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Meeting customer needs remains critical to success

Some equipment companies are shifting priorities through the current downturn in the ag economy.  Case IH vice president Kurt Coffey says customer support becomes even more critical when margins are tight. “Seasons come and seasons go,” he says.  “We’re being smart and being stable...

Soy farmers discuss importance of conservation ahead of Farm Progress Show

(Pictured: American Soybean Association president Josh Gackle – Photo by Brent Barnett/Brownfield) The president of the American Soybean Association says soy farmers play a critical role when it comes to conservation. Josh Gackle tells Brownfield climate-smart practices can help improve on-farm resilience. “Farmers are...

Use tillage that promotes better air and water exchange in the soil

Soil health specialist Jim Martindale says no-till isn’t ideal for creating highly productive fields with less soil, water, and nutrient loss… but neither are traditional tillage practices.  Jim Martindale with Soil Regeneration Unlimited uses a tillage tool that leaves old root systems mostly intact...

Spring wheat harvest advances in South Dakota

Spring wheat harvest continues to advance in South Dakota in one of the final weeks of August. USDA says 83% of the crop has been harvested, an increase of 13 percentage points from the previous week, but behind last year’s progress. Spring wheat conditions...

Kentucky crop update

Cooler temperatures and dry weather helped Kentucky farmers in the field cutting hay and topping tobacco last week.  Seventy seven percent of tobacco is now topped, and 28% cut, both right on averages, with the crop rated 74% good to excellent. Pasture conditions declined...

Small grains harvest continues in Minnesota

Small grains harvest continues in Minnesota. USDA’s latest weekly crop update says 74 percent of oats, 54% of spring wheat, and 57% of barley is harvested. The second cutting of alfalfa hay reached 94% complete. Corn is 5% mature, 4% ahead of average; while...

Cattle futures up sharply Monday, hogs weak

Chicago Mercantile Exchange live and feeder cattle futures were higher, supported by oversold signals as traders watched the distribution of the show list. Feeders had additional support from the lower move in corn. October live was up $1.27 at $176.97 and December was $1.17...

Farmers remain concerned about Ohio drought conditions

A southwestern Ohio farmer is concerned about the dry conditions across the state. Eric Tipton says it’s abnormally dry. “I think the big question right now is have we have we had enough precipitation to fill,” he says. “I guess that’s kind of the...

Corn and rice harvest begin in MO

Corn and rice harvest started in the last week in portions of Missouri, with temperatures and moisture below normal for this time of the year. USDA says 2% of the corn is harvested, with 17% of the state’s crop is mature and 75% of...

Nebraska crops continue to improve

Corn and soybean conditions are consistently higher than they were last year in Nebraska. According to USDA’s weekly crop report, corn is rated 68 percent good to excellent in the state with 87 percent of the crop in the dough stage. Fifty-eight percent of...