Little Optimism for Mayville Crop
At Mayville, North Dakota, Tim Garrett isn’t expecting much from his remaining acres. The edible beans produced about half of a normal crop. Soybeans have been hurt by the late-season heat and dry conditions. “They dropped their flowers and didn’t pod,…
Ready to Put This Crop to Bed
After an extremely dry growing season in North Dakota’s Cass County, many farmers are ready to put the 2026 crop behind them and look toward next year. “It looks like it’ll be a fairly quick harvest,” said Jonathan Ahl with…
High Fertilizer Cost Forces Earlier Decisions
High fertilizer prices and concerns about availability are forcing farmers to make input decisions earlier than usual. Minnesota Farmers Union Vice President Anne Schwagerl said she has already locked in fertilizer for the 2027 crop while the 2026 crop is…
Farm Bill Advances to Senate Floor
The Senate Agriculture Committee advanced its farm bill on a party-line 12-11 vote. The legislation includes year-round E15 and mandatory country-of-origin labeling, but does not include a fix to California’s Proposition 12. Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar said current economic pressures…
High Input Costs Raise the Stakes for 2027
Today’s challenge is not only the price farmers receive for grain, but the cost of putting a crop in the ground. During RRFN’s market outlook forum Tuesday, Ag Bull Trading President Tommy Grisafi said the 2027 crop could be one…
Hagert: ‘We’re Actually Doing It’
USDA is moving ahead with a major modernization t the Farm Service Agency. Past administrations have made similar attempts at restructuring. During its forum at the Big Iron Farm Show, RRFN asked FSA Deputy Administrator of Farm Programs Jared Hagert…
Don’t Let Headlines Dictate Marketing Plan
Volatility remains a major part of the grain market, but Allison Thompaon, The Money Farm, says farmers should avoid letting headlines dictate their marketing decisions. During Tuesday’s RRFN Market Outlook Forum at the Big Iron Farm Show, Thompson said producers…
Don’t Get Greedy With Market Opportunities
Adopt a bullish outlook if the fundamentals support it, but don’t ignore profitable marketing opportunities. That’s the message from BOLT Marketing’s DuWayne Bosse. “These prices are great, and I won’t beat around the bush, I’m bullish 2027. I think we…
Don’t Market Like it is Last Year’s Crop
Farmers shouldn’t build this year’s marketing plan around what they wish they had done a year ago. “The biggest mistake they usually make is they try to market their crop the way they should have the year prior,” said Tyler Schau,…
Weed Pressure Remains
Near Maddock, North Dakota, Brian Kenner said his farm went roughly six weeks without measurable rainfall after July 10, but weeds remained a challenge. “There are some resistance issues, weeds that are tougher to kill. Definitely challenges even in a…
Little Optimism for Mayville Crop
At Mayville, North Dakota, Tim Garrett isn’t expecting much from his remaining acres. The edible beans produced about half of a normal crop. Soybeans have been hurt by the late-season heat and dry conditions. “They dropped their flowers and didn’t pod,…
Ready to Put This Crop to Bed
After an extremely dry growing season in North Dakota’s Cass County, many farmers are ready to put the 2026 crop behind them and look toward next year. “It looks like it’ll be a fairly quick harvest,” said Jonathan Ahl with…
Cattle Prices Remain Historically Strong
Cattle prices may have backed away from their highs, but are still 50 percent higher than the level seen a few years ago. “So that’s like $18 soybeans being our high and we have $27 soybeans,” said Ray Grabanski, Progressive…
Advocating for Local Fertilizer Production
Increasing fertilizer production closer to the farm could help address some of the supply challenges facing Upper Midwest agriculture. “In Farm Bureau, we’re also advocating for local production,” said Carolyn Olson, vice president, Minnesota Farm Bureau. “Regulatory reform is a…
- Don’t Market Like it is Last Year’s Crop
- Cattle Prices Remain Historically Strong
- China on Track for 25 MMT of U.S. Soybeans
- Are You Better Prepared, Better Positioned, More Knowledgable?
- Separate the Wheat From the Chaff
- High Input Costs Raise the Stakes for 2027
- Don’t Let Headlines Dictate Marketing Plan
- All Markets
Don’t Market Like it is Last Year’s Crop
Farmers shouldn’t build this year’s marketing plan around what they wish they had done a year ago. “The biggest mistake they usually make is they try to market their crop the way they should have the year prior,” said Tyler Schau,…
Cattle Prices Remain Historically Strong
Cattle prices may have backed away from their highs, but are still 50 percent higher than the level seen a few years ago. “So that’s like $18 soybeans being our high and we have $27 soybeans,” said Ray Grabanski, Progressive…
China on Track for 25 MMT of U.S. Soybeans
President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet this week in Washington, D.C. During the RRFN Market Outlook panel discussion Wednesday, Heartland Investor Services President Gene Graner sees potential for China to meet its current U.S. soybean purchase…
Are You Better Prepared, Better Positioned, More Knowledgable?
Grain markets can move from boom to bust quickly, making risk management particularly important in the current environment. During Wednesday’s RRFN Market Outlook Forum, Van Ahn and Company CEO Jim Emter pointed to the market collapse that followed the 2008…
Separate the Wheat From the Chaff
Grain markets are increasingly reacting to headlines rather than changes in underlying fundamentals. Martinson Ag Risk Management President Randy Martinson said that makes it important for farmers to separate meaningful developments from market noise. “See what’s relevant and what really means…
High Input Costs Raise the Stakes for 2027
Today’s challenge is not only the price farmers receive for grain, but the cost of putting a crop in the ground. During RRFN’s market outlook forum Tuesday, Ag Bull Trading President Tommy Grisafi said the 2027 crop could be one…
Don’t Let Headlines Dictate Marketing Plan
Volatility remains a major part of the grain market, but Allison Thompaon, The Money Farm, says farmers should avoid letting headlines dictate their marketing decisions. During Tuesday’s RRFN Market Outlook Forum at the Big Iron Farm Show, Thompson said producers…
- Advocating for Local Fertilizer Production
- Rural Communities Want a Voice in Development Decisions
- High Fertilizer Cost Forces Earlier Decisions
- Going Once, Going Twice: FFA Tries Auctioneering
- Be Strategic When Cutting Input Costs
- China on Track for 25 MMT of U.S. Soybeans
- Higher Rates Require a Change in Thinking
- All Ag Business
Advocating for Local Fertilizer Production
Increasing fertilizer production closer to the farm could help address some of the supply challenges facing Upper Midwest agriculture. “In Farm Bureau, we’re also advocating for local production,” said Carolyn Olson, vice president, Minnesota Farm Bureau. “Regulatory reform is a…
Rural Communities Want a Voice in Development Decisions
North Dakota Farm Bureau President Val Wagner said members want rural communities to have a meaningful role as development decisions are made. “A lot of conversations are going to be around rural communities and our rural areas and how to…
High Fertilizer Cost Forces Earlier Decisions
High fertilizer prices and concerns about availability are forcing farmers to make input decisions earlier than usual. Minnesota Farmers Union Vice President Anne Schwagerl said she has already locked in fertilizer for the 2027 crop while the 2026 crop is…
Going Once, Going Twice: FFA Tries Auctioneering
North Dakota FFA members tried their hand at a different kind of career development event during the Big Iron Farm Show. Fifteen students participated in the first FFA auctioneering contest through a partnership with the North Dakota Auctioneers Association. The…
Be Strategic When Cutting Input Costs
Tight farm margins have farmers looking for ways to reduce expenses, but farm management analyst Kent Thiesse cautions against cuts that jeopardize yield. “If you’re going to try to reduce costs, especially an input cost, you have to be very…
China on Track for 25 MMT of U.S. Soybeans
President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet this week in Washington, D.C. During the RRFN Market Outlook panel discussion Wednesday, Heartland Investor Services President Gene Graner sees potential for China to meet its current U.S. soybean purchase…
Higher Rates Require a Change in Thinking
The Federal Open Market Committee raised interest rates another quarter point, the first interest rate increase in three years. NDSU Farm Management Specialist Bryon Parman said interest rates have effectively doubled in the past few years. “We came off a period…
Don’t Get Greedy With Market Opportunities
Adopt a bullish outlook if the fundamentals support it, but don’t ignore profitable marketing opportunities. That’s the message from BOLT Marketing’s DuWayne Bosse. “These prices are great, and I won’t beat around the bush, I’m bullish 2027. I think we…
Weed Pressure Remains
Near Maddock, North Dakota, Brian Kenner said his farm went roughly six weeks without measurable rainfall after July 10, but weeds remained a challenge. “There are some resistance issues, weeds that are tougher to kill. Definitely challenges even in a…
Little Optimism for Mayville Crop
At Mayville, North Dakota, Tim Garrett isn’t expecting much from his remaining acres. The edible beans produced about half of a normal crop. Soybeans have been hurt by the late-season heat and dry conditions. “They dropped their flowers and didn’t pod,…
Ready to Put This Crop to Bed
After an extremely dry growing season in North Dakota’s Cass County, many farmers are ready to put the 2026 crop behind them and look toward next year. “It looks like it’ll be a fairly quick harvest,” said Jonathan Ahl with…
Early Beans Going Through the Combine
Early soybean harvest results are showing the impact of this summer’s dry weather across portions of eastern North Dakota and western Minnesota. Pioneer Strategic Account Manager Colt Ehrlin said some of the earliest soybeans are being harvested. “The lightest, sandiest ground in…
’26 Drought Stands Out
Corey Hanson says this year’s drought reached a level his family has not seen in more than 60 years on the farm. Hanson said his family has faced dry conditions before but this season stood out. “Dad moved on this farm…
Crop Diversity is an Advantage
Minnesota Farm Business Management instructor Betsy Jensen works with farmers growing crops beyond the traditional corn-soybean rotation and said that provides farmers with more options when making planting decisions. “All of my colleagues have corn and beans and beans and corn,…
Cattle Prices Remain Historically Strong
Cattle prices may have backed away from their highs, but are still 50 percent higher than the level seen a few years ago. “So that’s like $18 soybeans being our high and we have $27 soybeans,” said Ray Grabanski, Progressive…
MN Beef Update
Minnesota Beef Council Communications Director Ashley Wulf offers information on the Build Your Base program in this week’s edition of the MN Beef Update. Listen.
Advocating for MCOOL
Country-of-origin labeling is a priority for North Dakota Farmers Union members who took part in the National Farmers Union Fly-in in Washington. North Dakota Farmers Union Director Shelly Ziesch said consumers need to know where their beef comes from, especially…
U.S. Beef Builds Relationships in Japan
U.S. cattle producers were in Japan this past week working to strengthen demand for American beef. North Dakota rancher and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Federation Division Chair Travis Maddock was part of a U.S. Meat Export Federation trade mission. “Our…
Grassley Talks Cattle Policy in North Dakota
Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley is touring North Dakota while also discussing challenges facing the cattle industry. The North Dakota Monitor reports Grassley and his wife, Barbara, toured the North Dakota Capitol Wednesday after visiting the Minnesota Capitol. Their next stop…
USDA Extends Comment Period on Beef Grade Standards
USDA is giving the cattle industry another 90 days to comment on potential changes to federal beef grade standards. The Agricultural Marketing Service extended the comment deadline to December 7.The review began at the request of the American Wagyu Association…
Mexican Border to Resume Cattle Imports
The Douglas, Arizona port of entry is scheduled to reopen to Mexican cattle Tuesday. The border originally opened August 24, but movement was shutdown last week due to some damaged equipment. That has been addressed and Mexican cattle shipments are…
Rural Communities Want a Voice in Development Decisions
North Dakota Farm Bureau President Val Wagner said members want rural communities to have a meaningful role as development decisions are made. “A lot of conversations are going to be around rural communities and our rural areas and how to…
Access to Land is a Barrier to Entry
The cost of land, machinery and crop inputs is creating significant barriers for the next generation of farmers. North Dakota Farmers Union President Matt Perdue said access to land is particularly challenging. “The cost of land, whether you’re buying it…
Canadian Trade Dispute Will be Felt on the Farm
Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen says the current trade dispute with Canada could have repercussions throughout the agricultural supply chain. “I really look at the latest group of tariffs really impacting farm machinery,” said Petersen. “A lot of our commodities are…
NDCGA Keeps Focus on E15
Year-round E15 remains at the top of the policy agenda for the North Dakota Corn Growers Association. The U.S. House passed year-round E15 legislation ealier this year, and the Senate Agriculture Committee’s newly advanced farm bill also includes authorization for…
Hoeven: Deal With Differences, Get the Farm Bill Done
North Dakota Senator John Hoeven urged his colleagues on the Senate Agriculture Committee to bring issues like SNAP and the fix to Prop 12 to the floor, but move forward first at the committee level and pass a farm bill.…
Farm Bill Advances to Senate Floor
The Senate Agriculture Committee advanced its farm bill on a party-line 12-11 vote. The legislation includes year-round E15 and mandatory country-of-origin labeling, but does not include a fix to California’s Proposition 12. Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar said current economic pressures…
Hagert: ‘We’re Actually Doing It’
USDA is moving ahead with a major modernization t the Farm Service Agency. Past administrations have made similar attempts at restructuring. During its forum at the Big Iron Farm Show, RRFN asked FSA Deputy Administrator of Farm Programs Jared Hagert…


