As a farmland auction winds down, the bidding usually slows. In the online environment we live in today, increments get smaller, the clock resets again and again, and everyone watching the screen wonders who’s still in the fight. Each bidder has their own motivation. One might be the neighboring farmerContinue Reading
At a Glance Don’t miss the latest market commentary from the Farm Futures team. Sign up for the complimentary morning and afternoon market newsletters! Grain futures roared out of the gate this week, with corn futures jumping to three-week highs and soybeans soaring 24 cents amid expanding hopes President Trump’s meeting laterContinue Reading
Alan Thompson, who began farming independently at age 25, has seen his Ohio operation evolve significantly with calculated steps. “When I started, it was just me, my dad, Roger, and brother Dan working together, but we had our own land and machinery,” Thompson said. “We worked cooperatively, and that’s theContinue Reading
At a Glance Mud season in Minnesota was in full force. The frost was coming out of the ground, and any road labeled “minimum maintenance” was best avoided. I knew better — but I wanted to get home. Plus, I had a new (for me) 4×4 I wanted to tryContinue Reading
How to hold on to the farm and the family? Farm Futures executive editor Pam Caraway (second from left) led a panel discussion at the 2026 Farm Progress Show where Mike Downey (left), farm business coach and transition consultant at UnCommon Farms; Jolene Brown, author, farmer and family farm businessContinue Reading
The Senate Ag Committee advanced a Republican-led farm bill in a 12-11 party line vote on Sept. 16. Committee Republicans prevailed in their second attempt to pass the legislation, thanks to the return of Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. He cast the deciding vote. “I do want to say howContinue Reading
Spreading manure on corn just days before chopping it for silage breaks every conventional timing rule, and Paul Mason thinks that’s exactly why it might work. His thinking: A late-season nitrogen boost could squeeze extra tonnage from his corn into his cows’ mouths. “With silage, you don’t give it theContinue Reading
Keeping more heifer candidates allows for multiple culling opportunities. Instead of guessing which heifers will perform at weaning, evaluate them through breeding success, conception rates and calving performance. Jose Luis Raota/Getty Images What do you want the future of your cow herd to look like? Beef cow slaughter fell by 19%Continue Reading
The beginning of 2026 saw a modest rally for Class III milk futures. However, that rally screeched to a halt as the production pace of milk, cheese and butter continues to climb, pressuring prices lower. What’s happened Multiple months of milk production reports have shown year-over-year increases in milk production,Continue Reading
USDA’s latest export sales report, out Thursday morning and covering the week through February 5, showed a continued dominance of corn sales, which turned in another strong showing. Wheat sales were also solid, while soybean sales slumped to a new marketing-year low. Corn exports hauled in 81.5 million bushels inContinue Reading
