanol industry has been through a lot. From promised E15 expansion and small refinery waivers through a global pandemic that cratered driving demand through today’s energy scarcity that has prompted the Biden administration to expand E15 availability during the summer months once again. Though demand is certainly looking up for ethanol, there are risks too as corn and other commodity grains rise in price. And at the same time, legislative uncertainty...

The May WASDE dropped Thursday, May 12th, with USDA offering a first look at what might be ahead in the new crop season that’s just starting to unfold. DTN’s Todd Hultman joins us to unpack the department's updates to production estimates for corn and stocks predictions for wheat, and we'll also take a closer look at what all this might mean for a shifting demand landscape. The global weather picture, from the rain delaying planting, to drought in the plains and in South America will be in...

From state-level adoption of low carbon fuel standards to companies like FedEx and Amazon making emission-reduction commitments to global conflicts putting petroleum-based fuel supplies in doubt, just about everything seems to be trending in favor of biodiesel at the moment. And soybean crush rates reflect that enthusiasm, with crush levels at historic highs and promising to go even higher as many new plants come online in the coming months. To discuss what all of this means for producers,...

It’s been a long winter for cattle producers in the Western United States, as a historic drought has continued and hard choices have had to be made about herd size. Though some precipitation has come, the overall conditions remain dry, and as supply dwindles, producers see signs that later in the year, prices will likely climb… if they have cattle left to sell. Today we’ll catch up with DTN Livestock Analyst Shayle Stewart, to learn more about the latest news and put all of these issues in...

The April WASDE dropped Friday, April 8th, with USDA wrapping up its look at the 2021 crop as it turns its attention to the 2022 season with the March 31st Prospective Planting report. DTN’s Todd Hultman joins us to unpack the latest stock estimates for the major grains, including some surprising adjustments on soybeans due to changes in China, and the increasing role India might play in global wheat. We’ll discuss the drought in Brazil and its long term implications, hear an update on the...

As Plant22 gets underway across the country– farmers are battling high winds, wet soils, cold temperatures and drought. As we look ahead to what looks to be a hot dry year, not only in the US but also in other key growing regions, weather promises to play a major role in operations and in informing the market in the year to come. DTN’s Team Lead for Ag Weather John Baranick joins us today to provide an overview of what we might expect to see in the year ahead, from the lingering winter...

High commodity prices have been the name of the game for months now, and though 2022 promises to be a profitable year for producers, the dramatic rise in the price of inputs is already complicating the picture, and effecting farmer confidence, and thus decision-making, as they report prospective planting and as they look beyond this season. Today, DTN Farm Business Editor Katie Dehlinger joins us to unpack this complicated story, discussing everything from the pressures weighing on...

The day after Spring begins, the American farm sector has, for years, been celebrating National Ag Day. To commemorate the official announcement every March by the secretary of Agriculture, ag industry leaders flock to DC to talk with lawmakers and whip up support for the sector ahead of another season. But the global pandemic put the in-person version of these festivities on hold for many years, and a plan originally scheduled to take place in 2019 was put off. This year, it has come to...

The results of the National Wheat Yield contest are in, and the winners represent those producers who were able to roll with the punches during one of the toughest years in living memory. There were definitely surprises; from winners in unusual wheat geographies to unexpectedly good protein levels, but the common thread around intensive management was clear. DTN staff reporter Emily Unglesbee joins us today to discuss more of the details around these top farmers, and to dig in on...

The March WASDE dropped Wednesday, March 9th, with USDA offering updated figures on Ukraine wheat and corn supplies, given the state of the ongoing conflict in the region. DTN’s Todd Hultman joins us to unpack the latest news out of Eastern Europe and South America, and to discuss how roiled markets are thinking about basis, among other indicators, as prices for all the major grains reach highs not seen in years. We’ll discuss the energy crunch and what that could mean for ethanol and...

We welcome DTN’s Todd Hultman’s on a special edition of Field Posts this week to discuss what we know, and the many things we don’t as the Russia-Ukraine War continues to escalate. As fighting continues and civilians and civilian infrastructure seem to be increasingly targeted for attacks, ag market watchers the world over wait and watch for news not only on the fate of the Ukrainian people, but also on the vast collateral damage the conflict is likely to wreak on a growing region of global...

Drones and other autonomous aircraft have been a niche technology with a big following for years in American agriculture– but they’ve been plagued by the problem that too often, they’re too advanced or expensive a tool for what actually needs doing. That’s starting to change rapidly according to Senior Editor for The Progressive Farmer Joel Reichenberger, who’s reporting this month on how farmers are using drone technology to do valuable work on their farms, and logging a meaningful return...

As farmers look to a future determined more and more by changing climates and limited resources, technology– and the companies that create it– promises to help progressive producers to stay ahead of the curve. This week, in the first part of our two part technology deep dive, we’ll hear from Progressive Farmer Crops Editor Matt Wilde. He’ll give us the download on autonomous equipment that is, after years of hype, making its way into fields in a big way this season. We’ll hear about how...

The February WASDE dropped Wednesday, February 9th, with USDA bringing the attention back to the drought in South America, even if their estimate struck traders as shy of the mark. DTN’s Todd Hultman joins us today to unpack the rest of a relatively quiet report and to discuss how possible conflict in Eastern Europe, among other factors, might be playing into market moves. We’ll discuss the details of growing ethanol and crush demand, dig into supply chain issues at the US-Canadian border,...

Though the intensity of discussions and debate within the cattle industry have waned slightly due to more favorable prices; pending lawsuits and proposed regulations have kept disputes over price fixing and market distortions top of mind for many producers and lawmakers alike. As organizations like the American Farm Bureau meet for their annual meetings, some surprising dissent surfaced. DTN Ag Policy editor Chris Clayton was there to track this story, and in the meantime has been following...

Dicamba has been at the center of pesticide controversy for years, and though EPA says they don’t expect to be able to make changes before the 2022 season, a recent EPA analysis might have changed the stakes in a pending lawsuit that could cause some mid-season disruptions. On top of that, EPA also announced in January a new strategy for complying with the Endangered Species Act, which is already riling the ag and environmental communities over county-level restrictions of some...

Big things are happening in the world of farm equipment, whether we’re looking back at the recently released 2021 sales figures, or looking ahead to some big announcements arriving about electric and autonomous machines. Today, we’re talking with Progressive Farmer Senior Editor Dan Miller, who is fresh off the 2022 consumer electronics show in Las Vegas, where John Deere made waves with the unveiling of their autonomous tractor. He’ll talk about what he saw, and what he’s hearing from...

The January WASDE dropped Wednesday, January 12th, putting the focus back on the global crop after affirming that the 2021 harvest in the US turned out mostly as expected. DTN’s Todd Hultman joins us today to unpack the latest on global stocks, and to discuss how he’s monitoring news about inflation, high fertilizer prices, supply chains, and COVID-19 as we move into the first quarter of the new year. We’ll discuss domestic and international demand shifts, the possible regional pressures on...

DTN Progressive Farmer’s 2022 Class of best farmers and ranchers was announced in Chicago at the DTN Ag Summit in December, and attendees got to learn all about the young leaders who are moving American agriculture forward. This week, you’ll get to meet them too. We’re closing out the year with a celebration of the enthusiastic thoughtfulness of these young families, who are running revolutionary grain, beef, and dairy operations all over the country. You’ll learn who they are, what they...