Field Posts

Every year for more than six decades, the Wheat Quality Council has sponsored a Winter Wheat Tour that criss-crosses the state of Kansas to get a mid-season update on what conditions look like in the field and what farmers, millers, and everyone in between might be able to expect from the annual crop. This year was no exception, and DTN Crops Editor Jason Jenkins is just back from three high impact days on the Southern Plains. Today, Jason will help us dig into the results of the tour, taking us day by day through regional conditions that vary from parched and uneven to world class. We'll talk about what he saw as far as both pests and disease for the winter crop, and what he thinks the presence or absence of either might mean for final yield figures later this year. We'll also hear who else was on the tour, and what perspectives those from across the industry shared about this year's numbers, and how they compare to those of the recent past. Finally, we'll dive into how the tour figures compare to current USDA expectations, and what still might be on the docket in the season ahead. Then we'll take a broader view of crop issues that Jason is following as we head out of planting and towards an uncertain summer.

The May WASDE dropped Monday, May 5th, and the market reacted to both predicted records and to a few unexpected surprises. Given the number of acres and the USDA's trendline yield, the department is officially estimating a record breaking corn crop in 2025– at least at this early moment in the season. To help us understand the latest, we're joined once again by DTN's Lead Markets Analyst Rhett Montgomery, who puts both old crop updates and new crop estimates into perspective as we take in the first look that spans from the 2024-25 season into 25-26. Rhett reminds us that these forward looking estimates still contain substantial uncertainty, especially on the global balance sheet, but that doesn't stop markets from reacting. In addition to analysis on new production and planting figures, we'll hear the latest basis news, updates on trade and usage for the major grains, and tackle bearish and bullish shifts throughout the market. Plus, we'll hear what Rhett will be paying attention to as planting comes to a close.

The months since President Trump first took office have been marked by executive orders, policy announcement, shakeups, and for many in ag, the hopes that policies will also provide protections from market and political fallout. Just this week, President Trump announced a pause for tariffs on China as trade talks continue, and that is just one of the many ways changes are leaving farmers uncertain about what the future holds. Today, DTN Ag Policy Editor Chris Clayton joins to unpack not only recent trade news, but ag related updates from across the nation's capital. We kick off our conversation with the recent announcement about a trade deal with the UK, which promises some benefits for U.S. beef and ethanol producers. We dive into the details on changes at USDA, and hear about recent announcements from Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and her vision to transform the department. Then, we'll dig into current discussions on farm programs and Farm Bill safety net programs, which are currently being discussed in Congressional committees. Then, we'll touch on the latest news on USDA disaster aid rollouts, and when farmers might expect to see compensation for past losses. Finally, we'll hear about an idea that President Trump has floated in an effort to ensure that the farm labor crisis doesn't worsen and what to look out for in the weeks to come.

The winners of the National Wheat Yield Contest, hosted by the National Wheat Foundation, represent some of the most progressive and thoughtful wheat growers from across the country. This week, DTN Crops Editor Jason Jenkins takes the reins to lead us through a conversation with national winners Steve VanGrunsven, a grower/agronomist in Forest Grove, Oregon and Travis Messer, the grower/agronomist at Beaver Creek Ranch in Richardton, ND. These two champions dig into the benefits they've seen in participating in the annual contest, and also share about the finer details of their management practices, technology and seed selection, quantity versus quality, and how they think about wheat in their broader rotations.This special edition DTN Field Post podcast is brought to you by the National Wheat Foundation in partnership with BAYER Westbred.

John Deere's See & Spray technology crashed onto the precision spraying scene a few years ago, making a big splash in the industry long before it was killing weeds in commercial fields. Since then, progress on sense and act technologies has felt like it's both made big leaps forwards and lagged behind expectations. Now, in 2025, millions of acres are being treated with precision spray tools across the U.S. and around the world, and this looks like just the beginning for this revolutionary technology. DTN Progressive Farmer's Senior Editor Dan Miller joins us this week to dive into all the details of his Progressive Farmer cover story on precision spraying. We hear about his conversations with farmers that have used the latest tools, including the pros and cons and how they understood the tech's return on investment. Then we'll talk about the full range of options currently on the market — from the most up-to-date releases from big companies like Deere and CaseIH to the unconventional offerings of startups from around the world. We'll dig into the details of the different tools, from the software and modeling advances to the retrofit versus new equipment tradeoff to the various pricing models. Finally, we'll hear what might be next in the precision equipment space and how industry leaders like Blue River are envisioning a future of ag with fewer inputs and better results.

Uncertainty and unpredictability in Washington and beyond have made following updates around ethanol, biodiesel, and the ongoing fight around sustainable aviation fuel challenging for farmers and industry watchers alike. As advocates spend time sitting down with the new Trump administration and farmers try their best to make planting decisions, the broader atmosphere around trade, interest rates, and markets adds another layer of chaos to the world of biofuels. To help us digest all the news, DTN Environmental Editor Todd Neeley joins us today with the latest updates from Washington and beyond. We'll talk about the pending volume announcements from EPA, the latest news on the small refinery exemptions, and what both of these issues could mean for ethanol and biofuel demand going forward. Then we'll hear the latest news from biofuel advocates, Congress, and the Trump Administration, about what priorities might be being set for the next few years. Then we'll look to the uncertain future of the 45Z tax credit and possible future grain demand for sustainable aviation fuel.Finally, we'll dig into the near term impacts we'll expect to see from current disruptions, and news to look for going forward, in the courts, the markets, and in Washington, D.C.

The April WASDE dropped Thursday, April 10, bringing with it a raft of bearish and bullish updates for the three major grains. This month's report came in the wake not only of market-cratering tariff announcements, but also in the week after the department's latest Grain Stocks Report and the annual Prospective Planting update, meaning the USDA had plenty to chew on when shaping the latest numbers.To guide us through this trove of information, we're joined once again by DTN Lead Analyst Rhett Montgomery, who takes us beat by beat through all three reports, and puts USDA's outlook on the South American crop that's wrapping up and conditions in the US in perspective. He'll talk us through expectations, and how updated demand figures are finally aligning with data from other sources, and hopefully providing farmers some price incentives, even as impacts in the wider economy promise to shift trade and export figures in future reports. We'll also discuss the breakdown between corn, soybean and wheat acres farmers are planning to plant this year, and how recent announcements, and weather forecasts, might still be able to shift those numbers around.Plus, Rhett digs into stocks, the strength of the U.S. dollar, and the state of the global wheat trade.

Cattle sellers continue to rule in beef markets, fetching record prices in recent months and weeks as expectations for more growth in the cattle herd come up short. But there's more than just prices to watch as multiple factors — from pests and disease to shifting trade regimes to the state of individual ranch and packing businesses — come into play.To help us find the insights in the noise, we're joined this week by DTN Livestock Editor Jennifer Carrico, who offers a preview of her May cover story on the State of Beef Markets. She'll give us some background on expectations coming into 2025, and how factors like growing drought concerns, high carcass weights, and even the high average age of cattle producers are acting against the incentive to hold back heifers and grow individual herds. We'll also dig into shifts she expects to see over the next few months, from trade-related impacts on feed prices to the impact of newly opened processing facilities in the Midwest. We'll also talk more about other cattle stories Jenn has worked on recently– with updates on calving practices and genetics to the latest on virtual fencing technologies. Finally, we'll hear fresh updates from the View from the Range ranchers in Northeastern New Mexico.

Each year, the National Wheat Yield Contest, hosted by the National Wheat Foundation, attracts top growers from across the country to compete to grow the healthiest, and largest, wheat crop in the nation. The 2024 results are officially in, and farmers in the Pacific Northwest and the Northern Plains managed to bring home many of the top accolades, and though 2024 didn't quite offer record-setting conditions, some of the yields weren't too far behind all-time highs.But we're interested in more than just who the winners are– we want to know how they achieved their bin-busting results. Luckily, this week we're joined by DTN Crops Editor Jason Jenkins who's had the chance to connect with the four overall winners in the irrigated and dryland winter wheat and irrigated and dryland spring wheat classes. He'll give us the inside scoop on the growers and to which practices, products, and conditions they attribute their success. We'll also talk about the newer quality aspects of the competition, and how winning wheat is processed and evaluated for food quality attributes. We'll also talk about a new contest category that allows growers to submit digital yield results, a category that contest organizers are planning to expand in 2025. Then, Jason will look ahead to current conditions and the 2025 wheat crop, and offer insight on other stories he's following in the meantime.

The March WASDE dropped Tuesday, March 11th, and bullish farmers and traders looking to see upside for corn and possibly soybeans too were disappointed the USDA held pat across the two major U.S. grain balance sheets. Wheat, on the other hand, which was expected to go unchanged, overshot expectations in a bearish direction, but markets on the day ended up. Go figure.Luckily, we're joined once again this week by DTN's Lead Markets Analyst Rhett Montgomery, who will not only take us beat by beat through the latest numbers, but also help us understand why the numbers did and didn't shift, and why we might expect greater changes this month, even when they didn't arrive in March. As we zoom in on the domestic and global balance sheets, Rhett explains how a near final weather outlook for the Latin American crop season is changing USDA, and the market's, perspective on stocks, and how updates to wheat numbers out of the black sea region may, and may not, create more opportunity for U.S. wheat growers in 2025. Then, Rhett talks tariffs, recession, and how to follow markets and news during an uncertain planting season.

We're officially on the cusp of spring, and farmers in the warmer regions are already in the planter, while those further north are raring to get the 2025 season started. But some snap cold weather in February and some roaring blizzards on March's doorstep have us wondering if winter might stick around a bit longer.Luckily for us, DTN's Ag Meteorologist John Baranick is joining us today, not only to talk through the very latest weather and forecasts, but also to look ahead for the next six to eight weeks to share insight on what might be ahead through the course of this year's planting season. We'll dive deep into precipitation and temperature outlooks in key regions, especially as influenced by the shifting La Nina pattern. We'll take a look at the drought monitor map as we discuss forage outlooks in the west and conditions along the Pacific, and check in on the near term severe weather picture. Then we'll turn our attention abroad, taking a close look at Latin America as the major crop seasons wrap up there, and spending some time on conditions in Eastern Europe that might still prove to throw a wrench in global wheat markets. Then we'll gaze into the long term forecasts for a sneak peak at what we might expect for summer weather.

The 2025 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show took place February 4th through 6th in sunny San Antonio, and by all accounts it was an event where ranchers came together to celebrate a good year in the beef industry, and to put their heads together about what might be ahead. DTN Senior Livestock Editor Jennifer Carrico attended the show, and joins us today with the latest updates from the meetings that ran the gamut from policy to trade to pest topics. Jenn will talk through what she heard from producers about the new administration's tariff policies, about adapting to the electronic ID tag rule, and about the weather situation across the country. Then, we'll dig into NCBA's topline policy priorities, including discussions on estate tax priorities, unfolding discussions about regulation, and the latest on the New World Screwworm fly outbreak that's raising concerns in Mexico. Finally, we'll hear the latest updates on technology, and where Jenn will be headed next.

The National Farm Machinery Show attracts more than half a million farmers, ranchers, and ag industry professionals every year to a massive event in Louisville where everything from tractors to precision equipment to drills are on display. But after several years of excitement in the machinery market, high interest rates, low commodity prices, and an atmosphere of uncertainty means this year's show had a different tenor than years past. DTN Progressive Farmer's Senior Editor Dan Miller is just back from his multi-day visit to Kentucky, and brings us the latest news from the tradeshow floor. He'll bring us the equipment highlights from John Deere, Massey, AGCO and more, as well as the scuttlebutt from around the event on what might be ahead in the tech and equipment space. We'll hear about new autonomy tools that will be in the field this season, the latest on cutting-edge drones, and talk through the turn towards smaller equipment by exhibitors hoping to appeal to growers on tighter budgets. Then we'll dig into the wildest and unexpected sights at the show, including a very fun 3D farm shop designer.

The February WASDE dropped Tuesday, February 11th, and with few updates expected for U.S. balance sheets, the market's attention was locked on the Southern Hemisphere, where harvest for the major grains is in view. This week, we're joined once again by DTN's Lead Markets Analyst Rhett Montgomery, who took a break from his work at the National Farm Machinery Show to guide us through the latest from USDA. He'll walk us through the critical updates to global balance sheets, and help us understand the perhaps counterintuitive market moves that came as a result of the reports publication. Then, we'll dive deeper into the world weather picture, and what wild cards remain for what looks to be a bin-busting Latin American crop. We'll also dig deeper into the wheat picture to understand demand adjustments and shifting global stocks. Finally, Rhett will speak to the recent trade and tariff talk coming out of the White House, and how he thinks these risks may (and may not) be getting priced into current market prices.

COVID's impact on American agriculture were legion, but one of the positive changes for the industry is the way it encouraged consumers —who were experiencing supply chain disruptions in empty shelves at the grocery store — to reconnect to where their food is grown. Ordinary American consumers turned to farmers markets and Facebook groups, looking to go directly to farms to buy meat, flour, and any other food or fiber product they could get their hands on. And though many of the effects of the pandemic have since waned, many of the farmers who connected with these new fans and customers continue to do so in ways that have transformed their farming operations. Today, Progressive Farmer Senior Editor Joel Reichenberger takes us behind the scenes on his cover story about how farmers continue to leverage consumer interest and connections to grow their businesses in unconventional ways. He brings us stories from across the country of farmers sharing their stories, and the stories of their crops, with their customers and communities, filling bellies and building good will in the process. Plus we'll dig into the technology and tools these growers found useful in building new markets, the investments they've made, and what they see in the future as uncertain reins.

CES is the world's largest showcase of technology and electronics, held every year in sunny Las Vegas. In the last decade or so, ag tech companies, and especially ag equipment companies, have been attending this event to show off their latest hardware and software tools, and so DTN has also attended to keep up with the technological forecast on display. DTN Progressive Farmer's Senior Editor Dan Miller is fresh off his tour of the week-long event, and brings us the latest about what leading companies are bringing to the table in terms of innovation in 2025. Today, he'll dive into offerings from John Deere, Kubota, and others, who demonstrated their freshest takes on autonomous and electrified farm implements. Robots big and small were well represented across the agricultural cohort, many of which operate using cutting-edge software and artificial intelligence. Dan will also share his takes on the show stopping tools that growers might look forward to seeing at the Farm Machinery Show and Commodity Classic later this year. Then we'll dig into key themes around labor access, how tech companies think they might help farmers manage labor shortages, and the most “out there” aspects of the show in Dan's eyes.

It has been a hectic eight weeks in Washington since the re-election of Donald Trump. There has been a non-stop torrent of news that will, and is already, affecting American agriculture, from disaster aid to Farm Bill updates to the nomination of Secretaries of Agriculture, the EPA, FDA, and others. Luckily, we're joined today by DTN Ag Policy Editor Chris Clayton, who's been staying on top of all the news to bring us the very latest. He's fresh off the confirmation hearing for Brooke Rollins, the nominee to be Secretary of Agriculture, and he brings us reactions from farm trade groups and the wider agriculture community. He'll also break down the most recent scuttlebutt on a range of issues, including the possibility of trade tariffs, and what the Trump administration might do for farmers to dampen the blow of likely retaliation. We'll also check in on the impact of deportations on ag labor, and dig into what may lay ahead for the world of biofuels, from support at USDA and EPA to possible changes at Commerce to critical biofuel tax credits. We'll also hear the latest about the Farm Bill, and why, despite the fact of Republican majorities in both chambers, we might be no closer to a measure in 2025.Then we'll check in on questions around Trump's promised Trump tax reforms, RFK Jr.'s MAHA agenda, and what to keep an eye on in the weeks ahead.

The January WASDE dropped Friday January 10th, and this blockbuster report left producers, traders, and analysts alike scrambling to respond to major drops in production estimates for corn and soybeans. This news came alongside a quarterly stocks report and a wheat seedings report, which meant there was a ton of new information to process from USDA on the state of U.S. grains.This week, we're joined once again by DTN Lead Analyst Rhett Montgomery, who helps us tackle each of the reports and takes us beat by beat through the changes that surprised market watchers so effectively. We'll walk down the corn and soybean balance sheets, updating everything from planted acres to yield to bring a slightly smaller crop than expected into focus for both these top products. We'll take a closer look at the demand picture as well, understanding where USDA thinks grains might end up, and how these expectations fit into a global trade picture that could change rapidly in the next few weeks due to the political transition in the U.S. Then we'll tackle the wheat crop, with the latest numbers on seeding as well as domestic and global stocks, we'll hear what to expect as the crop emerges from dormancy.

A new year is upon us and U.S. farmers are taking to the office, planning for the 2025 season and keeping an eye on critical inputs like fertilizer as they do. It's been a tumultuous few years for crop nutrient prices, and though there remain a few wild cards to watch, forecasts for the coming year suggest there might be more stability ahead.This week, we're joined by DTN Staff Reporter Russ Quinn to dig into the current fertilizer supply and what that's likely to mean for market conditions going forward. First, we'll take a closer look at the potash picture, even as questions about the U.S.'s trade relationships with key exporters like Canada, Russia, and Belarus come into focus. Then we'll tackle phosphorus, who's more limited supply might cause a wrinkle in planning, due to a combination of a reduction in Chinese exports and a countervailing duties dispute between U.S., Russian, and Moroccan companies. Then we'll dive into the Nitrogen picture with a discussion of natural gas demand and how European winter weather or increasing tensions in the Middle East could disrupt key N prices in the months to come. Finally, we'll dig into the possible consequences of the new U.S. administration's proposed tariffs, the shifting landscape of global crisis, and whether the Mississippi River is full enough to move fertilizer this spring.Read more of Russ's reporting on the fertilizer markets here. 

DTN's 2024 Virtual Ag Summit is a wrap, and this year's event included a gripping conversation between DTN Progressive Farmer's Senior Editor Dan Miller and a couple of the honorees in the 2025 class of America's Best Young Farmers and Ranchers.Today, we'll hear the second half of the conversation with Emily Mullen, a dairy farmer from Ohio, and Ben Neale, a cattleman from Tennessee. We'll dig back into the stories of these operations, talking through how Ben and Emily have dealt with public perceptions of their work, and the luck they've had opening up their farms to visitors.Then, they'll discuss the challenges they're facing, from labor in all the different areas of their businesses to input costs and the uncertainties of consumer sentiment. They wrap up with a conversation about financing the farm and where they go for the best advice. 

DTN's 2024 Virtual Ag Summit wrapped up in December, with farmers from across the country convening to discuss what to expect, and how to prepare, for a New Year, New Administration, and New Markets. The event also gave DTN Progressive Farmer's Senior Editor Dan Miller a chance to show off some of the stellar producers honored in the 2025 class of America's Best Young Farmers and Ranchers, who offered their perspective on the businesses they're growing, the challenges they've faced, and what they see ahead. Today, we'll hear from honorees Emily Mullen, a dairy farmer from Ohio, and Ben Neale, a cattleman from Tennessee, about their unique paths to farming, and how they've rolled with the punches of consumer demand, a global pandemic, and uncertain market conditions in recent years. In their sit down with Dan, they'll also discuss their outlook for growth, the skills they've built to farm and market products successfully, and why they stood out in a competitive class of young farmers this year.

DTN's 2024 Virtual Ag Summit is officially a wrap, and as is the case every year, a highlight of the event was the trio of forecasts on weather, grain markets, and livestock markets from DTN Progressive Farmer's industry-leading analysts. Today we're dropping on the cattle markets forecast with DTN's Livestock Analyst ShayLe Stewart. She'll look back on the 2024 season, reflecting on the highs and lows that kept cattlemen on their toes, and talk about the macro and micro conditions that made this year a record setting one for cattle and beef prices. Then, she'll tie together the current state of the market, the latest weather and feed outlooks, and provide a first look at what might be in store for producers in 2025. She'll talk through the feed complex, dive into the demand picture, and offer insight on the state of the US herd build-back. Then, she'll walk us through how everyone from cattlemen to feeders to packers might be preparing for the challenges and opportunities in the year ahead, and what wild cards still remain that could mean a change in trend for a historically strong marketplace. 

DTN's 2024 Virtual Ag Summit has just wrapped up, with farmers from across the country convening virtually to discuss the year that was, the year ahead, and the key issues affecting their operations. Forecasts for weather and market in the year to come were, as always, a top issue, and today on the podcast we're dropping in to hear the latest. DTN's Team Lead for Ag Weather John Baranick tackled the uncertain weather picture this year with a master class in ag meteorology. Without a strong La Nina/El Nino influence, John and his team have tapped a number of other indicators to give growers insights on what to expect this winter throughout the country, and in critical regions overseas like Brazil and Argentina. He takes us step-by-step through the possible impacts of tropical storm, polar vortexes, and analyzes the likelihood of wet planting conditions. Then he looks deep into his crystal ball to forecast possibilities for the 2024 summer season, and offers his advice on unpredictability in the year ahead. 

The December WASDE dropped Wednesday December 11th, and this usually quiet report brought with it unexpectedly bullish news for corn markets. As markets and the USDA turn their attention towards the crop in the Southern hemisphere and demand from around the world, U.S. crops are getting a boost. This week, we're joined once again by DTN's Lead Markets Analyst Rhett Montgomery, who guides us through the latest on the report, taking us right down the balance sheet to get the latest updates on demand and ending stocks, informed too by the release of Tuesday's crop production report. We'll dig into the expectations for adjustments and why the market got a bit of a surprise from the report, and what these changes might mean for the much more substantial version due out next month. We'll also dig in to both changes on the world balance sheet and the most recent basis updates, to understand both the most local and the global impacts of USDA's most recent forecasts. We'll talk Latin American weather, the emerging export picture, and what Russian grain marketing decisions might mean for US wheat growers.

In the last decade, farmland prices have shifted under the pressure of farm policy, a global pandemic, a changing interest rate regime, and a broader market anxious for safe investments. The picture of US farmland today is mixed, with some record sales still hitting inboxes even as many properties go unsold at auction. These mixed signals have left some producers wondering– what's going on with the farmland markets?  Today, we're joined by DTN Farm Business Editor Katie Dehlinger, who's been following the story, looking to what's ahead, and brings us some answers. We'll discuss how worried growers should be about what seems to be a growing trend of institutional purchasing of farmland– from foreign owners to Wall Street to Bill Gates. Then we'll talk about debt, interest rates, and why the farmland market today is still unlike the one many farmers experienced during the 1980s farm crisis. We'll look forward to the likely impacts of the US political transition, and talk about how other emerging trends, from farmland succession to advanced farmland technology might alter the space going forward. Plus, we'll hear a preview about the 2024 DTN Ag Summit entitled New Year, New Administration ... New Markets? Click here to register.

With the 2024 election firmly in the rearview mirror, President Elect Donald Trump has been dominating headlines with cabinet picks and more recent announcements about proposed tariffs. Farmers and ag industry stakeholders are now waiting to see what happens next on a variety of critical agricultural priorities, from labor to trade to potential pesticide regulation changes. Luckily, we're joined today by DTN Ag Policy Editor Chris Clayton, who's been keeping an eye on the wide range of issues that may yet come up between now and January 20th, and what levers might be pulled shortly after. He'll talk us through what to watch in the lame duck session, as lawmakers move to keep the government funded and potentially provide some post-hurricane disaster aid to affected farmers. Then he'll dive in to what we might expect to see after the inauguration, from the potential impacts of mass deportations on agricultural labor to the likely consequences of ratcheting up tariffs on China and adding penalties on Canadian and Mexican trade. Then we'll tackle questions around taxes, regulation and deregulation, and what role Trump's possible Ag Secretary pick might play.

The November WASDE dropped Friday November 8th, including updates to both corn and soybean production for 2024, bringing both crops down from their predicted record levels. Though many expected to see this update from USDA now that more than 90% of harvest is complete, the picture was complicated further down the balance sheet, leading to some mixed results in the market. This week, we're introducing DTN's new Lead Analyst Rhett Montgomery, who joins us today for his first WASDE breakdown. He'll tackle the latest updates on stocks for major grains, and analyze USDA demand updates (and lack thereof) that contributed to an underwhelming market reaction. He'll dig into the basis picture during this peak harvest window, and tackle the global stocks updates as the world's attention turns to Latin America. Then, we'll hear updates on the wheat market at home and abroad, and hear what Rhett will be on the lookout for in the coming weeks and months as the national and global stages continue to be crowded with news. 

Just in time for the 2024 Election, DTN's Pulse of Rural America Poll is hot off the press with a fascinating trove of information about how farmers, ranchers, and rural Americans are thinking about not only this election and the decision ahead of them, but also how they feel about the farm economy, their biggest challenges and issues, and what the future might look like. Today we're joined by DTN Ag Policy Editor Chris Clayton, who's been reviewing the poll results and ground truthing them with producers across the country. He'll guide us through the major survey results, unpacking the biggest surprises and best indicators of how voters are feeling across the country side. We'll talk Presidential chances, about top issues from immigration and inflation to foreign farmland ownership and conservation. Then we'll dive deeper on how farmers are responding to what they've heard and seen from the two major party platforms, and how major policies might play out in the weeks, months, and years of the next administration. We'll tackle weather challenges, discuss the importance of the national debt, and learn more about the outlook for the farm safety net.

USDA will begin requiring electronic ID tags for some types of cattle that are moved across state lines after November 5th, including dairy animals and intact beef animals and bison. The department's rules carve out a few exceptions, so producers who believe they might be affected should be taking notice. Today, DTN Senior Livestock Editor Jennifer Carrico brings us the latest on what those exceptions are, who is affected by these new regulations, and how producers can take steps to ensure they're in compliance. She'll share additional information on the background of this rule change, where to get tags and what to do if they're lost, and dig into why these updates might prove vital for the industry in an animal disease scenario. 

The October WASDE dropped Friday October 11th, and though it largely held pat on USDA updates from both the September report and from the end of month stock updates, there was still news to be made as South America's crop comes into clearer focus and tensions across the country and around the globe continue to escalate.DTN's Lead Markets Analyst Todd Hultman joins us today for one last WASDE breakdown, talking us through trade expectations and market reactions since the report came out, and how the global picture for corn, soybeans and wheat has been tweaked. We'll dig into the confidence growers can have in the October numbers, and dive deep on the livestock markets to understand what USDA is predicting for the final quarter of 2024. Then we'll tackle China trade news, the winter energy outlook and how Mideast conflict might be affecting that picture, and what the weather outlook might have in store for harvest season.Then we'll talk about market impacts of the election and the long term potential of a growing Brazilian harvest.

In the aftermath of an August crash in the cattle markets, producers across the country are kicking themselves over the missed opportunity to lock in sales at record prices. But since the dog days of summer, markets are looking up, and prices have regained much of their lost value in the weeks since. DTN Livestock Analyst ShayLe Stewart joins us today to talk us through the last eight weeks, pointing out key features of the feeder and cash cattle markets as she encourages hesitant producers to invest in price protection at current, historically high prices. Then we'll dig into the fundamentals, talking about the outlook for herd size and the state of the bred cattle market. ShayLe offers insight further up the supply chain as well, looking to slaughter pace and carcass weight figures to shed light on what's going on with packers and what that might mean for consumer and export demand as winter approaches. We'll talk through the winter feed outlook, check in on the bird flu story, and hear the latest from ShayLe's Wyoming ranch.

The evolution of the drone has been a relatively quick one, and though this technology probably has a long way to go to reach its full potential, innovative growers are already putting these tools to work, especially using drone sprayers in tricky fields. To growers in unusual geographies in particular, drones, and the servicers and custom operators who supply them, are no longer an interesting novelty, they're an essential part of yearly field work. Progressive Farmer Senior Editor Joel Reichenberger has been reporting on drones for years, and today he joins us on the podcast to dig into the expanding world of drone operation in agriculture that's even compelling some operators to leave the farm behind in favor of custom work. Joel talks about the diversifying landscape of drone spraying, and how individual companies and major equipment companies and their dealers are thinking about and beginning to work in the space. We'll dive deep on the question of whether to own or rent, the new opportunities that growers are discovering, and what barriers are emerging, from FAA flight regulations to high commodity prices. Plus we'll dig into licensing questions, hear stories from the field, and get a preview about the popularity of ugly pumpkins.

DTN's Lead Markets Analyst Todd Hultman is coming to the end of a long career in the agricultural markets. His voice will be dearly missed here on the podcast, around the newsroom, and across the country by the farmers and ag industry leaders who've depended on his even-handed insights for the better part of four decades. But before he rides off into the sunset, we sat down with Todd for one last episode to hear about the career he's had, what he's learned, and what he sees for the future of ag markets and the sector more broadly.  Today we'll talk about his early days as a broker and the people who helped shape his common sense view of the market. We'll hear about his journey to DTN, and how world and market events– from commodity crashes to Chernobyl to a global pandemic – changed the way he thinks about finance, economics, and people in general. He'll dig into the most surreal and unexpected moments of his career, the times when his crystal ball proved right, and talks about the funniest trade he made as a young broker with a mini soybean meal contract. Then we'll talk about his outlook for the future– why watching prices is often more important than watching the news, and his advice for young analysts and for farmers aiming to navigate the hectic trading world.Then, we'll touch on Todd's retirement, his favorite TED talk, and why AI isn't a good substitute for good analysis.

The 2024 election cycle is in the home stretch, and though a lot of attention is being taken up by the Presidential race — when it comes to agricultural policy, the results of senate and house races are likely to be even more impactful. The farm community has been waiting for years for the passage of the next Farm Bill, but that legislation is currently on the sidelines as Congress aims to avert a government shutdown after September 30th.As November approaches, we're joined by DTN Ag Policy Editor Chris Clayton, who brings us the latest insights from every level of this campaign season. Today we'll discuss key elements of the major party platforms from immigration priorities to tax and tariff plans to the future of fuels and energy. Then we'll dig into the potential changes further down the ticket and how the departure of long-time ag ally Senator Debbie Stabenow might impact future Farm Bills. Then we'll dig into the likely effects of transitioning political regimes on existing and ongoing policy at the USDA, EPA, and even the Department of the Treasury, where the biofuels community is awaiting news on how a tax credit for sustainable aviation fuel will be reshaped, potentially opening big market opportunities for corn demand. Lastly, we'll check in on a potential round of farm aid in the works, how Clayton plans to follow political news in the coming weeks, and so much more.

The September WASDE dropped Thursday September 12th, and though it didn't too much to stir markets, it provided another data point as potentially record crops are in the final stretch before harvest. USDA's latest report was informed by in-field data which added a new on-the-ground perspective, but there's still plenty of time for weather-related disruptions, especially with storms like Francine reminding the industry that hurricane season is not over. DTN's Lead Markets Analyst Todd Hultman joins us today to dig into the latest market conditions, offer his expectations going into and coming out of this report, and to discuss shifting demand and basis numbers as we move towards seasonal lows across major sectors. We'll talk about the updated export picture for both corn and soybeans, and discuss how the global wheat crop is looking after a tough year in Europe. Then we'll take a look at the livestock market with updates on current prices and USDA forecasts about herd growth in the next twelve months. And finally, we'll talk interest rate declines and inflation, continuing weather wild cards, and the confidence we can have in this report's numbers.

The trend towards fewer, bigger seed companies is nothing new in US agriculture, and is not even unique to the seed industry. But as a handful of major players have bought up more and more independent seed companies, especially since the 1990s, it's left farmers and industry analysts alike wondering what the impact is, and will be, on grower selection, price, and innovation overall. Today, DTN Crops Editor Jason Jenkins takes a closer look at the consolidation trend in the seed industry, especially after the announcement that several brands, including Fontanelle, Gold Country, Kruger, Lewis Hybrids, and Stone Seed will be eliminated from Bayer's portfolio as of 2025. We'll talk about the motivations behind these retirements for the big companies, what it might mean for producers when they're making their selections for next year, and how independent seed companies are continuing to fit into a global seed market that seems to have less and less space for specialized players.Then we'll talk about longer term consolidation trends and the seed news Jason expects to see in the weeks and months ahead.Read Jason's full story here.

The 2024 crop season got off to a wet start that changed up planting decisions and led to a significantly larger soybean planting than analysts were expecting. Since the Spring however, moisture and temperatures across the midwest have proven to be generally ideal, though a severe storm here and there did intermittently disrupt some growing seasons.Now as we're on the precipice of Harvest 2024, DTN's Ag Meteorologist John Baranick joins us to breakdown both how his in-season predictions have fared since we talked pre-planting, and to offer his outlook on what might be ahead this fall. We'll talk through likely upcoming shifts in the La Nina cycle, take a closer look at this summer's severe weather and where we might expect to see more damage coming up, and tackle the global weather picture as focus shifts towards the new crop in the Southern hemisphere. We'll hear about regional harvest conditions, the long tail of heat in the far West, and what a La Nina might mean for winter cold temperatures.

DTN's Digital Yield Tour is back again this year, and after years of building industry-leading tools, it's powered exclusively by DTN proprietary models and data. Today, we're joined by DTN Farm Business Editor Katie Dehlinger who takes us beat by beat through yield estimates and on the ground condition reports for nine states, from the Eastern Corn belt to Nebraska, Missouri to Minnesota. She guides us through the regions where DTN's data diverges from the latest USDA reports, shares the stories she's heard from growers along the way, and discusses what could be ahead in the coming weeks as harvest approaches. She'll tackle water logged soils, wind and other severe weather impacts, and how big the 2024 soybean crop may actually turn out. To learn more and register for the August 20th DTN Ag Summit Series event, "Weather Drives Price Prospects for Remainder of 2024", visit https://dtn.link/AgSummitSeries-Fall.

The August WASDE dropped Monday August 12th, bringing with it the surprising news of an expected record soybean crop on the horizon for US growers. This update was fueled by fresh yield forecast numbers, but even more so by USDAs contention that one million acres of additional soybean acres were planted than previously thought, driven in part by wet weather during the planting season forcing a shift from corn to beans. DTN's Lead Market Analyst Todd Hultman joins us today to help us understand the latest figures, and how they fit into a complicated seasonal weather picture that, today, is looking impressively balmy. We'll talk about potential bright spots in the soybean demand picture, how corn might benefit from the shifts on the soybean front, and where the wheat picture might be providing some respite. Then we'll plug these updates into the global picture to discuss the US crop export pace, global ending stocks outlooks, and whether or not USDA might update its Latin American numbers to match local estimates.Then we'll talk interest rates, pre-harvest weather, and what might lie ahead in terms of geopolitical unrest and the grain markets.

Advocating for agriculture wherever you are is something that farmers and those in agribusiness have been encouraged to do for years now. But being a voice for the industry, for a sector, even for just one farm can be a huge undertaking. The work can be purposeful and fun, but it can also be emotionally difficult and time-consuming. Through the ups and downs, however, many, many voices continue to tell agriculture's stories, and today, DTN is celebrating those individuals and organizations who do this important work. DTN Progressive Farmer Associate Content Manager Elaine Shein spearheaded the Voices of Agriculture special issue, joining with fellow DTN and Progressive Farmer staff to help select the 2024 class of voices. She joins us today to discuss the why behind this project, and to dive into why farmers, policymakers, and ag industry participants from across the country were chosen, and how their work is continuing to shape and reshape the farm world. She'll also share insight on what's next for this project, and how you can participate in highlighting voices that mean the most to you.

2024 marks the 20 year anniversary of the View from the Cab column at DTN, which follows two farmers from different parts of the country over the course of an annual growing season. Today, the tradition is carried on by DTN Crops Technology Editor Pamela Smith, who for the last seven years has been talking to growers week in and week out on everything from production decisions and technology adoption to family dynamics and their vision for the future. Pamela joins us for a behind the scenes look at how the View from the Cab stories came to be, and how the experience looks for the producers in the hot seat. We'll talk about the long history of the program, how it's evolved, and what the future might hold for it. We'll dig into the archives to hear about some of Pam's most memorable experiences working with these farmers, and learn why you might be interested in raising your hand to participate in the future. Then we'll hear updates on other crops stories Pamela is following at the moment.

Delays on EPA announcement of Renewable Fuel Standard volumes have become old hat for ag industry watchers, but adding in the looming election and a recent Supreme Court decision, the hurdles for regulators to get 2026 volumes published are mounting. But even as anxious corn and soybean growers watch, and some advocates prepare to sue, hope springs from ongoing conversations about the potential for US growers to participate in the Sustainable Aviation Fuel, or SAF, market in the future. To help us digest all the news, DTN Environmental Editor Todd Neeley joins us today with the latest updates from EPA and beyond. We'll talk about the RFS delays, the announced levels that have led to a few biodiesel plant closures, and updates out of California on E-15 that might provide some relief in an uncertain market. Then we'll take a deep dive on the current state of play for SAF, digging into the potential opportunity, the timeline, and what technologies and policies are still needed to make the market a reality. Finally, we'll dig into how the recent Supreme Court decision on Chevron deference might impact the biofuels space, and other issues Todd will be watching between now and November.

The July WASDE dropped Friday July 10th, bringing the ongoing crop season into sharper focus as USDA continued to refine its acreage and production estimates. The June 28th reports from the department left the corn market in bearish state, estimating higher planted acres and higher stocks than expected, but the WASDE adjustments offered some relief, even as soybean numbers remained steady. DTN's Lead Markets Analyst Todd Hultman joins us today to help us digest these latest figures, and put them in the context of today's weather impacts. We'll dig into the world stocks picture to understand the most recent figures out of Latin America for corn and soybeans, then we'll tackle adjustments made on the domestic side as USDA solidifies its understanding of the crop in the field. We'll discuss the US's bigger than expected wheat crop, and how it fits into a global market cornered, at the moment, by Russia. Then we'll dive into the livestock picture with analysis on the second half of the 2024 season for cattle and hogs.Then we'll talk heatwaves, hurricanes, and the outlook for the overall biofuels market in the face of a shifting trade paradigm.

What was supposed to be the 2023 Farm Bill has officially become the 2024 Farm Bill, and after the events of recent weeks, looks poised to become the 2025 Farm Bill. With the dog days of summer upon us, an already unproductive Congress turns the majority of its attention to the campaign trail, leaving the outlook for farm and rural legislation looking decidedly bleak. As the national election approaches, we're joined by DTN Ag Policy Editor Chris Clayton, who brings us insights on what we're likely (and not likely) to see in terms of agricultural policy making before November, and what the candidates are promising might be in store for the term that follows. We'll dig into the current Farm Bill language that passed out of the House Ag Committee, reactions from the industry and the Secretary of Agriculture, and discuss this bill's chances in the lame duck session later this year. We'll also discuss the evolving partisanship in the House and Senate Ag Committees, and how shifting majorities in Congress could impact ag policy going forward. Finally, we'll tackle the latest Supreme Court decision on Loper vs. Raimondo, and how the end of Chevron Deference might gum up the works in ag production for years to come. Then we'll check in on new OSHA heat rules, the purchase of an Illinois grain facility by Chinese interests, and so much more.

DTN Crops Editor Jason Jenkins calls Soybean Cyst Nematode the Rodney Dangerfield of soybean pests — it doesn't get nearly the respect it deserves. While estimates put annual damage from SCN in the $1.5 billion dollar range, it still rarely earns a spot among soybean grower's top concerns. Many growers trust the “SCN Resistant” label on their soybean seeds to provide the protection they need against these tricky critters, but there might be less to that promise than you might think. Today, we're diving deep into the current state of Soybean Cyst Nematode management across the country. We'll discuss the damage these pests do, how to assess your fields, and next steps growers can take to get a handle on populations and possible treatment methods. Then, we'll learn more about emerging advances on the transgenic trait side of things, and how a recent announcement from BASF could offer big benefits for growers down the road. Finally, we'll tackle questions of resistance, and get into what options farmers have to ensure they're rotating their modes of action often enough. Then we'll get updates on other pest populations Jason is on the lookout for, and hear the latest on the Dicamba story.

The DTN Ag Summit Series event "Navigating the Cattle Markets Ups and Downs" is a wrap, but for those who missed the industry leading data and analysis, we've got you covered. This week on the podcast we're dropping in on the keynote presentation from DTN Livestock Analyst ShayLe Stewart, who tackled the latest numbers, broke down forecasts, and answered audience questions to boot. ShayLe's presentation will dig into the drought monitor and the outlook for grass in 2024, and offer insight on how that may interact with a record low cattle herd. She'll troll back through the last decade of prices and production to gain some historical perspective on what might be in store as the robust cattle market moves forward, and she helps us peak behind the curtain at packer margins and import/export figures to get a better idea of the game plans of other key actors in these markets. Then she'll dig into the outstanding risk in the marketplace, especially the Avian influenza story, and where perceptions, markets, and producers can go from here. We'll talk about cull bulls, interest rates, and what aging producers might mean for the next decade of the cattle markets.You can watch previous Ag Summit Series events or sign up for future ones at https://www.dtn.com/2024-ag-summit-series/

The June WASDE dropped Wednesday June 12th, leaving markets unmoved despite expectations that USDA might recognize the weather that's kept US farmers out of the field in many regions. With plenty more season still ahead, and a few more opportunities for the department to bring down the current record yield estimate for the 2024 crop, analysts and growers alike will turn back to weather forecasts and other news to get a better picture of what might be ahead. To help us make sense of this report, DTN's Lead Markets Analyst Todd Hultman joins us today. He'll offer insight on the department's stocks estimates for the old and new crop, dig into the strong demand picture for corn and the more uncertain one for soybeans, and highlight how recent flooding in Brazil, and the cross-border movement of Argentine grain, might (and might not) be impacting global stocks estimates. Then we'll integrate the latest news about the US wheat crop and discuss where there might be room for optimism on small grains, and tackle the latest news on cattle and pork markets as we head towards the heart of the summer barbeque season. We'll talk about the potential fallout of the slower planting pace, the weather and marketing forecast for the Black Sea region, and more. 

Since 2005, DTN Progressive Farmer has been selecting two farmers every year from across the country to participate in their annual View from the Cab Project. These farmers spend a full year getting to know DTN's Pamela Smith as they work through  weekly calls and check-ins, sharing their stories and their seasons with the broader farm community. Today, we're sitting down with Quint Pottinger, a farmer from Bourbon Country in Kentucky who's been growing an unconventional row crop operation alongside his dad's since 2012. We'll talk with Quint about his path back to the farm, which included experiments with tomatoes, feed corn for deer, and even a challenging dance with rye. We'll dig into his strategy for financing his operation, which includes bringing in outside investors while maintaining majority ownership over the family business. Then we'll dive deep into Quint's deep dedication to not only growing the farm economically and protecting the environmental sustainability of the land, but also to nurturing his community — through economic investments in his employees, his local town of New Haven, and in the way he thinks about markets and opportunities in the future.

Farm shops are a critical piece of infrastructure on virtually all farm operations, and building one that fits the diverse and ever-changing needs of a given ag business, and the family that operates, can be a challenging endeavor. Many spend years dreaming out floor plans on the backs of napkins in the coffee shop, visiting the shops of neighbors far and wide, and planning for all the many uses the building will need to fulfill now and into the future. Alongside many of these farmers, Progressive Farmer Senior Editor and equipment expert Dan Miller has also been thinking about farm shops, and has visited countless across the country to learn what works, what doesn't, and where farm shop design might be going in the future. Today he joins us to dive into what he's learned about everything from choosing the right site on your property to placing doors and windows to how many desks should be accommodated in new shop office space. We'll talk about some of the coolest shops Dan has visited, what he's learned from growers who wish they'd done things a little differently, and even best practices when searching for a shop designer. 

American wheat watchers descended on Kansas from May 14th to May 16th this year to participate in the Wheat Quality Council's 2024 crop tour. The three day scouting trip took dozens on an arc across the state, from Manhattan, Colby, Wichita, and countless road-side stops in between. In the end, analysts recorded a predicted yield in the state that, though a bit short of spectacular, will likely be much better than the crop fared in 2023. Luckily for us, DTN Crops Editor Jason Jenkins was on the tour, and brought us first hand information about what he saw on the ground across the Southern States. Today we'll talk about the yield results from different regions, the disease pressure in the fields and how farmers might be making decisions about final applications, and compare the results of the tour to what USDA and others are predicting the final harvest will look like. Then, we'll talk about existing variability and how weather in the next few weeks might continue to alter the fate of this year's crop. We'll also discuss broader pest pressures, the protein outlook, and the durability of modern seed varieties.

Rural and farm communities have made big strides in recent years in discussing mental health issues and solutions. And not a moment too soon — between challenging commodity markets, extreme weather conditions, a global pandemic, and intensifying social and cultural situation, the amount of stress, pressure, and challenge that farmers and rural residents face continues to climb.Today, Content Manager Anthony Greder joins us this week to discuss the work DTN Progressive Farmer is doing to highlight rays of hope. A special edition of the magazine this May highlights resources, stories, and information to help growers, their families, and others navigate staying mentally and emotionally healthy in an increasingly fraught landscape. We'll talk about the latest research on rural mental health, learn about warning signs and how to reach out to neighbors, friends, and colleagues in need, and discuss what simple acts can make a difference in the lives of people struggling with depression, anxiety, or other mental health challenges.