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This week, three tracts of cropland totaling 121.3 acres sold for $2.425 million, or $19,984 per acre, in northeast Indiana.

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This week, three tracts of cropland totaling 121.3 acres sold for $2.425 million, or $19,984 per acre, in northeast Indiana.

"Several things are noteworthy about this result," says R.D. Schrader, president of Schrader Real Estate and Auction Company who conducted the sale. "It's rare to see prices per acre in the $20,000 range with all the serious competition coming from local operators. We had investors in the room, but they dropped out quickly as bidders focused their attention on the farm as an entirety."

The average price per acre for top-quality farmland in Indiana is $12,808 and $10,598 for average-quality farmland, according to the Indiana Farmland Value and Cash Rent Survey released in August 2022. Farmland prices rose by 30% on average quality farmland from June 2021 to June 2022.

The farm that sold on Tuesday is near the Indiana-Ohio border, running along SR 101 and Edgerton Road in east Allen County. The location attracted 25 bidders from Indiana and Ohio, according to Jerry Ehle, managing broker for the auction.

"A big plus was that the farm was rectangular, and the tracts were adjacent. The soils were primarily Hoytville silty clay with some pockets of Nappanee Silt Loam," he adds.

The demand for farmland has remained strong, driven by competition for high quality farmland. "Farmers and investors may focus more on acquiring land as the planting season fast approaches. Interest rates have leveled off a bit, and farmland is an excellent investment for those seeking to avoid the volatility of stock and commodity markets. Farmland has also historically been a great hedge against inflation," says Schrader.

While investors have been active bidders at many farmland sales like this one and have made the news with notable acquisitions, such as the purchase of this Iowa farmland by pro athletes, the majority of farmland is still purchased by local buyers. Farmers National Company reports seeing the traditional local farmer-operator as the successful buyer of farmland 75% of the time.

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Northeastern Indiana farmland sells for $19,984 per acre

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This week, three tracts of cropland totaling 121.3 acres sold for $2.425 million, or $19,984 per acre, in northeast Indiana. "Several things are noteworthy about this result," says R.D. Schrader, president of Schrader Real Estate and Auction Company who conducted the sale.

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https://www.agriculture.com/news/three-big-things/3-big-things-today-january-18-2023

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1. Soybean Futures Rise in Overnight Trading

Soybean futures were higher in overnight trading on signs of demand for U.S. supplies and dry weather in parts of Argentina.

High temperatures and continual dry weather in parts of Argentina has led to persistent crop stress in at least 60% of the country's soybean- and corn-growing areas, Commodity Weather Group said in a report.

The area might see rain Friday and Saturday and some precipitation is in the six- to 10 and 11- to 15-day forecasts but crop stress likely will continue in as much as half of the South American country's growing areas, the forecaster said.

Soybeans in a third or Paraguay's growing areas also will see stress in the next 10 days, CWG said.

Also giving prices a boost this morning are signs of demand for U.S. agricultural products.

An unnamed country purchased 119,000 metric tons of soybeans for delivery during the 2022-2023 marketing year that started on Sept. 1, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a report yesterday.

Colombia bought 150,000 metric tons of corn for delivery in the current marketing year, the USDA said.

Soybean futures rose 5 3/4¢ to $15.45 ½ a bushel overnight on the Chicago Board of Trade. Soymeal was up $2.10 to $483.30 a short ton, while soy oil gained 0.61¢ to 64.45¢ a pound.

Corn futures for March delivery added 3¢ to $6.88 ¼ a bushel.

Wheat futures for March delivery gained 6 3/4¢ to $7.58 ½ a bushel overnight, while Kansas City futures rose 9¢ to $8.64 ¾ a bushel.

**

**

2. Grain, Bean Export Inspections Rise Week-to-Week

Inspections of grains and beans for overseas delivery were all higher last week, according to data from the USDA.

Corn assessments in the seven days that ended on Jan. 12 rose to 774,461 metric tons from 401,108 tons a week earlier, the agency said in a report.

That's still well behind the 1.24 million metric tons examined for export during the same week a year earlier.

Wheat inspections last week were reported at 320,473 metric tons, up from 209,544 tons the previous week but down from 386,786 tons the previous year, the USDA said.

Soybean assessments, surged to 2.08 million metric tons from 1.46 million tons a week earlier. That's also up from the 1.87 million metric tons inspected at the same point in 2022, the agency said.

Since the start of the marketing year on Sept. 1, the USDA has inspected 10.8 million metric tons of corn for offshore delivery, down from 15.3 million tons during the same timeframe a year earlier.

Soybean inspections since the beginning of September now stand at 32.2 million metric tons, down from 33.6 million tons in the same period last year, the government said.

Wheat assessments since the start of the grain's marketing year on June 1 are now at 12.4 million merc tons, just behind the 12.8 million tons examined at this point a year earlier, the USDA said in its report.

**

3. Winter Storms Slamming Parts of the Corn Belt

Winter-storm warnings are in effect from northeastern Colorado into central Wisconsin this morning as snow, wind and ice are all expected, according to the National Weather Service.

In central Nebraska, as much as 17 inches of snow is forecast along with winds gusting up to 40 miles per hour, the NWS said in a report early this morning.

Five to 8 inches of snow are expected in parts of northern Iowa and southern Minnesota, with the winter-storm warning running from noon today through 9 a.m. tomorrow.

"Moderate to heavy snow with a period of mixed precipitation expected," the agency said. "Light ice accumulations possible in central Iowa."

In central Wisconsin, snow will begin tapering Thursday morning after falling at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour overnight, the NWS said. Freezing rain also is a possibility. Accumulations in the area are projected from 4 to 8 inches.

"Travel could be very difficult," the NWS said.

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Soybean futures were higher in overnight trading on signs of demand for U.S. supplies and dry weather in parts of Argentina. High temperatures and continual dry weather in parts of Argentina has led to persistent crop stress in at least 60% of the country's soybean- and corn-growing areas, Commodity Weather Group said in a report.

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Ag Mission and PepsiCo seek regenerative ag research

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Ag Mission and PepsiCo seek regenerative ag research

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both these business's are seeking research that indentifies climate-smart while monitoring any greenhouse gas emissions.

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AgMission and PepsiCo seek regenerative agriculture research

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PepsiCo and the AgMission™ initiative, co-founded by the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) and the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO), are issuing a request for applications (RFA) to accelerate the adoption of climate-smart agriculture practices that incorporate regenerat…

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Controlling infectious diseases relies on understanding how they spread. Infectious organisms are transmitted to horses through the following routes:

Aerosols

Respiratory droplets from sick horses become airborne through coughing, snorting, or sneezing. Residue from evaporated droplets and infected dust particles can also become suspended in the air. Infectious organisms are transferred when they contact the eyes, nose, or mouth. Pathogens vary in their ability to survive and transmissibility in the air, which are impacted by environmental factors including wind, humidity, and temperature.

Diseases capable of transmission by aerosols include equine influenza and equine herpesvirus.

Airborne diseases are challenging to contain and can spread quickly. To reduce the rate of transmission, keep distance between horses, keep dust down, and ensure proper ventilation in enclosed spaces.

Direct Contact

Some diseases spread through close physical contact with infected animals, their body fluids or tissues, and direct touching of wounds, skin, or mucous membranes around the nose, eyes, and mouth. Affected animals can infect other animals through nose-to-nose contact or biting.

Equine influenza is an example of a disease spread by nose-to-nose contact.

Limit contact with horses between stalls, in aisle ways, and at crossties or wash racks; do not tie horses near each other; and clean and disinfect water troughs regularly to reduce direct contact.

Indirect Contact

Objects contaminated with infectious organisms are called fomites. These can include tack, buckets, grooming supplies, hoses, clothing, and vehicles.

Diseases spread by indirect contact include strangles and equine herpesvirus-1.

Avoid sharing equipment between horses. If equipment must be shared, clean and disinfect it between uses. Dedicate separate supplies and equipment for sick horses. Keep vehicles and trailers in designated areas. Limit traffic, people, and other animals in horse areas to minimize spread through indirect contact.

Oral

Horses can consume pathogens in feed or water contaminated by feces or urine from infected animals. Licking or chewing contaminated objects in the environment can also lead to ingestion of pathogens.

Diseases spread through oral transmission include salmonellosis and equine coronavirus.

Control feed sources, ensure feed quality, and handle and store feed properly. Clean stalls regularly, manage fecal piles in fields and turnouts, and ensure proper waste management. Avoid natural water sources such as streams that might be contaminated with feces or urine from wildlife and livestock.

Vectors

Insects, such as mosquitoes and flies, or ticks can transmit infectious organisms between animals.

Vector-borne diseases include West Nile virus and Eastern and Western equine encephalitis.

Proper vector control is an essential part of any biosecurity plan. Use insecticide applications as appropriate. Fence off areas with high insect and tick populations, and keep horses inside when these vectors are active (dusk to dawn). Eliminate insect breeding areas, including standing water and decaying organic matter.

Wildlife

Rodents, skunks, opossums, bats, birds, and other wildlife can also act as disease vectors.

Diseases spread by wildlife include rabies and equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM).

Prevent wildlife from accessing barn areas, sweep regularly, keep barns and tack rooms tidy, and clean up and store feed in containers with securable lids. Patch holes and gaps in buildings to prevent wildlife access. Do not leave pet food or water out overnight, and keep compost piles away from barns.

This article was originally written by Amy Young and published in the Horse Report from the Center for Equine Health at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in Summer 2020.

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UC Davis Center for Equine Health Horse Report

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How Infectious Diseases Spread Between Horses - The Horse

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Controlling infectious diseases relies on understanding how they spread. Infectious organisms are transmitted to horses through the following routes: Respiratory droplets from sick horses become airborne through coughing, snorting, or sneezing. Residue from evaporated droplets and infected dust particles can also become suspended in the air.

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the u.s lost 1.6 mil acres of corn

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Surprising traders, USDA reports smaller corn and soy harvests and shorter supplies

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Today, USDA released the January World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report. U.S. ending stocks were below the trade’s expectation for corn, soybeans, and wheat.

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FARMLANDWhere’s the Beef: Con Artist Turns Texas Cattle Industry Into $100M Playground

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FARMLANDWhere’s the Beef: Con Artist Turns Texas Cattle Industry Into $100M Playground

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To teach people how to live with disabilities, and teach people how to start their life on there own.

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Before Brent Flory, 22, started bagging fruits and vegetables at his local Stater Bros. Market, he picked them at the University of California South Coast Research and Extension Center in Irvine.

In partnership with Saddleback Unified School District's Esperanza Education Center , an adult transition program that provides independent living and life skills training for students with disabilities, South Coast REC hosts students on its 200 acres of land and introduces them to careers in agriculture.

Flory recalls picking avocados as one of his favorite moments from the program at South Coast, one of nine RECs across California operated by UC Agriculture and Natural Resources. "I picked a huge avocado and got to bring it home. It was the size of a medium pumpkin," he shared.

Field work doesn't warrant business attire, but Flory said that working at South Coast REC taught him the importance of dressing appropriately for work. In this case, it meant pants, closed-toe shoes, a shirt with sleeves, and sunscreen or a hat if working in the sun.

While program managers hope that participating students would pursue a career in agriculture, South Coast REC is more concerned about providing opportunities for students to gain real work experience in a unique setting.

"This is the first time I have had the opportunity for my students to work at a job site in the agricultural field. We never really thought of the agricultural industry as an option for our students," said Esperanza's education specialist, Michael Seyler.

Esperanza's partnership with South Coast REC began in October 2019. Since then, nine participants have been assigned to work at the research center where they help create seedlings, plant and harvest crops, and learn plant management.

Ray Bueche, Adult Transition Program coordinator and Career Start administrator at Esperanza, is proud of the creative energy it took to develop the program and unite partners, crediting Jason Suppes, South Coast REC's community education specialist. "Working with Jason and UC ANR has inspired me to continue to reach for unique partnerships in this field and elsewhere," Bueche said.

Choosing a career

Dylan Shelden, 19, another past participant, said that the program revealed how important it is for him to choose a career that makes him feel happy and independent. "You are responsible for yourself," he said. "So, don't quit on the first try."

Shelden currently works at Party City as a store organizer. Even though he prefers working indoors, Shelden described working with plants and being outdoors as refreshing. "Working in agriculture makes me feel good," he said.

When asked what advice he would give incoming students, Shelden said: "Be kind, mindful, and thoughtful to others."

"Things are constantly changing at the farm and follow seasonal patterns. Students get to work with different types of produce depending on the season. So many of my students only thought about jobs in retail or food services industries," said Seyler. "This has opened their eyes to other possibilities."

The soft skills learned while working at South Coast REC has helped other students secure paid competitive employment during or following the program. It has also inspired program staff like Bueche and Seyler to consider other unique opportunities for their students to connect the skills they have learned on the farm to other types of jobs.

To learn more about the Adult Transition Program at Esperanza Education Center, visit: https://www.svusd.org/schools/alternative-schools/esperanza/about/why-esperanza .

[Saoimanu Sope is a communications specialist for UCANR.]

Source: University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

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Before Brent Flory, 22, started bagging fruits and vegetables at his local Stater Bros. Market, he picked them at the University of California South Coast Research and Extension Center in Irvine.

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Where’s the Beef: Con Artist Turns Texas Cattle Industry Into $100M Playground

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In 2023 research projects focus on in season agronomy, pest management, ag technology and conservation practice research.

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The humble soybean is the target of many research projects in the Midwest this year.

In its brochure of 2023 research projects, the Illinois Soybean Association focuses on in-season agronomy, pest management, ag technology and conservation practice research.
Healthy progress on new varieties
This includes the progress made with high oelic oil in soybeans, a project with funding from ISA.

Brian Diers of the Department of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois and the National Soybean Research Center in Urbana who led the project last year, said he believes a good foundation has been built in the breeding program.

The professor, who retired from the university at the end of December, is proud of the work he has done in the way of breeding soybean with high oleic and low linolenic acid, and said he is confident his work will go forward. He will work with the university team and the new breeder replacing him this year.

"By combining four genes together, we can develop soybean that have oil with greater than 80% oleic acid and less than 3% linolenic acid." The new varieties with this trait are marketed under the Soyleic name, he said.

The team has focused on breeding the genes for the Soyleic trait into high yielding backgrounds and regional tests this past year have shown that the lines developed here perform well relative to commercial checks.

"During 2023, we will continue to develop new Soyleic experimental lines through making new crosses, inbreeding populations and evaluating experimental lines in field tests. Our best lines will be evaluated in regional tests and increased for commercial release," he said the day before his retirement.

"We will have trials in fields rented from farmers across Illinois. Additionally, we are working with an Illinois seed producer to increase our Soyleic varieties so they can be licensed to companies that will commercialize them," he said.

Addressing a big robber of soybean yield, Jason Bond of the Crop, Soil and Environmental Management department at Southern Illinois University and his research team will continue to focus on Soybean Cyst Nematode.

"In 2023, our research will focus on using multispectral imagery to determine levels of SCN infestation. This research aims to develop in-season assessments of damage caused by SCN. We will also evaluate different sources of host resistance and seed treatments to minimize SCN feeding and yield loss" he said of his work in the third growing season of evaluating multispectral imagery collected with UAVs.

"One thing that surprised us in 2022 was the amount of SCN reproduction occurring on resistant varieties. Forty-five days after planting, we had over 100 SCN females on resistant varieties the said the SIU plant pathology professor and ILSoyAdvisor.

Reproduction on resistant varieties is not new; however, field populations are even more aggressive because a more significant percentage of the populations can reproduce on resistant varieties, he said.

"We are in dire need of resistant varieties from different sources of resistance and more integrated methods (host resistance, non-host rotation, seed treatments, etc.) to control SCN," Bond said.
Trying popular corn technique
Soybeans also have their spot in the sun at the Precision Technology Institute in Pontiac in projects led by head agronomist Jason Webster.

This year Webster will be looking at strip tilling soybeans into warmer soil because early-planted soybeans have consistently done so well.

He also has ongoing studies and banding and fertility placement.

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Soybeans star in variety of 2023 field research

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The humble soybean is the target of many research projects in the Midwest this year. In its brochure of 2023 research projects, the Illinois Soybean Association focuses on in-season agronomy, pest management, ag technology and conservation practice research. Healthy progress on new varieties This includes the progress made with high oelic oil in soybeans, a project with funding from ISA.

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in this article it talks about how much soy beans are being grown and for how much.

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1. Soybean Futures Rise in Overnight Trading

Soybean futures were higher in overnight trading on signs of demand for U.S. supplies and dry weather in parts of Argentina.

High temperatures and continual dry weather in parts of Argentina has led to persistent crop stress in at least 60% of the country's soybean- and corn-growing areas, Commodity Weather Group said in a report.

The area might see rain Friday and Saturday and some precipitation is in the six- to 10 and 11- to 15-day forecasts but crop stress likely will continue in as much as half of the South American country's growing areas, the forecaster said.

Soybeans in a third or Paraguay's growing areas also will see stress in the next 10 days, CWG said.

Also giving prices a boost this morning are signs of demand for U.S. agricultural products.

An unnamed country purchased 119,000 metric tons of soybeans for delivery during the 2022-2023 marketing year that started on Sept. 1, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a report yesterday.

Colombia bought 150,000 metric tons of corn for delivery in the current marketing year, the USDA said.

Soybean futures rose 5 3/4¢ to $15.45 ½ a bushel overnight on the Chicago Board of Trade. Soymeal was up $2.10 to $483.30 a short ton, while soy oil gained 0.61¢ to 64.45¢ a pound.

Corn futures for March delivery added 3¢ to $6.88 ¼ a bushel.

Wheat futures for March delivery gained 6 3/4¢ to $7.58 ½ a bushel overnight, while Kansas City futures rose 9¢ to $8.64 ¾ a bushel.

**

**

2. Grain, Bean Export Inspections Rise Week-to-Week

Inspections of grains and beans for overseas delivery were all higher last week, according to data from the USDA.

Corn assessments in the seven days that ended on Jan. 12 rose to 774,461 metric tons from 401,108 tons a week earlier, the agency said in a report.

That's still well behind the 1.24 million metric tons examined for export during the same week a year earlier.

Wheat inspections last week were reported at 320,473 metric tons, up from 209,544 tons the previous week but down from 386,786 tons the previous year, the USDA said.

Soybean assessments, surged to 2.08 million metric tons from 1.46 million tons a week earlier. That's also up from the 1.87 million metric tons inspected at the same point in 2022, the agency said.

Since the start of the marketing year on Sept. 1, the USDA has inspected 10.8 million metric tons of corn for offshore delivery, down from 15.3 million tons during the same timeframe a year earlier.

Soybean inspections since the beginning of September now stand at 32.2 million metric tons, down from 33.6 million tons in the same period last year, the government said.

Wheat assessments since the start of the grain's marketing year on June 1 are now at 12.4 million merc tons, just behind the 12.8 million tons examined at this point a year earlier, the USDA said in its report.

**

3. Winter Storms Slamming Parts of the Corn Belt

Winter-storm warnings are in effect from northeastern Colorado into central Wisconsin this morning as snow, wind and ice are all expected, according to the National Weather Service.

In central Nebraska, as much as 17 inches of snow is forecast along with winds gusting up to 40 miles per hour, the NWS said in a report early this morning.

Five to 8 inches of snow are expected in parts of northern Iowa and southern Minnesota, with the winter-storm warning running from noon today through 9 a.m. tomorrow.

"Moderate to heavy snow with a period of mixed precipitation expected," the agency said. "Light ice accumulations possible in central Iowa."

In central Wisconsin, snow will begin tapering Thursday morning after falling at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour overnight, the NWS said. Freezing rain also is a possibility. Accumulations in the area are projected from 4 to 8 inches.

"Travel could be very difficult," the NWS said.

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Soybean futures were higher in overnight trading on signs of demand for U.S. supplies and dry weather in parts of Argentina. High temperatures and continual dry weather in parts of Argentina has led to persistent crop stress in at least 60% of the country's soybean- and corn-growing areas, Commodity Weather Group said in a report.

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Legislators in Kansas are trying to save an aquifer because of Kansas' current water crisis.

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By Allison Kite

TOPEKA - Saving the Ogallala Aquifer could mean economic trade-offs in the short-term, the chairman of the Kansas House Water Committee said Tuesday.

But the state can make progress and still maintain the farming economy of western Kansas, said Rep. Jim Minnix, R-Scott City.

"If I were a banker ... looking at the value of agriculture in western Kansas, it makes all kinds of sense to me to try to preserve the aquifer to maintain the economy up there for as many years as possible," Minnix said.

Minnix, a farmer and livestock producer, is the newly minted chairman of the House Water Committee, which, last year, fell short of passing a sweeping bill overhauling the way Kansas regulates water.

This session, about one-third of the committee members are new. And with just more than a month until a major legislative deadline, the committee doesn't have any bills to debate yet. Members are still taking in the vast information about the decline of the Ogallala Aquifer, sedimentation crisis at the state's reservoirs, and poor water quality in some areas of the state.

When it comes to water issues in Kansas, the decades-long decline of the aquifer means legislators have to think about long-term solutions, Minnix said.

"This is not just what we can do in the next three, four weeks, although that's kind of my charge on this committee, Minnix said. It's about how to make Kansas "better off here in the next 5, 10, 20, 30 years."

Minnix said he's not working on any legislation of his own but will likely sign onto bills other legislators are working on. He expects a dedicated funding source, such as a sales tax, to be one option.

For now, he said, the committee will have to hurry to get new members up to speed.

Members of the House Water Committee on Tuesday heard from Connie Owen, director of the Kansas Water Office, who highlighted some of the severe water issues facing Kansas.

The Ogallala Aquifer, the massive underground reservoir that has provided water to western Kansas for nearly 100 years, is drying up. Some areas of western Kansas have just 10 or 20 years of water left if nothing changes.

But "we can do things differently," Owen said.

One of the state's largest reservoirs is half-full of sediment, spurring a pilot project to try to stir up mud and silt and send it downriver.

The loss of storage space in the reservoir is "alarming," Owen said, as the water system provides drinking water to much of northeastern Kansas. And the storage space is important to provide extra water in years of drought - or storage space during floods.

In the coming months, as committee members search for legislative solutions to Kansas' water crisis, the state's auditors are expected to release a report on how well local groundwater managers have conserved water in western Kansas.

And following a December vote, the Kansas Water Authority recommends state lawmakers scrap Kansas' defacto policy of draining the aquifer. The advisory board also recommended setting up a process to establish goals and policies to "halt the decline of the Ogallala Aquifer while promoting flexible and innovative management within a timeframe that achieves agricultural productivity, thriving economies, and vibrant communities - now and for future generations of Kansans."

The Kansas Reflector is part of the States Newsroom, a network of similar news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.

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Kansas legislators renew efforts to save Ogallala Aquifer

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By Allison Kite TOPEKA - Saving the Ogallala Aquifer could mean economic trade-offs in the short-term, the chairman of the Kansas House Water Committee said Tuesday. But the state can make progress and still maintain the farming economy of western Kansas, said Rep. Jim Minnix, R-Scott City. "If I were a banker ...

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A biotech company announced January 6th that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved a conditional license for a vaccine that protects honeybees against American Foulbrood disease.

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Soybeans have fallen further, now down 9¢.

Corn has been up and down this morning by roughly 2¢ or less and is currently down less than a penny.

CBOT wheat is down a penny. KC wheat is down less than a penny. Minneapolis wheat is down 2¢.

Live cattle are up 13¢. Lean hogs are down $1.48. Feeder cattle are up 5¢.

Crude oil is at $82.12 a barrel.

The U.S. Dollar Index is at 101.7.

The S&P 500 is down 17 points. The Dow is down 267 points.

Soybeans down 2¢ this morning: 9:08

Yesterday, prices rallied after starting the day lower and Naomi Blohm with Total Farm Marketing says this is because of comments Russian President Vladimir Putin made about keep reserves of grain in the country.

This morning, corn is up 2¢ while soybeans are down 2¢.

"In conversations we've had with producers, there is still quite a bit of corn in the bins in non-deficit areas," says Nick Tsiolis, founder of Farmer's Keeper. "With that said, we think if the board gets near $7 again there should be some bushels shaken loose."

Corn is at $6.87 a bushel this morning.

CBOT wheat is up 6¢. KC wheat is up 9¢. Minneapolis wheat is up 5¢.

Live cattle are up 43¢. Lean hogs are down $1.83. Feeder cattle are up 48¢.

Crude oil is above $82 a barrel this morning. Blohm attributes this to anticipation that China's consumption may increase as the country opens up.

The S&P 500 is up 14 points. The Dow is up 41 points.

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Soybeans down 9¢ at midday | Wednesday, January 18, 2023

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Soybeans have fallen further, now down 9¢. Corn has been up and down this morning by roughly 2¢ or less and is currently down less than a penny. CBOT wheat is down a penny. KC wheat is down less than a penny. Minneapolis wheat is down 2¢. Live cattle are up 13¢.

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Cattle futures are higher with short covering, putting in weather premium and gearing up for the USDA reports.  The markets are also awaiting cash direction.

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Life-changing tech we saw at CES 2023Technology1/10/2023 10:59 amHundreds upon thousands of products are shown off every year at the Consumer Electronics Show, here are a few products that may change the world — or at least your day-to-day life.

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Life-changing tech we saw at CES 2023Technology1/10/2023 10:59 amHundreds upon thousands of products are shown off every year at the Consumer Electronics Show, here are a few products that may change the world — or at least your day-to-day life.

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gage

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Before Brent Flory, 22, started bagging fruits and vegetables at his local Stater Bros. Market, he picked them at the University of California South Coast Research and Extension Center in Irvine.

In partnership with Saddleback Unified School District's Esperanza Education Center , an adult transition program that provides independent living and life skills training for students with disabilities, South Coast REC hosts students on its 200 acres of land and introduces them to careers in agriculture.

Flory recalls picking avocados as one of his favorite moments from the program at South Coast, one of nine RECs across California operated by UC Agriculture and Natural Resources. "I picked a huge avocado and got to bring it home. It was the size of a medium pumpkin," he shared.

Field work doesn't warrant business attire, but Flory said that working at South Coast REC taught him the importance of dressing appropriately for work. In this case, it meant pants, closed-toe shoes, a shirt with sleeves, and sunscreen or a hat if working in the sun.

While program managers hope that participating students would pursue a career in agriculture, South Coast REC is more concerned about providing opportunities for students to gain real work experience in a unique setting.

"This is the first time I have had the opportunity for my students to work at a job site in the agricultural field. We never really thought of the agricultural industry as an option for our students," said Esperanza's education specialist, Michael Seyler.

Esperanza's partnership with South Coast REC began in October 2019. Since then, nine participants have been assigned to work at the research center where they help create seedlings, plant and harvest crops, and learn plant management.

Ray Bueche, Adult Transition Program coordinator and Career Start administrator at Esperanza, is proud of the creative energy it took to develop the program and unite partners, crediting Jason Suppes, South Coast REC's community education specialist. "Working with Jason and UC ANR has inspired me to continue to reach for unique partnerships in this field and elsewhere," Bueche said.

Choosing a career

Dylan Shelden, 19, another past participant, said that the program revealed how important it is for him to choose a career that makes him feel happy and independent. "You are responsible for yourself," he said. "So, don't quit on the first try."

Shelden currently works at Party City as a store organizer. Even though he prefers working indoors, Shelden described working with plants and being outdoors as refreshing. "Working in agriculture makes me feel good," he said.

When asked what advice he would give incoming students, Shelden said: "Be kind, mindful, and thoughtful to others."

"Things are constantly changing at the farm and follow seasonal patterns. Students get to work with different types of produce depending on the season. So many of my students only thought about jobs in retail or food services industries," said Seyler. "This has opened their eyes to other possibilities."

The soft skills learned while working at South Coast REC has helped other students secure paid competitive employment during or following the program. It has also inspired program staff like Bueche and Seyler to consider other unique opportunities for their students to connect the skills they have learned on the farm to other types of jobs.

To learn more about the Adult Transition Program at Esperanza Education Center, visit: https://www.svusd.org/schools/alternative-schools/esperanza/about/why-esperanza .

[Saoimanu Sope is a communications specialist for UCANR.]

Source: University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

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Before Brent Flory, 22, started bagging fruits and vegetables at his local Stater Bros. Market, he picked them at the University of California South Coast Research and Extension Center in Irvine.

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This article is about how your bull is your key player to your herd. He is an investment that sets the tone for your herd for years to come. With that being said, winter is the perfect time to focus on your bull.

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Your bull is the key player in your herd. He's an investment that sets the tone for your herd for years to come.

"These animals produce 25 to 30 calves yearly, whereas a cow produces one calf. They are the money makers and need some tender love and care, too," says Jacques Fuselier, technical services veterinarian with Merck Animal Health.

Winter is the perfect time to focus on your bull. After a successful breeding season, you've pulled him off the herd. During his winter break, you have a chance to assess his health.

Schedule a physical exam

"The one thing I see where people get kind of lax on is doing breeding soundness exams," Fuselier says.

On most farms, breeding soundness exams are done at the beginning of a bull's purchase, but evaluating them in the winter off-season can be beneficial.

A bull with low fertility and poor physical soundness can lead to substandard conception rates in your herd.

According to the University of Arkansas, one in five bulls fail a breeding soundness exam. Doing an exam two months or more in advance allows you to treat the bull for any health issues or to find a replacement.

"It takes two months to find an appropriate replacement - that timeframe fits any program, so there's no jeopardizing of the end product," says Fuselier.

An evaluation in the winter also allows the producer to observe a bull for injuries that could have occurred during the summer or fall breeding season.

"It doesn't take much of an injury or ingestion of something fairly toxic, whether it be a plant or grain, that could harm sperm production," Fuselier says.

If producers choose not to do a breeding soundness evaluation, it could lead to long-term consequences, such as sexually transmitted diseases like Trichomoniasis. Doing an exam also reduces the risk of having open cows, which can hurt your herd's productivity and your farm's profitability, says Patrick Davis, livestock specialist at the University of Missouri Extension.

Bulk him up

Winter can also be the ideal time to boost your bull's energy level. According to research from the University of Florida, a bull can lose up to 400 pounds of his body weight in the breeding season, which is a low body condition score.

With drought affecting most feed resources last summer and fall, cow-calf producers should monitor their bull's energy level as he exits a breeding season.

"They're in a negative energy balance," says Fuselier.

A bull's energy status is determined by the amount of fat cover the bull has and is ranked on the body condition score scale of one to nine, with one meaning emaciated and nine being obese. A bull with a lower energy status can affect fertility and the ability to breed cows.

Cow-calf producers should aim to maintain their bulls at a score of six, which is a smooth appearance of fat cover, says Davis.

Restoring your bull's body weight and condition will depend on how much he is mobilized. For example, a 2,000-pound bull that loses 200 pounds could require up to 1,200 pounds or 65% of total digestible nutrients, says research from the University of Florida, which would allow him to regain all the body weight he lost.

"One thing that shouldn't happen is over-conditioning, which could hurt sperm quality and production," says Fuselier.

Heavy fat depositions decrease the effective cooling of the testes. Therefore, the goal is to have your bull on a low to moderate-energy and roughage-based diet. Research has also shown that bulls fed medium-energy diets from weaning to two years old have more significant reserves of sperm cells and higher-quality semen than bulls on high-energy diets.

"You want to keep 'em lean and trim or in their work clothes," Fuselier says.

Watch his gait, feet, and legs

Exercise is crucial to keeping your bull in athletic shape. A bull will usually exercise on its own, especially if given copious amounts of space.

Since a bull travels a great distance on pasture in the breeding season, observing him while he exercises in the winter off-season is the perfect time to assess the structural soundness of his hooves and legs.

The angle at which the bull's claw and foot are set will establish his overall hoof soundness. On a score scale from one to nine, five is ideal, but a bull with a score that ranges from three to seven has good hoof soundness, according to the University of Missouri State Extension.

Fuselier also believes that vaccinations are one of the best methods to ensure you deliver the most optimal care to your bull.

"Many producers think of vaccines as an afterthought with their bulls," he says. "But they need to be vaccinated and protected just like the cows. They are just as important."

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Your bull is the key player in your herd. He's an investment that sets the tone for your herd for years to come. "These animals produce 25 to 30 calves yearly, whereas a cow produces one calf. They are the money makers and need some tender love and care, too," says Jacques Fuselier, technical services veterinarian with Merck Animal Health.

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John Deere are pushing for eletric tractors as the future of the industry. They hope to be able to have them be purchaseable for the future. Easton Brier

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Event

Ohio Farm Bureau's Ag Day at the Capital

Brownfield Anchor/Reporter Amie Simpson will be in Columbus on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023 covering Ohio Farm Bureau's Ag Day at the Capital.

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Ohio Farm Bureau's Ag Day at the Capital - Brownfield Ag News

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Event Ohio Farm Bureau's Ag Day at the Capital Brownfield Anchor/Reporter Amie Simpson will be in Columbus on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023 covering Ohio Farm Bureau's Ag Day at the Capital.

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by Jax Watson

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The 2023 farm bill should expand funding for USDA soil and water conservation programs and allow payments to the so-called early adopters of climate-smart farming practices, said the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture on Tuesday. NASDA said the farm bill "must remain unified" by pairing farm support and public nutrition programs in one piece of legislation.

NASDA identified 10 areas within the farm bill for its advocacy efforts. It called for increased funding of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, which shares the cost with producers in controlling runoff, and the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program, to keep land in farm use. EQIP received $1.85 billion and ACEP $450 million in fiscal 2022. The state agriculture directors' group did not specify how large an increase would be appropriate.

On climate initiatives, NASDA recommended additional spending on research and on voluntary programs so farmers and ranchers can protect and conserve natural resources through farming practices. In a description of its farm bill goals, NASDA said it supported compensation to producers "already using climate-smart strategies to reduce emissions, sequester carbon and improve resiliency."

The organization also called for "significantly increasing" the funding for research into food safety, food security, and protection of natural resources.

"The next farm bill must remain unified, securing a commitment to American agriculture and the critical food and nutritional assistance programs for those who need it the most," said NASDA. Its list of farm bill priorities did not touch on farm support programs or crop insurance, two major sources of financial backing for farmers.

The farm bill was one of seven issues that NASDA members chose for attention this year. The others were environmental regulation, food production and the supply chain, food safety, animal health, international trade, and workforce development.

"These issues were chosen for the organization's 2023 focus as NASDA members see specific opportunities for progress regarding each of these areas to best serve farmers, ranchers, and all communities across the nation," said NASDA chief executive Ted McKinney. "Further, we believe these are the areas where state departments of agriculture are uniquely positioned to lead impact and direct policymaking solutions this year."

To read the NASDA summary of farm bill priorities, click here.

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Put more money into land stewardship, says NASDA

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The 2023 farm bill should expand funding for USDA soil and water conservation programs and allow payments to the so-called early adopters of climate-smart farming practices, said the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture on Tuesday. NASDA said the farm bill "must remain unified" by pairing farm support and public nutrition programs in one piece of legislation.

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A marketing consultant says he expects USDA to increase wheat acreage projections for the Eastern Corn Belt in today’s report.

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The new Panorama product helps farmers upload data collected by their Precision Planting products to the platform of their choice.

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Kicking off their 30th annual Winter Conference, Precision Planting announced a new app called Panorama to help farmers use the data from the company's 20|20 monitor.

Over the last 10 years, data collection and utilization has grown exponentially across the agriculture industry, helping farmers to increase their efficiency. The new Panorama product helps farmers upload data collected by their Precision Planting products to the platform of their choice.

Our goal is to make 20|20 data the most portable in the industry, Justin McMenamy, vice president of disruptive products told conference attendees Tuesday morning.

McMenamy explains, "Panorama features an API that allows other industry data platforms to create a connection to the Precision Planting system, allowing the data to flow seamlessly from the 20|20 monitor to any platform that has a connection with us."

Climate Fieldview is the first committed API partner. Conversations with other industry platforms are ongoing.

Panorama will feature map viewing, reporting, and the ability for a farmer to allow their Precision Planting dealer to provide remote technology support.

Availability

Panorama will be beta tested in the spring of 2023 across North America, with further release plans announced later in 2023. Once released, Panorama will be available for Apple and Android devices, as well as through a browser-based experience.

Pricing for Panorama will be announced when it is commercially available.

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Precision Planting introduces data app, Panorama

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Kicking off their 30th annual Winter Conference, Precision Planting announced a new app called Panorama to help farmers use the data from the company's 20|20 monitor. Over the last 10 years, data collection and utilization has grown exponentially across the agriculture industry, helping farmers to increase their efficiency.

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https://brownfieldagnews.com/news/new-technology-to-improve-biosecurity-and-disrupt-the-prrs-virus/

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The most recent detection of the virus among those flocks was late last week at a Buena Vista County commercial turkey facility with about 40,000 birds, according to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.

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La Nina should end, El Nino and relief could be headed to the Corn Belt - Brownfield Ag News

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A climatologist says there’s a high probability that the La Nina weather pattern will end this spring bringing much needed relief to the drought-stricken Central Plains. Brian Fuchs is with the National Drought Mitigation Center. “Then we’re going to start developing into El Nino, which is saying th…

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By Jax Watson

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The 2023 farm bill should expand funding for USDA soil and water conservation programs and allow payments to the so-called early adopters of climate-smart farming practices, said the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture on Tuesday. NASDA said the farm bill "must remain unified" by pairing farm support and public nutrition programs in one piece of legislation.

NASDA identified 10 areas within the farm bill for its advocacy efforts. It called for increased funding of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, which shares the cost with producers in controlling runoff, and the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program, to keep land in farm use. EQIP received $1.85 billion and ACEP $450 million in fiscal 2022. The state agriculture directors' group did not specify how large an increase would be appropriate.

On climate initiatives, NASDA recommended additional spending on research and on voluntary programs so farmers and ranchers can protect and conserve natural resources through farming practices. In a description of its farm bill goals, NASDA said it supported compensation to producers "already using climate-smart strategies to reduce emissions, sequester carbon and improve resiliency."

The organization also called for "significantly increasing" the funding for research into food safety, food security, and protection of natural resources.

"The next farm bill must remain unified, securing a commitment to American agriculture and the critical food and nutritional assistance programs for those who need it the most," said NASDA. Its list of farm bill priorities did not touch on farm support programs or crop insurance, two major sources of financial backing for farmers.

The farm bill was one of seven issues that NASDA members chose for attention this year. The others were environmental regulation, food production and the supply chain, food safety, animal health, international trade, and workforce development.

"These issues were chosen for the organization's 2023 focus as NASDA members see specific opportunities for progress regarding each of these areas to best serve farmers, ranchers, and all communities across the nation," said NASDA chief executive Ted McKinney. "Further, we believe these are the areas where state departments of agriculture are uniquely positioned to lead impact and direct policymaking solutions this year."

To read the NASDA summary of farm bill priorities, click here.

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Put more money into land stewardship, says NASDA

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The 2023 farm bill should expand funding for USDA soil and water conservation programs and allow payments to the so-called early adopters of climate-smart farming practices, said the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture on Tuesday. NASDA said the farm bill "must remain unified" by pairing farm support and public nutrition programs in one piece of legislation.

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News

Animal ag continues to combat misinformation about methane emissions

An air-quality specialist continues to tackle misinformation surrounding animal agriculture and methane emissions.

Frank Mitloehner, a professor with University of California-Davis, says if methane is managed correctly it can help address climate challenges.

"Animal agriculture does have an impact on climate and methane can be a problem, but animal agriculture can be part of a solution if they acknowledge and mitigate," he says.

He tells Brownfield producers could reduce emissions by, "covering legumes, using feed additives or other things. We certainly don't want to increase methane overtime by increasing herds drastically. If we keep it stable, stable methane does not add to additional warming."

Mitloehner explains why there's a big focus on methane emissions.

"Methane is the most important greenhouse gas for animal agriculture so it's extremely important that we understand what this gas does to our climate correctly; how it warms our planet; how we account for it, not just by looking at sources because it sinks," he says. "In other words, this gas is not just produced, it's naturally destroyed. You have to subtract the sinks from the sources to get an accurate accounting. What's also important is that we understand that methane can be a problem, even a major problem, but if we manage it correctly it can be a solution. Because of the unique behavior methane has and how it warms the planet, if we reduce methane, we reduce warming."

Brownfield interviewed Mitloehner during the recent Indiana Farm Bureau State Convention.

He shared advice for agricultural groups like INFB that are at the table and ready to be part of the solution.

"Have a fact-based response and after awhile you'll be surprised how far you can get. There is a narrative against animal agriculture and it's very hard to turn the tides, but I think facts and science will turn the tide," he says. "It will take time, it will take hard work, it will take time to listen, and it will take time to pull the heads out of the sand."

Mitloehner says by managing methane, producers can make money while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

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Animal ag continues to combat misinformation about methane emissions - Brownfield Ag News

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An air-quality specialist continues to tackle misinformation surrounding animal agriculture and methane emissions. Frank Mitloehner, a professor with University of California-Davis, says if methane is managed correctly it can help address climate challenges. "Animal agriculture does have an impact on climate and methane can be a problem, but animal agriculture can be part of a [...]

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soybeans down 9 cents

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Soybeans have fallen further, now down 9¢.

Corn has been up and down this morning by roughly 2¢ or less and is currently down less than a penny.

CBOT wheat is down a penny. KC wheat is down less than a penny. Minneapolis wheat is down 2¢.

Live cattle are up 13¢. Lean hogs are down $1.48. Feeder cattle are up 5¢.

Crude oil is at $82.12 a barrel.

The U.S. Dollar Index is at 101.7.

The S&P 500 is down 17 points. The Dow is down 267 points.

Soybeans down 2¢ this morning: 9:08

Yesterday, prices rallied after starting the day lower and Naomi Blohm with Total Farm Marketing says this is because of comments Russian President Vladimir Putin made about keep reserves of grain in the country.

This morning, corn is up 2¢ while soybeans are down 2¢.

"In conversations we've had with producers, there is still quite a bit of corn in the bins in non-deficit areas," says Nick Tsiolis, founder of Farmer's Keeper. "With that said, we think if the board gets near $7 again there should be some bushels shaken loose."

Corn is at $6.87 a bushel this morning.

CBOT wheat is up 6¢. KC wheat is up 9¢. Minneapolis wheat is up 5¢.

Live cattle are up 43¢. Lean hogs are down $1.83. Feeder cattle are up 48¢.

Crude oil is above $82 a barrel this morning. Blohm attributes this to anticipation that China's consumption may increase as the country opens up.

The S&P 500 is up 14 points. The Dow is up 41 points.

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Soybeans down 9¢ at midday | Wednesday, January 18, 2023

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Soybeans have fallen further, now down 9¢. Corn has been up and down this morning by roughly 2¢ or less and is currently down less than a penny. CBOT wheat is down a penny. KC wheat is down less than a penny. Minneapolis wheat is down 2¢. Live cattle are up 13¢.

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Tillage has come a long way since John Deere invented the self-scouring steel plow in 1837. Once a basic tool for turning the soil, the implement is being developed into a machine that gives producers the ability to vary tillage settings based on changing soil types, field conditions, conservation practices, and topography.

"Thanks to technology advancements, farmers don't just set up the tillage tool then worry about raising and lowering implements on field ends today. With precision tillage technology, some implements also connect into the tractor-implement CAN bus enabling implement adjustments on the go," says John Fulton, a professor in the Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering at Ohio State University.

In the past three years, he believes, precision tillage technology has come to the forefront. "The more tactical pieces to precision tillage are mitigating soil compaction and managing surface residue," Fulton says.

Like the variable-rate approach used for seed, fertilizer, and chemicals, prescription tillage technology offers farmers or their trusted advisers the ability to create prescriptions to vary the depth and intensity of tillage tools on the go.

"The prescription can automatically adjust the implement's settings such as the depth of shanks and disks, the gang angle of disks as well as down pressure of wings and rolling baskets as it moves across the field," Fulton says.

Dialing in on Depth

Because Eran McCormick deals with a range of soils, maintaining the right depth with a field cultivator has been an ongoing challenge.

"On our clay knobs, the field cultivator seemed like it was just scratching the surface or only going about a half to an inch deep," says McCormick, who grows corn and soybeans about 20 minutes northeast of Lafayette, Indiana. "In our lower ground, where the dirt is soft and black, the field cultivator would bury 6 inches deep."

To solve the issue, he decided it was time to experiment with TruSet. Offered on his John Deere 2230FH field cultivator, TruSet allows McCormick to run variable-depth tillage prescriptions to incorporate residue at different levels across the field, as well as change the depth of tillage for different conditions such as lighter soils or areas where compaction is an issue. At the same time, he could document tillage passes to see how strategies affected crop emergence or yield.

Steve Sporrer says a prescription can be simple or complex, depending on what the field needs. "It can be based off soil maps, topography, compaction, and yield data to create different tillage zones," says the tillage product manager with John Deere.

Using soil maps, McCormick's fields have two to eight zones. Practicing conventional tillage, the TruSet depth is set at 2 to 21⁄2 inches in black ground and 3 to 31⁄2 on clay soil. Including the tire sink he achieves his desired 4-inch working depth.

"Now we can hold that 2-inch planting depth a lot better on corn. We also run the field cultivator in front of the soybean planter, but it seems to be a bigger issue in corn, because we're going another 3⁄4 inch deeper," he says. "Once we figured out what our settings should be, consistency of depth has been fabulous compared to the old way."

AFS Soil Command

Residue management and compaction control are the two primary reasons Ray Beck equipped his Case IH Ecolo-Tiger 875 with Advanced Farming Systems (AFS) Soil Command.

"We have heavy clay soil in our area and get about 30 inches of rain annually, much of which seems to always come in the spring," says Beck, who grows corn, soybeans, and wheat in Bloomdale, Ohio. "Equipment has also gotten so big."

Because compaction can reduce yields 10% to 20%, breaking up the hardpan at the appropriate depth is important. Tillage prescriptions were developed, creating four zones in each of his fields. An 8- to 12-inch depth seems to work best to alleviate compaction.

"This machine gives us the ability to loosen up that soil automatically, so it doesn't affect corn root growth," he says. "It does a wonderful job of breaking up compaction and leaving the ground level so only one pass is needed in the spring before planting. That's a key feature for us."

It handles residue well, too. "If you have a lot of cornstalks, the disk ripper does a nice job burying residue and leaves a nice surface," Beck says.

Yield has also seen a boost.

"Our corn yields have been tracking higher. Looking at the yield maps, we are seeing 10 plus bushels more per acre on average," Beck says.

First available in the fall of 2021, AFS Soil Command tillage prescription technology complements the agronomics.

"Whether for compaction control, residue management, or creating a smoother seedbed, growers can put in prescriptions with AFS Soil Command and fine-tune each pass of that tillage equipment," says Alison Bryan, tillage research agronomist with Case IH.

Another Step Toward Autonomy

With the introduction of TruSet in 2016, John Deere became the first company to offer prescription tillage technology.

"The adoption of TruSet has grown to the point where it has become a standard feature on every new tillage tool coming out of the factory," says Steve Sporrer, tillage product manager with John Deere, adding it is also available as an upgrade kit for older Deere tillage tools. "We are using that as a building block to help drive the future capability with autonomy, so when the operator is out of the cab, we have the ability to control and monitor the implement as well," he says.

"As it becomes more of a standard feature on new machines or the technology is on machines being traded, I think you're going to see growers take advantage of having that technology at their fingertips," says John Fulton, a professor at Ohio State University.

How Growers Benefit

To learn how the technology can benefit growers, the company has conducted on-farm tillage research using prescriptions.

In March 2021, Bryan led a conventional tillage study utilizing an Ecolo-Tiger 875 in North Carolina fields totaling 200 acres. Each field was divided so half was ripped at a constant 14-inch depth and the other half used a prescription to vary shank depth from 5 to 14 inches.

"We determined where the compaction layers were and created prescriptions with different soil management zones," she says. "Shank points were 1 inch below compacted areas to eliminate the problem, so the 875 only went as deep as it needed to go."

Variable-depth prescription tillage also increased efficiency significantly compared to a constant depth.

"Since we were able to go faster in areas where tillage wasn't as deep, we saw a nearly 10% enhancement in productivity of acres tilled per hour," Bryan says, adding that less fuel was also used.

Deere and Case IH aren't the only companies building these capabilities in tillage tools. Great Plains, Kuhn North America, and others are also offering solutions.

Is it Worth the Money?

As one of the first in his area to try precision tillage technology, Beck has fielded several questions since purchasing his Ecolo-Tiger 875.

The No. 1 question: Is it worth the money?

"I bought my machine used and paid about $70,000," Beck says. "If I'm going to spend that much money for a tool like this, what's a little extra to get it right."

Fulton recommends farmers conduct their own on-farm trials to assess the value for their operation. "Once you get it figured out and have the patience to make it work for you, you're going to find that there can be tangible benefits to precision tillage technology.

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The advancement of precision tillage technology

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Tillage has come a long way since John Deere invented the self-scouring steel plow in 1837. Once a basic tool for turning the soil, the implement is being developed into a machine that gives producers the ability to vary tillage settings based on changing soil types, field conditions, conservation practices, and topography.

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McKinney discusses first Emerging Markets Program trade mission

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McKinney discusses first Emerging Markets Program trade mission

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The CEO of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) says a recent mission to Vietnam provided an opportunity to highlight U.S. agriculture and build trading relationships.

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The USDA's monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report, which was released on Thursday, may have a lasting impact for the next several months on grain prices according to one market analyst.

"The bottom line is we don't have as much corn, soybeans, and wheat in storage as we thought," says Karl Setzer, Senior Commodity Risk Analyst with AgriVisor.

According to the USDA, quarterly grain stocks as of Dec. 1, 2022 for corn are at 10.8 billion bushels, which is underneath the average trade estimate range. Soybeans are at 3.02 billion bushels, which was at the bottom of the trade estimate range. Wheat is at 1.28 billion bushels below the estimate range.

"Not only did that cause the futures to trade higher after the report, especially on soybeans and corn, but it's likely going to lead to a stronger basis across the United States as we're going to start to see buyers all of a sudden have to push to get the coverage that they had and that they need," according to Setzer. "This report could have a long tail in the market. I expect this to be something that we look at and trade all the way up until we get a little bit closer to that spring planting season."

Also in the USDA's report, this month's U.S. corn outlook calls for reduced production, food, seed, and industrial use, feed and residual use, exports and ending stocks. Corn production is estimated at 13.730 billion bushels, down 200 million. Exports were reduced 150 million bushels to 1.925 billion, reflecting the slow pace of shipments through December, and the lowest level of outstanding sales as of early January since the 2019/20 marketing year. The season-average corn price received by producers is unchanged at $6.70 per bushel.

Soybean production is estimated at 4.276 billion bushels, down 69 million, led by reductions for Missouri, Indiana, Illinois, and Kansas. The soybean export forecast was reduced 55 million bushels to 2.0 billion. The U.S. season-average soybean price is projected at $14.20 per bushel, up 20 cents. The outlook this month calls for increased supplies, larger domestic use, unchanged exports, and lower ending stocks. The season-average farm price is unchanged at $9.10 per bushel.

The USDA will release its next monthly WASDE report on Thursday, Feb. 9.

Click BELOW to hear complete analysis of the USDA's January WASDE report from Karl Setzer, Senior Commodity Risk Analyst with AgriVisor.

https://hoosieragtoday.news/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/KARL-SETZER-RAW-AUDIO.mp3
Sources: USDA, NAFB News Service.

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Why the USDA's January WASDE Report May Affect Grain Prices for Several Months - Hoosier Ag Today

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The USDA's monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report, which was released on Thursday, may have a lasting impact for the next several months on grain prices according to one market analyst. "The bottom line is we don't have as much corn, soybeans, and wheat in storage as we thought," says Karl Setzer, [...]

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Rising costs hitting Cambridgeshire chip shops and potato farms

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Ben Schofield & Pete CooperBBC News, East

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Rising costs hitting Cambridgeshire chip shops and potato farms

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Higher fuel, energy, fertiliser and seed prices are eating into profits and forcing cutbacks.

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https://www.agweb.com/news/crops/crop-production/gone-country-farm-girl-trades-nyc-concrete-dirt-finds-happiness-life

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Priceless Pistol Found After Decades Lost in Farmhouse Attic

A priceless pistol lost for 40 years in a farmhouse attic returns to the hands of its childhood owner as a family heirloom.

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Agriculture news, commodity markets insights and weather

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Priceless Pistol Found After Decades Lost in Farmhouse Attic A priceless pistol lost for 40 years in a farmhouse attic returns to the hands of its childhood owner as a family heirloom.

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there a 7.25 million horses in the us

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It's no secret that horse riding is immensely popular among Americans. In addition to the joy of horse riding, the horse industry itself is a significant contributor to the American economy.

Here's what the latest research tells us about the horse industry statistics.

Horse Industry Statistics

Highlights of horse statistics:

The horse industry contributes $122 billion annually to the U.S. economy.

The U.S. horse industry employs 1.74 million people.

There are 7.25 million horses in the U.S.

Texas has the highest horse population per state.

1.6 million households in the U.S. own horses.

60% of equestrians work in managerial positions.

50% of horse owners have an annual income of over $100,000.

The average price of a riding horse is $3,444.

The annual ownership cost of a recreational horse is $7,896.

1. The horse industry contributes $122 billion annually to the U.S. economy.

According to the American Horse Council Foundation's 2017 horse economy study, an estimate of the total contribution of the horse industry to the U.S. economy is $122 billion annually. (1)

The horse industry produces goods and services of $50 billion as a direct economic impact on the U.S. economy.

Additionally, the industry contributes $38 billion in direct wages, salaries, and benefits.

This economic contribution directly affects other sectors in the economy and by combining these effects, the estimated total contribution of the horse industry to the U.S. economy is $122 billion annually.

States, where the horse industry contributes the most to the state GDP, are Kentucky (1%), Oklahoma (0.62%), and Florida (0.26%). (2)

Here's a quick overview (2) of horse industries' impact on GDP.

These numbers are interesting, as for example, the GDP of California, a state with the second-highest number of horses in the U.S., has one of the lowest GDP contribution shares from the horse industry.

At the same time, the GDP of Florida, a state with the third-highest number of horses, does rely more heavily on the horse industry.

2. The U.S. horse industry employs 1.74 million people.

The horse industry employment impact is bigger than it might seem at first glance.

According to the American Horse Council horse industry trends, the estimated total employment impact of the horse industry is 1,744,747 million jobs. (1)

It's interesting to see that the jobs in the equine industry are in demand.

The horse industry has a direct employment impact of 988,394 jobs and contributes $38 billion in direct wages, salaries, and benefits.

Equestrian industry statistics also show that 1,370,000 people volunteer their time for horse-related activities annually. (3)

Interestingly enough, the horse industry directly employs more people than railroads, radio & television broadcasting, petroleum & coal products manufacturing, and tobacco product manufacturing. (4)

3. There are 7.25 million horses in the U.S.

According to The American Horse Council (AHC), there has been some confusion in the past on exact U.S. horse population numbers. (9)

This is because there are three main organizations (National Agriculture Statistic Service (NASS), American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), and AHC) that collect and publish data regarding the U.S. horse population and each organization counts the numbers differently.

This is why AHC has combined the data from all the available sources and offers the latest, most precise overview of the horse population.

According to AHC equine industry statistics (2017), there are 7,246,835 horses (9) in the U.S, including both recreational and commercial horses.

Here's a quick overview of the number of horses based on activities. (3)

According to USDA/National Animal Health Monitoring System, the Quarter horse (39.5%) and Thoroughbred Horse (10.2%) are the most popular horse breeds in the U.S. (10)

Interestingly enough, between 1992 and 2005, the breeds with the highest number of new horse registrations were the Quarter horse and the Paint horse.

According to Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources (AnGR), there are a total of 699 living horse breeds in the world. (11)

Europe makes up the highest number of 307 horse breeds and North America makes up a total of 26 horse breeds.

The U.S. Equestrian Federation recognizes 11 horse breeds and 18 disciplines, including the Olympic and Paralympic equestrian disciplines. (12)

4. Texas has the highest horse population per state.

According to American Horse Council Foundation (2017) data, 45 states in America have over

20,000 horses residing there. (3)

Top horse states with the highest number of horses are Texas with 767,100 horses, California with 534,500 horses, and Florida with 387,100 horses. (1)

Here's a quick overview of the top horse states with the highest and lowest horse populations. (13)

States with the lowest horse populations are Rhode Island with 2,600 horses, Hawaii with 6,100 horses, and Delaware with 8,000 horses.

5. 1.6 million households in the U.S. own horses.

Horse ownership has been rather stable in recent years.

According to American Horse Council equestrian statistics (2017), out of all U.S. households, only 1.3% own horses (1.6 million households). (3)

Research also found that 30.5% (38 million) of U.S. households hold horse enthusiasts and spectators.

Another interesting equine industry trend is that 16% of people who participate in horse-related activities actually do not own a horse. Additionally, 13.2% spectate at horse events but do not own or participate.

A recent study conducted in 2021 shows that the average U.S. horse owner owns 6 horses. 73% of horse owners expect to own/manage the same number of horses in 2022 as well. (14)

In contrast, the average showhorse owner owns more than 2 horses, typically valued at $10,000 or more each. (15)

The horse owning data shows that most horse owners are not just recreational owners but actively participate in economic activities as well.

According to research, 20% of horse owners are involved as horse trainers and 17% give lessons and instruction. (16)

Here are the most common activities by horse owners:

20% - Involved as horse trainers

17% - Give lessons

19% - Farm managers

14% - Breeders

5% - Veterinary activities

5% - Farrier activities

23% - Other (e.g. Boarding and equine-assisted therapy)

6. 60% of equestrians work in managerial positions.

According to the American Horse Council (AHC) equestrian demographics data, 92.6% of horse owners are female. (9)

Another AHC study found that 52% of equestrians are married and 58% are college graduates. (4)

The equestrian culture data also shows that 60% of equestrians work in managerial positions and 4 out of 5 individuals are members of at least 2 equestrian organizations.

Data shows that the median age of horse owners is 38 years of age. (17) The highest number of horse owners are 45-59 years old. (3)

Millennials account for 42% of all horse owners and 41% of horse owners are over 45 years of age.

What is surprising is that the age bracket of 18-24 has the lowest amount of horse owners and this number is declining.

Another study found that 53.4% of horse-owning households have only one member of the household being involved with horses and 35.7% have 2 household members being involved with horses. (18)

7. 50% of horse owners have an annual income of over $100,000.

Horse owning and equestrianism is often referred to as a prestigious hobby and affordable only by the rich.

The horse owner demographics data shows that the overall income distribution among people who ride horses is skewed towards the higher income brackets.

According to American Horse Council horse-riding figures, 50% of all horse owners earn over $100,000 annually. Horse owners with an income of $150,000 or more accounts for 28%. (19)

Annual income under $50,000 accounts for 15% of horse owners.

The typical U.S. Equestrian member has an average net worth of $1,504,051 (20) and a household income of $211,738 (21). The majority (84%) of members own the main residence and have an average of three vehicles.

Interestingly enough, equestrians are also active in the stock market. The data shows that 85% of equestrians own investments and the average investment portfolio is worth $724,791. (22)

8. The average price of a riding horse is $3,444.

Just like with anything in life, the average cost of a horse depends on a lot of factors.

According to the University of Maine, the price of a horse can vary from free to a few hundred to several thousand dollars, depending on the pedigree, health, and level of training. (23)

The equine market data concludes that the average cost of a recreational horse is $3,444 (24). The cost of most recreational horses will be under $10,000.

It's important to differentiate a $3,000 horse from a $10,000+ horse. The latter type is usually bred in top breeders for showhorses or racehorses. They usually have impressive bloodlines, are developed for specific purposes, and are imported from other countries.

A typical showhorse costs over $11,248. (25) Showing a horse will usually have additional fees; a small local horse show can cost at least $15,446, even before the first horse has set a hoof on the grounds. (27)

According to Keeneland equestrian industry data, the leading racehorse industry's auction house, the average racehorse sales price based on 1,045 horse sales in January 2022 is $45,532, the top price being $750,000. (28)

9. The annual ownership cost of a recreational horse in the U.S. is $7,896.

The fact is that horse ownership is expensive, no matter how you look at it. But 10/10 horse owners say it is worth it.

Horse ownership costs will vary a lot depending on where you live, how many and what type of horses you have, and if you have housing capabilities or looking for a full boarding option.

According to the American Horse Council, the annual horse ownership cost in the U.S. for a recreational horse is $7,896. (29)

The most basic and common monthly horse expenses are board, feed, vet, and hoof care. These are costs most horse owners cannot avoid.

Here's a quick overview of horse ownership costs with rough price ranges.

Additional expenses to consider are tack and equipment, clothing, grooming tools, horse sitting, track usage, shows and outings, riding lessons, and unseeable other costs.

According to equine industry research, an average equestrian spends upward of $11,335 annually on horse-related products. (33) Everything from de-wormers and grooming products to minerals and trainer fees.

References

American Horse Council. 2020. Economic Impact Of The United States Horse Industry. Link

Data Paddock, American Horse Council. 2016. US horses and state GDP, 2016. Link

Muma Business Review, Robyn Lord, University of South Florida. 2019. The Equine Industry: Competing Beliefs, Changes and Conflicts. CC BY-NC. Link

The Equestrian Channel, American Horse Council. 2002. Horse Industry Statistics. Link

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2020. May 2020 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates. Link

Statista. 2021. Total employment in U.S. broadcasting industries from 2001 to 2020. Link

Statista. 2021. Number of employees in U.S. freight rail industry from 2014 to 2020. Link

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2020. Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing: NAICS 324. Link

American Horse Council. 2020. US Horse Population - Statistics. Link

The Humane Society, Emily R. Kilby. 2007. The Demographics of the U.S. Equine Population. Link

Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Rupak Khadka. 2010. Global Horse Population with respect to Breeds and Risk Status. Link

U.S. Equestrian. 2022. Breeds & Disciplines. Link

Data Paddock, American Horse Council. 2016. US horse population, 2003 versus 2016. Link

Equus Magazine. 2021. Survey shows stability in horse ownership statistics. Link

Equivont. 2018. Equestrian Market Research Report 2018: The Stats. Link

EquiManagament, Nancy S. Loving. 2020. Trends in the Equine Industry. Link

Data Paddock, American Horse Council. 2016. US horse owner age, 2003 and 2016, AHC. Link

American Horse Publications, C. Jill Stowe, Ph.D. 2018. Results from the 2018 AHP Equine Industry Survey. Link

Data Paddock, American Horse Council. 2016. US horse owner income, 2003 and 2016, AHC. Link

The original net worth was $955,400 (4) in 2002. The inflation-adjusted net worth in December 2021 was $1,504,050.99. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI Inflation Calculator. Link

The original household income was $134,500 (4) in 2002. The inflation-adjusted household income in December 2021 was $211,738.39. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI Inflation Calculator. Link

The original investment portfolio was $460,400 (4) in 2002. The inflation-adjusted investment portfolio in December 2021 was $724,790.74. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI Inflation Calculator. Link

The University of Maine. 2022. Bulletin #1004, Equine Facts: Guide to First-Time Horse Ownership. Link

The original horse price was $3,000 (23) in 2017. The inflation-adjusted horse price in December 2021 was $3,444.28. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI Inflation Calculator. Link

The original showhorse price was $10,000 (15) in 2018. The inflation-adjusted showhorse price in December 2021 was $11,248.05. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI Inflation Calculator. Link

American Quarter Horse Association. 2017. The Cost of Showing. Link

The original horse show price was $12,948 (26) in 2015. The inflation-adjusted horse show price in December 2021 was $15,446.38. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI Inflation Calculator. Link

Keeneland. 2022. Sales Summaries, 2022 January Horses of All Ages Sale. Link

Data Paddock, American Horse Council. 2016. Annual cost of owning a horse in the US, 2003 versus 2016, AHC. Link

The original cost of owning a recreational horse was $12,948 (29) in 2016. The inflation-adjusted cost of owning a recreational horse in December 2021 was $7,896.31. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI Inflation Calculator. Link

Arabian Horse Association. 2022. What is the Cost of Providing for Them? Link

Swingin' D Horse Rescue. 2022. Horses are Expensive! Link

The original annual spend was $7,200 (4) in 2002. The inflation-adjusted annual spend in December 2021 was $11,334.69. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI Inflation Calculator. Link

FAQ

How much does a horse cost?

The average price of a riding horse in the U.S. is $3,444.

How much does it cost to own a horse?

The annual ownership cost of a recreational horse in the U.S. is $7,896.

How much does a horse cost per month?

The average monthly ownership cost of a recreational horse in the U.S. is $658.

How much does a horse cost per year?

The annual ownership cost of a recreational horse in the U.S. is $7,896.

How many horses are in the U.S.?

Approximately 7.25 million horses live in the United States.

Which state has the most horses?

Texas has the highest horse population per state. Texas has 767,100 horses.

How many horse owners are in the U.S.?

Approximately 1.6 million households in the U.S. own horses.

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Horse Industry Statistics in 2023 (Latest U.S. Data) | Horses Only

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It's no secret that horse riding is immensely popular among Americans. In addition to the joy of horse riding, the horse industry itself is a significant contributor to the American economy. Here's what the latest research tells us about the horse industry statistics. Highlights of horse statistics: The horse industry contributes $122 billion annually to the U.S.

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Indigenous people may have created the Amazon’s ‘dark earth’ on purpose

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Modern Amazonians make nutrient-rich soil from ash, food scraps and burns. The soil strongly resembles ancient dark soils found in the region.

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A pair of late-December storm systems moved ashore in the West, delivering heavy precipitation in the Pacific Coast States and significant snow from the Cascades and Sierra Nevada to the western slopes of the Rockies during the week of Dec. 25-31, according to the Jan. 3 USDA Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin.

Weekly precipitation totals in the Sierra Nevada and adjacent foothills locally totaled 4 to 12 inches or more, with an average of more than 5 inches of liquid equivalency being added to the Sierra Nevada snowpack during the final week of December.

Farther east, mostly dry weather prevailed across the nation's mid-section, although light snow and blowing snow continued to cause rural travel disruptions across parts of the northern Plains and upper Midwest. Meanwhile, variable rainfall occurred along and east of a line from eastern Texas to southeastern Michigan. Some of the heaviest rain, locally 2 to 4 inches or more, fell in the central Gulf Coast region and parts of the mid-South.

Throughout the central and eastern U.S., sudden warming in the wake of the previous week's brutal cold snap boosted temperatures to near- or above-normal levels, except in the southern Atlantic region. The parade of daily-record highs began on Dec. 29 with a high of 73°F in Columbia, Missouri - exactly 80 degrees higher than the minimum reading of -7°F just 6 days earlier. Elsewhere on the 29th, daily-record highs surged to 70°F in locations such as Springfield, Illinois.

Sunny, increasingly warm weather dominated major farming areas of central Argentina. Furthermore, temperatures rose to stressful levels by week's end, with daytime highs reaching the upper 30s (degrees C) regionwide on several days. While hastening drydown and harvesting of winter grains, the dryness and heat reduced soil moisture for germination of summer grains and oilseeds and stressed emerged crops. According to the government of Argentina, corn and soybeans were 77 and 82% planted, respectively, as of Dec. 29, still lagging last year's pace for both crops.

A drying trend persisted over large sections of southern Brazil, where moisture remained limited for normal development of soybeans and first-crop corn. As in recent weeks, many locations from Mato Grosso do Sul southward recorded less than 25 mm with few days of measurable rainfall. Summer warmth (daytime highs often reaching the lower and middle 30s degrees C) compounded the impact of the dryness on diminishing soil moisture reserves. In Rio Grande do Sul, corn was 91% planted as of Dec. 29, with 70% of the sown crop having reached reproduction; in contrast, 95% of soybeans were planted but flowering was still in the early stages (5%). Meanwhile, mild, showery weather maintained overall favorable crop prospects farther north, including the main production areas in Mato Grosso, Brazil's largest producer of soybeans.

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Year-end storms bring heavy mountain snow

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A pair of late-December storm systems moved ashore in the West, delivering heavy precipitation in the Pacific Coast States and significant snow from the Cascades and Sierra Nevada to the western slopes of the Rockies during the week of Dec. 25-31, according to the Jan. 3 USDA Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin.

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In “Masters of the Lost Land,” Heriberto Araujo investigates a region where land and people are routinely sacrificed to greed and corruption.

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News

China extends tariff on U.S. Dried Distillers Grain

China is extending anti-dumping tariffs on U.S. Dried Distillers Grain imports five more years.

U.S. Grains Council CEO Ryan LeGrand says it's disappointing but not a surprise.

"We kind of expected this outcome, we did (as USGC) file a defense on behalf of the industry as we typically do with these type of cases in the anti-dumping and countervailing duty cases. But just mounted a very minimal defense because we kind of knew what the outcome was going to be."

The move keeps tariffs amounting to as much as 66 percent on U.S. DDGS.

LeGrand tells Brownfield China can be a 5-to-7-million-ton customer but has not been a strong presence in the market the past five years.

"When they've had these duties in place (and) Distillers Grains have found another home, albeit at probably a different relative value to corn and other ingredients. But they've found a home and exports have remained strong even without China."

LeGrand says while USGC would like to see the U.S. Trade Representative address China's tariffs on DDGS, there are more pressing issues both for the Grains Council and USTR.

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China extends tariff on U.S. Dried Distillers Grain - Brownfield Ag News

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China is extending anti-dumping tariffs on U.S. Dried Distillers Grain imports five more years. U.S. Grains Council CEO Ryan LeGrand says it's disappointing but not a surprise. "We kind of expected this outcome, we did (as USGC) file a defense on behalf of the industry as we typically do with these type of cases in [...]

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The Official Blog of Southern Loggin' Times Magazine by Hatton-Brown Publishers

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If the nation’s debt hits $31.4 trillion. The nation might run out of money.

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Inflated used asking prices for wheel loaders

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Buyers have been gobbling up-late model used loaders, leading to inflated used asking prices or final bids that are sometimes double or triple what they were three to four years ago.

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Stolen pigs were found what could of been a nightmare was a happy ending

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drake

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The hottest pieces of machinery today are track tractors. Dave travels to an auction to check out prices on a pair of John Deere 9620 RX tractors. Both 2018 and 2019 tractors have around 500 hours and are very well taken care of. Dave speaks with an auctioneer from Sullivan Auctioneers to learn more about these tractors.

See current auctions from Sullivan Auctioneers.

From Successful Farming (ep. 1401), originally aired January 29, 2021.

In every Steel Deals report, take in an auction with Dave Mowitz, machinery and technology executive editor. Find out what late-model, high-horsepower farm equipment is selling for at auctions throughout the Midwest as well as trends in used equipment prices.

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Low-hour John Deere 9620 RX tractors sell at auction

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The hottest pieces of machinery today are track tractors. Dave travels to an auction to check out prices on a pair of John Deere 9620 RX tractors. Both 2018 and 2019 tractors have around 500 hours and are very well taken care of. Dave speaks with an auctioneer from Sullivan Auctioneers to learn more about these tractors.

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soybean futures were higher in overnight trading on signs of demand for U.S. supplies and dry weather in parts of Argentina

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1. Soybean Futures Rise in Overnight Trading

Soybean futures were higher in overnight trading on signs of demand for U.S. supplies and dry weather in parts of Argentina.

High temperatures and continual dry weather in parts of Argentina has led to persistent crop stress in at least 60% of the country's soybean- and corn-growing areas, Commodity Weather Group said in a report.

The area might see rain Friday and Saturday and some precipitation is in the six- to 10 and 11- to 15-day forecasts but crop stress likely will continue in as much as half of the South American country's growing areas, the forecaster said.

Soybeans in a third or Paraguay's growing areas also will see stress in the next 10 days, CWG said.

Also giving prices a boost this morning are signs of demand for U.S. agricultural products.

An unnamed country purchased 119,000 metric tons of soybeans for delivery during the 2022-2023 marketing year that started on Sept. 1, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a report yesterday.

Colombia bought 150,000 metric tons of corn for delivery in the current marketing year, the USDA said.

Soybean futures rose 5 3/4¢ to $15.45 ½ a bushel overnight on the Chicago Board of Trade. Soymeal was up $2.10 to $483.30 a short ton, while soy oil gained 0.61¢ to 64.45¢ a pound.

Corn futures for March delivery added 3¢ to $6.88 ¼ a bushel.

Wheat futures for March delivery gained 6 3/4¢ to $7.58 ½ a bushel overnight, while Kansas City futures rose 9¢ to $8.64 ¾ a bushel.

**

**

2. Grain, Bean Export Inspections Rise Week-to-Week

Inspections of grains and beans for overseas delivery were all higher last week, according to data from the USDA.

Corn assessments in the seven days that ended on Jan. 12 rose to 774,461 metric tons from 401,108 tons a week earlier, the agency said in a report.

That's still well behind the 1.24 million metric tons examined for export during the same week a year earlier.

Wheat inspections last week were reported at 320,473 metric tons, up from 209,544 tons the previous week but down from 386,786 tons the previous year, the USDA said.

Soybean assessments, surged to 2.08 million metric tons from 1.46 million tons a week earlier. That's also up from the 1.87 million metric tons inspected at the same point in 2022, the agency said.

Since the start of the marketing year on Sept. 1, the USDA has inspected 10.8 million metric tons of corn for offshore delivery, down from 15.3 million tons during the same timeframe a year earlier.

Soybean inspections since the beginning of September now stand at 32.2 million metric tons, down from 33.6 million tons in the same period last year, the government said.

Wheat assessments since the start of the grain's marketing year on June 1 are now at 12.4 million merc tons, just behind the 12.8 million tons examined at this point a year earlier, the USDA said in its report.

**

3. Winter Storms Slamming Parts of the Corn Belt

Winter-storm warnings are in effect from northeastern Colorado into central Wisconsin this morning as snow, wind and ice are all expected, according to the National Weather Service.

In central Nebraska, as much as 17 inches of snow is forecast along with winds gusting up to 40 miles per hour, the NWS said in a report early this morning.

Five to 8 inches of snow are expected in parts of northern Iowa and southern Minnesota, with the winter-storm warning running from noon today through 9 a.m. tomorrow.

"Moderate to heavy snow with a period of mixed precipitation expected," the agency said. "Light ice accumulations possible in central Iowa."

In central Wisconsin, snow will begin tapering Thursday morning after falling at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour overnight, the NWS said. Freezing rain also is a possibility. Accumulations in the area are projected from 4 to 8 inches.

"Travel could be very difficult," the NWS said.

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Soybean futures were higher in overnight trading on signs of demand for U.S. supplies and dry weather in parts of Argentina. High temperatures and continual dry weather in parts of Argentina has led to persistent crop stress in at least 60% of the country's soybean- and corn-growing areas, Commodity Weather Group said in a report.

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https://www.agriculture.com/news/crops/usda-finds-domestic-supplies-lower-for-corn-soy-and-wheat-in-latest-report
Its talking about how Today, USDA released three major reports, including the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE), Annual Crop Production, and Quarterly Grain Stocks reports.

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Grain and soybean trading was closed on Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. I found this interesting because MLK day doesn't really affect agriculture.

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1. Grain and Soybean Trading Closed Monday

Grain and soybean trading is closed Monday in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Trading will resume with the overnight session this evening.

**

**

2. Investors Curb Net-Long Positions in Corn and Beans

Money managers cut their net-long positions, or bets on higher prices, in corn and beans last week, according to data from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

Investors held a net-149,665 futures contracts in corn in the seven days that ended on Jan. 10, the CFTC said in a report. That's down from 199,954 contracts a week earlier.

Speculators also held 132,647 soybean-futures contracts, down from 142,864 contracts the previous week, the agency said.

In wheat, investors turned bearish on hard-red winter contracts.

Hedge funds and other large investment firms held a net-short position, or bets on lower prices, of 8,572 hard-red winter contracts last week.

That's a shift from the net-long position of 1,153 futures contracts the week before and the first time investors have been bearish on hard-red winter futures since August 2020, government data show.

Speculators increased their bearish bets on soft-red winter futures, raising their net-shorts to 62,631 contracts through Jan. 10, up from 52,820 contracts a week earlier, the CFTC said in its report.

The weekly Commitment of Traders report from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission shows trader positions in futures markets.

The report provides positions held by commercial traders, or those using futures to hedge their physical assets; noncommercial traders, or money managers (also called large speculators); and nonreportables, or small speculators.

A net-long position indicates more traders are betting on higher prices, while a net-short position means more are betting futures will decline.

**

3. Winter Storms Headed to Parts of Colorado, Nebraska

Winter-storm watches have been issued from northeastern Colorado into western Iowa as snow and ice are possible starting tomorrow, according to the National Weather Service.

In northern Colorado, from 5 to 10 inches of snow is possible with the storm, and some areas may seen more, the NWS said in a report early this morning.

Winds may gust up to 35 miles per hour.

In central and eastern Nebraska, 4 to 8 inches of snow is likely along with sustained winds of 15 to 25 miles an hour, the agency said.

Travel is expected to be extremely difficult.

Further south in eastern Oklahoma and southern Missouri, wind advisories are in effect this morning. Winds in the region will be sustained this morning from 15 to 25 miles per hour with gusts of up to 45 miles an hour forecast, the NWS said.

"Motorists should exercise caution while driving," the agency said. "Be alert to sudden gusts of wind which may cause you to lose control of your vehicle. Extra attention should be given to cross winds and on bridges and overpasses.

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Grain and soybean trading is closed Monday in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Trading will resume with the overnight session this evening. ** ** Money managers cut their net-long positions, or bets on higher prices, in corn and beans last week, according to data from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

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feed efficiency starts at the gut level of the pig

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Getting the most gain out of each pound of feed is critical to every producer's bottom line. As feed costs rise, so does the economic impact of feed efficiency. However, what may be having a major impact on your feed efficiency isn't the feed itself, but what's happening at the gut level of the pig.

"As feed costs rise, so does the impact of disease, specifically diseases that affect feed efficiency," says Fernando Leite, technical manager for enterics at Boehringer Ingelheim. "Because the less efficient a pig is, the more feed it will have to consume."

In recent estimates, the global herd prevalence of Lawsonia intracellularis, which causes the disease ileitis, is about 96%, meaning most grower and finisher pigs will be infected at some point in their production lives.

A Formidable Challenge

According to recent research from Leite and Iowa State University published in Veterinary Research, managing subclinical and clinical pathogenic disease in swine remains a formidable challenge for pork producers.

"Our research showed that Lawsonia intracellularis has a significant impact on feed efficiency," Leite says. "What is occurring is that the cells in the gut responsible for nutrient absorption are being damaged. In our study, over the disease period we saw a 25% reduction in feed efficiency due to disease. So when I think about feed efficiency, I think of giving the pig a chance to optimize that feed efficiency by getting rid of the pathogens that have a direct, negative impact on nutrient absorption."

The best way to combat Lawsonia intracellularis is to prevent it from gaining a foothold. "The ideal method is to immunize the pigs," Leite says. "They are protected from the negative consequences and benefit from increased feed efficiency."

In the study, Leite says there was an 18% increase in feed efficiency in pigs given an oral live vaccine against Lawsonia.

Vaccinating vs. Treating

Leite says estimates are that more than 90% of U.S. farms have some level of Lawsonia intracellularis infection. "We have producers who are vaccinating against this disease," he says. "But we are also seeing producers who are medicating to treat the disease. Obviously, the greatest benefit of the vaccine is that it prevents the disease to begin with. If you are treating the animals once you have the disease, there has already been a negative performance impact."

While the most noticeable cost may be in feed efficiency, poor animal health and overall reduced performance can have additional negative impacts on the farm.

"In its most acute form, Lawsonia intracellularis can cause death. And the problem here is death loss also directly relates to feed efficiency because it can occur prior to first cut or at the end of finishing. You do not want death loss at that stage of production because by then the pig has consumed a lot of feed.

"If you're not doing anything to control the disease and you're not seeing diarrhea, that does not necessarily mean your pigs aren't experiencing some form of performance loss due to Lawsonia," Leite says. "The disease could be subclinical, which means you are still experiencing some feed efficiency issues because the disease is present. It's just not readily apparent from clinical signs."

Direct Return on Investment

With producers looking to tighten their belts, Leite cautions that skipping a vaccine protocol can have major repercussions and cost more in the long run.

"Producers can understandably get in the mind-set of cutting costs, but in reality the vaccine should be viewed more as an investment," Leite says. "It will give you a direct return, because it is a way to control a disease that is having an impact on feed efficiency, overall pig health, and your bottom line. In one of our research trials, we saw an 18% improvement in feed efficiency over the course of the disease among pigs that had been orally vaccinated compared with those who had not. That's a direct return on investment."

That return becomes even greater as feed costs increase. "When feed costs are on the rise, producers want to get the most out of every pound of feed. The higher the feed costs, the more costly reduced feed efficiency rates become. So, a producer's return on investment actually goes up when feed costs rise. In this sense, the vaccine could be viewed as an even better investment," he says.

Producers can also capture savings by removing the cost of antibiotics used to treat ileitis. Multiple studies have demonstrated that oral vaccination for Lawsonia can help producers reach their antibiotic use and reduction goals without sacrificing performance.

A study that compared continuous tylosin in feed during finishing vs. a protocol of receiving one dose of an oral Lawsonia vaccine before entering the finisher found that vaccination was more economical compared with pigs receiving tylosin. In another study of more than 120,000 pigs across five production systems, vaccination was shown to have a more than 7:1 benefit-to-cost ratio compared with maintaining a conventional continuous feed medication program.

Other research on field evaluations of Lawsonia intracellularis oral vaccination programs in infected herds found that vaccinated pigs have reduced incidence and severity of ileitis and greater average daily gain compared with nonvaccinated pigs. Also noted were reduced lesions that can compromise nutrient absorption, as well as reduced fecal shedding of the bacteria.

"We are continuing to research the role Lawsonia intracellularis has on gut health and performance," Leite says. "As we do, we gain a deeper understanding of how disease pressures can have a direct impact on overall feed efficiency and performance."

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Feed efficiency starts at the gut level of the pig

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Getting the most gain out of each pound of feed is critical to every producer's bottom line. As feed costs rise, so does the economic impact of feed efficiency. However, what may be having a major impact on your feed efficiency isn't the feed itself, but what's happening at the gut level of the pig.

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huge storm in Iowa deals a lot of damage to the farming business the Ag business needs to start preparing for storms

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In recent years the world has experienced a steady increase in both the frequency and severity of natural disasters. Tropical weather patterns have changed, floods have become more destructive, and wildfires have expanded all leaving behind damage and devastation. In addition, Iowa has experienced more severe windstorms, like derechos.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) tracks disasters and found that since 1953 there have been 73 declared disasters in Iowa alone. The increase in disasters leaves humans, animals, property, critical infrastructure, and homeland security at risk for a wide range of weather-related hazards.

However, preparing for these types of emergencies can reduce the impact of the disaster by providing access to necessary resources and emergency communication procedures immediately upon disaster strike. Taking the time to prepare for a disaster improves awareness about the potential hazards and risks that one may face, which improves your operation's disaster resilience and can make your response more efficient.

Implementing an emergency preparedness plan can help Iowa farmers and agricultural workers assess their risk and incorporate preparedness steps into their workplace prior to a disaster. Despite knowing that extreme weather events have increased in likeliness, FEMA found in a National Household Survey that only 43% of Americans made an emergency action plan in 2021.

However, we know that preparedness plans for extreme weather events can reduce stress and anxiety, as well as reduce the severity of the impact of the event. For most workplaces, preparedness plans are enforced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA); however, not all Iowa farms are regulated by OSHA. Instead, see if your insurance company provides assistance to help you think through the process of creating a preparedness plan tailored to your operation.

According to the American Community Survey from 2011-2015, 43% of Iowans live in rural communities and 79 of the 99 Iowa counties are considered rural. While many workplaces can benefit from an emergency preparedness plan, rural areas are especially in need of response measures.

Rural areas are uniquely challenging for first responders because of response time, communication abilities, access to resources, and remote geography. Response time can be problematic when the situation is critical, such as a traumatic injury, when minutes can mean life or death. Communication in rural areas can be an issue if there is no way to correspond with other necessary personnel or operations. Rural emergency response systems may lack necessary personnel, as most responders are typically volunteer.

Finally, the remote geography is a challenge to first responders because of the isolated locations of many farms. Having a plan in place can help think through emergency response before emergency services are needed, which produces better chances of response and survival.

Emergency preparedness plans do not have to happen in one day or cost a fortune. They can be tailored to your business or home and take as much or as little time to complete as you would like. Most importantly, an emergency action plan should consider all possible risks while still being feasible for your farm. Organizations like OSHA, FEMA and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have step-by-step preparedness plan templates that walk you through the process.

In addition, discussing the matter with your insurance company can give you an idea of what to focus on for your operation. They may also offer templates that can be used to get started. Many of the templates found online are based on OSHA recommendations for an emergency action plan. The takeaway from these organizations and their suggestions is that you are thinking about your risk and how you can become prepared for such disasters.

Key things to think about when crafting a plan for your operation may include evacuation procedures and escape routes. Floor plans can be added to give an overall view of the entire building. Reporting procedures are important to add for alerting authorities as well as workers and guests that may be present on the property. You may choose to select a meeting area or muster point to help account for all people in the event of an emergency.

Training procedures for new employees should be addressed within the plan and the plan should be clearly communicated with all staff members including at the point of hire, when job responsibilities and duties change, and when updates are made. Policies and procedures for updating and maintaining the emergency preparedness plan should be addressed as well.

Preparedness techniques can not only provide you with the tools needed to respond to the disaster effectively and efficiently, they can ultimately help save your life. When a disaster takes place, there is little time to react. Preparing before the event will give you time to gather necessary information and communicate with your family members and employees.

This is also a great time to get feedback from others and update the plan regularly as needed. Including local first responders in conversations during the planning stage is a great way to get feedback and build a strong relationship. This also allows the responders to familiarize themselves with you and your farming operation. First responders can also help identify areas that need work or areas that were well done. Giving this opportunity to first responders can also allow them to gather resources they may need ahead of time so that they, too, are prepared.

In 2020, 368 farmers or farm workers died from a work-related injury. Don't let the next disaster put your operation among those numbers. To be better prepared is to be more disaster resilient. Working closely with members of the farm, including family members and workers, as well as local emergency responders can help identify the needs of the farm. Understand your risk and address issues that may arise due to those risks. Develop a plan and update it often. All these things can work together to protect life and land in the event of an emergency on your farm.
Matison Bentley, MS, is a PhD student in Occupational and Environmental Health at the University of Iowa. She studies disaster preparedness in agricultural operations.

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Disaster prep critical for ag operations

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In recent years the world has experienced a steady increase in both the frequency and severity of natural disasters. Tropical weather patterns have changed, floods have become more destructive, and wildfires have expanded all leaving behind damage and devastation. In addition, Iowa has experienced more severe windstorms, like derechos.

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https://www.wsj.com/articles/agriculture-companies-push-carbon-capture-farming-growers-are-skeptical-11673726258
Agriculture companies are investing millions of dollars to develop farming programs designed to capture more carbon dioxide in fields.

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Agriculture companies are investing millions of dollars to develop farming programs designed to capture more carbon dioxide in fields, as a possible solution to mitigate climate change.

The challenge: convincing farmers that it is worth their time, the costs of new farming practices and potentially losing out on some of their harvest in the process.

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Agriculture Companies Push Carbon-Capture Farming; Growers Are Skeptical

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Agriculture companies are investing millions of dollars to develop farming programs designed to capture more carbon dioxide in fields, as a possible solution to mitigate climate change. The challenge: convincing farmers that it is worth their time, the costs of new farming practices and potentially losing out on some of their harvest in the process.

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1.6-million-acre drop in U.S. corn acres. As a result, the U.S. crop balance sheets continued to tighten. The news fed the bulls, with both corn and soybean prices on the CME seeing double-digit gains.

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The hottest prices today for tractors are track tractors.

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The hottest pieces of machinery today are track tractors. Dave travels to an auction to check out prices on a pair of John Deere 9620 RX tractors. Both 2018 and 2019 tractors have around 500 hours and are very well taken care of. Dave speaks with an auctioneer from Sullivan Auctioneers to learn more about these tractors.

See current auctions from Sullivan Auctioneers.

From Successful Farming (ep. 1401), originally aired January 29, 2021.

In every Steel Deals report, take in an auction with Dave Mowitz, machinery and technology executive editor. Find out what late-model, high-horsepower farm equipment is selling for at auctions throughout the Midwest as well as trends in used equipment prices.

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Low-hour John Deere 9620 RX tractors sell at auction

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The hottest pieces of machinery today are track tractors. Dave travels to an auction to check out prices on a pair of John Deere 9620 RX tractors. Both 2018 and 2019 tractors have around 500 hours and are very well taken care of. Dave speaks with an auctioneer from Sullivan Auctioneers to learn more about these tractors.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
In recent years the world has experienced a steady increase in both the frequency and severity of natural disasters. Tropical weather patterns have changed, floods have become more destructive, and wildfires have expanded all leaving behind damage and devastation. In addition, Iowa has experienced more severe windstorms, like derechos.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) tracks disasters and found that since 1953 there have been 73 declared disasters in Iowa alone. The increase in disasters leaves humans, animals, property, critical infrastructure, and homeland security at risk for a wide range of weather-related hazards.

However, preparing for these types of emergencies can reduce the impact of the disaster by providing access to necessary resources and emergency communication procedures immediately upon disaster strike. Taking the time to prepare for a disaster improves awareness about the potential hazards and risks that one may face, which improves your operation's disaster resilience and can make your response more efficient.

Implementing an emergency preparedness plan can help Iowa farmers and agricultural workers assess their risk and incorporate preparedness steps into their workplace prior to a disaster. Despite knowing that extreme weather events have increased in likeliness, FEMA found in a National Household Survey that only 43% of Americans made an emergency action plan in 2021.

However, we know that preparedness plans for extreme weather events can reduce stress and anxiety, as well as reduce the severity of the impact of the event. For most workplaces, preparedness plans are enforced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA); however, not all Iowa farms are regulated by OSHA. Instead, see if your insurance company provides assistance to help you think through the process of creating a preparedness plan tailored to your operation.

According to the American Community Survey from 2011-2015, 43% of Iowans live in rural communities and 79 of the 99 Iowa counties are considered rural. While many workplaces can benefit from an emergency preparedness plan, rural areas are especially in need of response measures.

Rural areas are uniquely challenging for first responders because of response time, communication abilities, access to resources, and remote geography. Response time can be problematic when the situation is critical, such as a traumatic injury, when minutes can mean life or death. Communication in rural areas can be an issue if there is no way to correspond with other necessary personnel or operations. Rural emergency response systems may lack necessary personnel, as most responders are typically volunteer.

Finally, the remote geography is a challenge to first responders because of the isolated locations of many farms. Having a plan in place can help think through emergency response before emergency services are needed, which produces better chances of response and survival.

Emergency preparedness plans do not have to happen in one day or cost a fortune. They can be tailored to your business or home and take as much or as little time to complete as you would like. Most importantly, an emergency action plan should consider all possible risks while still being feasible for your farm. Organizations like OSHA, FEMA and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have step-by-step preparedness plan templates that walk you through the process.

In addition, discussing the matter with your insurance company can give you an idea of what to focus on for your operation. They may also offer templates that can be used to get started. Many of the templates found online are based on OSHA recommendations for an emergency action plan. The takeaway from these organizations and their suggestions is that you are thinking about your risk and how you can become prepared for such disasters.

Key things to think about when crafting a plan for your operation may include evacuation procedures and escape routes. Floor plans can be added to give an overall view of the entire building. Reporting procedures are important to add for alerting authorities as well as workers and guests that may be present on the property. You may choose to select a meeting area or muster point to help account for all people in the event of an emergency.

Training procedures for new employees should be addressed within the plan and the plan should be clearly communicated with all staff members including at the point of hire, when job responsibilities and duties change, and when updates are made. Policies and procedures for updating and maintaining the emergency preparedness plan should be addressed as well.

Preparedness techniques can not only provide you with the tools needed to respond to the disaster effectively and efficiently, they can ultimately help save your life. When a disaster takes place, there is little time to react. Preparing before the event will give you time to gather necessary information and communicate with your family members and employees.

This is also a great time to get feedback from others and update the plan regularly as needed. Including local first responders in conversations during the planning stage is a great way to get feedback and build a strong relationship. This also allows the responders to familiarize themselves with you and your farming operation. First responders can also help identify areas that need work or areas that were well done. Giving this opportunity to first responders can also allow them to gather resources they may need ahead of time so that they, too, are prepared.

In 2020, 368 farmers or farm workers died from a work-related injury. Don't let the next disaster put your operation among those numbers. To be better prepared is to be more disaster resilient. Working closely with members of the farm, including family members and workers, as well as local emergency responders can help identify the needs of the farm. Understand your risk and address issues that may arise due to those risks. Develop a plan and update it often. All these things can work together to protect life and land in the event of an emergency on your farm.
Matison Bentley, MS, is a PhD student in Occupational and Environmental Health at the University of Iowa. She studies disaster preparedness in agricultural operations.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Disaster prep critical for ag operations

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In recent years the world has experienced a steady increase in both the frequency and severity of natural disasters. Tropical weather patterns have changed, floods have become more destructive, and wildfires have expanded all leaving behind damage and devastation. In addition, Iowa has experienced more severe windstorms, like derechos.

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economist say that they saw good demand and prices in 2022, but supply chain issues and high cost are causing problems. these supply and input issues are ongoing.

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Farmers will likely still have to deal with supply chain issues in 2023, even as the situation improves in some aspects.

Iowa State University ag economist Chad Hart says 2022 saw good demand and prices, but supply chain issues and high costs presented challenges. He says these supply and input issues are ongoing.

"It's getting better, but we're still not back to normal," he says. "We're still going to face some challenges there."

Hart says fertilizer remains a central concern in the overall supply chain issues.

"On the fertilizer side, we're seeing not only high prices, but still limited availability in some places," he says.

A key factor in this is the cost and availability of natural gas globally, Hart says, a key ingredient in fertilizer. He says the natural gas market in Europe in particular remains volatile. He says U.S. production has ramped up, but there is still strong global demand and competition for that product.

Hart says the high natural gas prices have led to "really high" fertilizer production costs, and also many fertilizer facilities are still not running at full production levels due to the cost and availability of natural gas.

University of Missouri ag economist Scott Brown says he gives the classic economist answer of "it depends" when talking about the supply chain situation, with some sectors improving even as others see increased challenges, with the situation continuing to change as some things become harder or easier to get.

"I think we've seen in some cases a little less supply bottleneck," he says. "In other cases, I think it's gotten worse, not better."

Overall, Brown says the trend is improvement, but the situation is still not ideal.

"I think we're better off than a year ago, but I think we have a long way to go," he says.

In addition to difficulty securing inputs, Brown says the costs have gone up as part of the overall inflation situation in the economy. In addition to increasing input costs for farmers, he says this can chip away at consumers' buying power and eventually affect demand.

"What do consumers have to pay for these goods relative to inflation in their wages?" Brown says.

Cory Bratland, with Kluis Commodity Advisors, says farmers and analysts continue to monitor the supply chain situation. Even if there are still concerns, he sees some improvement.

"It's definitely moderated," he says.

Bratland says avoiding a potential rail strike has been beneficial to the supply chain picture.

"So far we've been able to dodge the bullet with this potential rail strike," he says. "That would be pretty detrimental to agriculture and the whole economy."

The situation can impact marketing decisions. With high input costs, Bratland says many farmers like to make sure they lock in a price on enough of their crop to cover their costs.

Despite the ongoing supply chain issues, Hart says strong demand and prices should allow for continued profitability for farmers this year.

"I still see a positive number when I look over the next year," he says.

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Supply chain issues continue into 2023 for farmers

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Farmers will likely still have to deal with supply chain issues in 2023, even as the situation improves in some aspects. Iowa State University ag economist Chad Hart says 2022 saw good demand and prices, but supply chain issues and high costs presented challenges. He says these supply and input issues are ongoing.

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This article explains how farmers tend to not reach out for help on their mental health. The rate of suicides in farmers are pretty high and continue to grow. This farmer in particular is the mother of three boys and she explains that she wants a better world for them and for her boys to not be afraid to ask for help and that all begins with individuals understanding they need help and reaching out for it.

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Browsing the magazine racks in an airport news stand, one jumped out at me. The cover shouted in big, bold letters, "Death on the Farm." I'd read this national news publication for years but couldn't recall ever seeing agriculture featured.

That issue, which I still have, was dated April 18, 2014. The story was about the record number of farmer suicides. Nine years later and farmer suicides are still high.

Is it any wonder there is a mental health crisis in rural America? Hurricanes, floods, regulations, lawsuits, high input prices, low commodity prices - and those are just a few of the challenges farmers face. Add to that the pressure to maintain the family farm, one that gets harder with each generation. Finally, factor in that farmers, and as an extension farm families, are tough and often reluctant to talk about their feelings. We aren't good at asking for help.

I've been there. In the column below, I talked about how I finally went to therapy and it saved me. It wasn't easy to admit I needed therapy and was even harder to press "post" on that article to make it known publicly. But that's the first step in addressing mental health issues - to talk about them. To normalize them.

We put crop and livestock health at the top of our priority list. Isn't it time we put our own mental health above everything else? After all, if the farmer or farm family isn't well, the farm won't be either.

As the mom of three sons who may take over their dad's farm one day, I am concerned about the pressure on farmers. During my years living on the farm I saw the stress, anxiety, and strength of farmers. That strength keeps them going in the hard times, but can stand in the way when it comes time to ask for help. I want better for my boys.

Google "risk management" and you'll get a lengthy list of management issues like input costs, computer programs, and the like. But where are the resources for risk management for the farmers themselves and their families?

Many are taking notice of this crisis in farming and, as a result, there are more resources than ever. Some, like the Farmer Angel Network in Wisconsin, are created by a community in response to a farmer's suicide. Others, like the North Carolina Agromedicine Institute, are partnerships between universities. The Farmer to Farmer program is a peer support group, with all peers being farmers, family members or people working in agriculture. My friend, Michele Payn, speaks across the country on " Resiliency for Agriculture ", based on her experiences.

There is professional help available and if COVID didn't do anything else, it brought that help from a counselor's couch or doctor's office to our farms. Many counselors offer telehealth, so you can meet with a licensed counselor from the cab of your tractor using a cell phone.

My hope is that one day I'll see a national news magazine cover applauding the efforts of the agriculture community to break the stigma surrounding mental health and the decline of suicides on the farm. It starts with you. Whether you are reaching out for help or starting a conversation with someone who may need support, its starts with us. I've seen the agriculture community come together to help farmers harvest crops before a hurricane. A storm is brewing, one that can destroy the farming community if we don't come together before it's too late.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text "988".

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Mental health is as important as farm health

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Browsing the magazine racks in an airport news stand, one jumped out at me. The cover shouted in big, bold letters, "Death on the Farm." I'd read this national news publication for years but couldn't recall ever seeing agriculture featured. That issue, which I still have, was dated April 18, 2014.

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purdue phenotypes lab unlocks all the secrets in planting and discovering plants

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When considering what a plant looks like and how it develops, how do you separate the effects of genetics from the impact of environment? If you're a Purdue University researcher, you request space and set up an experiment in the Ag Alumni Seed Phenotyping Facility on the West Lafayette, Ind., campus. In this facility, you can not only control the environment, but also request a variety of measurements on each plant at key stages in the life cycle.

Opened in 2018, the phenotyping facility complements work in the field conducted at the Agronomy Center for Research and Education through the Indiana Corn and Soybean Innovation Center. Both were featured recently when the Purdue College of Agriculture brought together key stakeholders to showcase digital agriculture.

The staff of the phenotyping center is led by Yang Yang, with help from Mike Gosney and Chris Hoagland. Indiana Prairie Farmer first toured the facility soon after it opened. This latest tour highlights its capabilities since a recent expansion, made possible with help from Ag Alumni Seed. Here is a snapshot of the center today, based on input provided by the staff during the tour:

There are things yet to lean about processes within the facility, too. For example, does X-raying impact root growth? Right now, the answer isn't known, but researchers are looking.

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Purdue phenotyping lab unlocks plant secrets

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
When considering what a plant looks like and how it develops, how do you separate the effects of genetics from the impact of environment? If you're a Purdue University researcher, you request space and set up an experiment in the Ag Alumni Seed Phenotyping Facility on the West Lafayette, Ind., campus.

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the massive Cyclone storm hitting California is far from normal. High winds, heavy rain and power outages have impacted California farmers.

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Huge windstorm in Iowa creates a lot of damage in the farming business.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
In recent years the world has experienced a steady increase in both the frequency and severity of natural disasters. Tropical weather patterns have changed, floods have become more destructive, and wildfires have expanded all leaving behind damage and devastation. In addition, Iowa has experienced more severe windstorms, like derechos.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) tracks disasters and found that since 1953 there have been 73 declared disasters in Iowa alone. The increase in disasters leaves humans, animals, property, critical infrastructure, and homeland security at risk for a wide range of weather-related hazards.

However, preparing for these types of emergencies can reduce the impact of the disaster by providing access to necessary resources and emergency communication procedures immediately upon disaster strike. Taking the time to prepare for a disaster improves awareness about the potential hazards and risks that one may face, which improves your operation's disaster resilience and can make your response more efficient.

Implementing an emergency preparedness plan can help Iowa farmers and agricultural workers assess their risk and incorporate preparedness steps into their workplace prior to a disaster. Despite knowing that extreme weather events have increased in likeliness, FEMA found in a National Household Survey that only 43% of Americans made an emergency action plan in 2021.

However, we know that preparedness plans for extreme weather events can reduce stress and anxiety, as well as reduce the severity of the impact of the event. For most workplaces, preparedness plans are enforced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA); however, not all Iowa farms are regulated by OSHA. Instead, see if your insurance company provides assistance to help you think through the process of creating a preparedness plan tailored to your operation.

According to the American Community Survey from 2011-2015, 43% of Iowans live in rural communities and 79 of the 99 Iowa counties are considered rural. While many workplaces can benefit from an emergency preparedness plan, rural areas are especially in need of response measures.

Rural areas are uniquely challenging for first responders because of response time, communication abilities, access to resources, and remote geography. Response time can be problematic when the situation is critical, such as a traumatic injury, when minutes can mean life or death. Communication in rural areas can be an issue if there is no way to correspond with other necessary personnel or operations. Rural emergency response systems may lack necessary personnel, as most responders are typically volunteer.

Finally, the remote geography is a challenge to first responders because of the isolated locations of many farms. Having a plan in place can help think through emergency response before emergency services are needed, which produces better chances of response and survival.

Emergency preparedness plans do not have to happen in one day or cost a fortune. They can be tailored to your business or home and take as much or as little time to complete as you would like. Most importantly, an emergency action plan should consider all possible risks while still being feasible for your farm. Organizations like OSHA, FEMA and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have step-by-step preparedness plan templates that walk you through the process.

In addition, discussing the matter with your insurance company can give you an idea of what to focus on for your operation. They may also offer templates that can be used to get started. Many of the templates found online are based on OSHA recommendations for an emergency action plan. The takeaway from these organizations and their suggestions is that you are thinking about your risk and how you can become prepared for such disasters.

Key things to think about when crafting a plan for your operation may include evacuation procedures and escape routes. Floor plans can be added to give an overall view of the entire building. Reporting procedures are important to add for alerting authorities as well as workers and guests that may be present on the property. You may choose to select a meeting area or muster point to help account for all people in the event of an emergency.

Training procedures for new employees should be addressed within the plan and the plan should be clearly communicated with all staff members including at the point of hire, when job responsibilities and duties change, and when updates are made. Policies and procedures for updating and maintaining the emergency preparedness plan should be addressed as well.

Preparedness techniques can not only provide you with the tools needed to respond to the disaster effectively and efficiently, they can ultimately help save your life. When a disaster takes place, there is little time to react. Preparing before the event will give you time to gather necessary information and communicate with your family members and employees.

This is also a great time to get feedback from others and update the plan regularly as needed. Including local first responders in conversations during the planning stage is a great way to get feedback and build a strong relationship. This also allows the responders to familiarize themselves with you and your farming operation. First responders can also help identify areas that need work or areas that were well done. Giving this opportunity to first responders can also allow them to gather resources they may need ahead of time so that they, too, are prepared.

In 2020, 368 farmers or farm workers died from a work-related injury. Don't let the next disaster put your operation among those numbers. To be better prepared is to be more disaster resilient. Working closely with members of the farm, including family members and workers, as well as local emergency responders can help identify the needs of the farm. Understand your risk and address issues that may arise due to those risks. Develop a plan and update it often. All these things can work together to protect life and land in the event of an emergency on your farm.
Matison Bentley, MS, is a PhD student in Occupational and Environmental Health at the University of Iowa. She studies disaster preparedness in agricultural operations.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Disaster prep critical for ag operations

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In recent years the world has experienced a steady increase in both the frequency and severity of natural disasters. Tropical weather patterns have changed, floods have become more destructive, and wildfires have expanded all leaving behind damage and devastation. In addition, Iowa has experienced more severe windstorms, like derechos.

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The Midwest was better prepared for the current outbreak of High Pathogenic Avian Influenza from a biosecurity and response preparedness standpoint. They have observed that if two houses break on the same farm, the isolated viruses from each house are often different from each other suggesting that this is transmitted this through environment and not the workers who may be going from house to house

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Biosecurity limits avian influenza impact

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Much of the Midwest continues to battle a record-setting outbreak of high pathogenic avian influenza.

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Accolade utilizes Azospirillum brasilense to bolster root development and early season nitrogen access.

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Verdesian Life Sciences announces new biological

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Accolade utilizes Azospirillum brasilense to bolster root development and early season nitrogen access.

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Soybean futures were higher in overnight trading on signs of demand for U.S. supplies and dry weather in parts of Argentina.

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1. Soybean Futures Rise in Overnight Trading

Soybean futures were higher in overnight trading on signs of demand for U.S. supplies and dry weather in parts of Argentina.

High temperatures and continual dry weather in parts of Argentina has led to persistent crop stress in at least 60% of the country's soybean- and corn-growing areas, Commodity Weather Group said in a report.

The area might see rain Friday and Saturday and some precipitation is in the six- to 10 and 11- to 15-day forecasts but crop stress likely will continue in as much as half of the South American country's growing areas, the forecaster said.

Soybeans in a third or Paraguay's growing areas also will see stress in the next 10 days, CWG said.

Also giving prices a boost this morning are signs of demand for U.S. agricultural products.

An unnamed country purchased 119,000 metric tons of soybeans for delivery during the 2022-2023 marketing year that started on Sept. 1, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a report yesterday.

Colombia bought 150,000 metric tons of corn for delivery in the current marketing year, the USDA said.

Soybean futures rose 5 3/4¢ to $15.45 ½ a bushel overnight on the Chicago Board of Trade. Soymeal was up $2.10 to $483.30 a short ton, while soy oil gained 0.61¢ to 64.45¢ a pound.

Corn futures for March delivery added 3¢ to $6.88 ¼ a bushel.

Wheat futures for March delivery gained 6 3/4¢ to $7.58 ½ a bushel overnight, while Kansas City futures rose 9¢ to $8.64 ¾ a bushel.

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2. Grain, Bean Export Inspections Rise Week-to-Week

Inspections of grains and beans for overseas delivery were all higher last week, according to data from the USDA.

Corn assessments in the seven days that ended on Jan. 12 rose to 774,461 metric tons from 401,108 tons a week earlier, the agency said in a report.

That's still well behind the 1.24 million metric tons examined for export during the same week a year earlier.

Wheat inspections last week were reported at 320,473 metric tons, up from 209,544 tons the previous week but down from 386,786 tons the previous year, the USDA said.

Soybean assessments, surged to 2.08 million metric tons from 1.46 million tons a week earlier. That's also up from the 1.87 million metric tons inspected at the same point in 2022, the agency said.

Since the start of the marketing year on Sept. 1, the USDA has inspected 10.8 million metric tons of corn for offshore delivery, down from 15.3 million tons during the same timeframe a year earlier.

Soybean inspections since the beginning of September now stand at 32.2 million metric tons, down from 33.6 million tons in the same period last year, the government said.

Wheat assessments since the start of the grain's marketing year on June 1 are now at 12.4 million merc tons, just behind the 12.8 million tons examined at this point a year earlier, the USDA said in its report.

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3. Winter Storms Slamming Parts of the Corn Belt

Winter-storm warnings are in effect from northeastern Colorado into central Wisconsin this morning as snow, wind and ice are all expected, according to the National Weather Service.

In central Nebraska, as much as 17 inches of snow is forecast along with winds gusting up to 40 miles per hour, the NWS said in a report early this morning.

Five to 8 inches of snow are expected in parts of northern Iowa and southern Minnesota, with the winter-storm warning running from noon today through 9 a.m. tomorrow.

"Moderate to heavy snow with a period of mixed precipitation expected," the agency said. "Light ice accumulations possible in central Iowa."

In central Wisconsin, snow will begin tapering Thursday morning after falling at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour overnight, the NWS said. Freezing rain also is a possibility. Accumulations in the area are projected from 4 to 8 inches.

"Travel could be very difficult," the NWS said.

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Soybean futures were higher in overnight trading on signs of demand for U.S. supplies and dry weather in parts of Argentina. High temperatures and continual dry weather in parts of Argentina has led to persistent crop stress in at least 60% of the country's soybean- and corn-growing areas, Commodity Weather Group said in a report.

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Egg prices at the grocery store were elevated throughout 2022 due to outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) among egg-laying hens, said USDA economists. "Lower-than-usual shell egg inventories near the end of the year, combined with increased demand stemming from the holiday baking season, resulted in several successive weeks of record-high egg prices."

Wholesale egg prices were expected to decline as the industry rebuilds its hen inventory, said the Economic Research Service. Prices, which were 210% higher in the week leading up to Christmas than during the same period in 2021, fell in the final week of 2022.

Bird flu outbreaks began last February, with two large waves of losses - the first from February to June and the second from September to December. By the end of 2022, more than 43 million laying hens had died from the viral disease and from cullings of flocks to prevent its spread. At latest count, 57.8 million birds, mostly laying hens and turkeys in domestic flocks, had died from bird flu.

Because of the recurrent outbreaks, U.S. egg inventories were 29% smaller in late December than they were the start of the year.

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Bird flu the cause of high egg prices, says USDA

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Egg prices at the grocery store were elevated throughout 2022 due to outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) among egg-laying hens, said USDA economists. "Lower-than-usual shell egg inventories near the end of the year, combined with increased demand stemming from the holiday baking season, resulted in several successive weeks of record-high egg prices."