Severe drought expands across North and South Carolina
Well, we know the old saying, April showers bring May flowers. Well, right now, May flowers are not looking well because we have not seen any April showers so far. We've got state assistant climatologist Corey Davis here. Corey, where were the April showers? The people want to know. "I think the best way to descri...
Past Time for Congress to Follow Up on Ag Labor Fix
While it's not the only challenge facing farmers and the ag industry, ag labor reform is probably at the top of the list. Kam Quarles, CEO of the National Potato Council, says the biggest hurdle in getting that fix has been a Congressional reluctance to do it until the southern border was secured. "The Trump Admin...
Brooks Schaffer Market Report for Friday, April 10th
This is the SFN Market Report with Brooks Schaffer of Palmetto Grain. Reach him at brooks@palmettograin.com or 843-540-4540. There was a USDA report this week, but it was certainly not the biggest headline of the week. The ceasefire in Iran, announced on Wednesday, was a big market mover. U.S. stocks rallied and crude ...
A "Godzilla" El Niño in the 2026 Forecast?
Many parts of rural America have seen some wild back-and-forth temperature swings combined with on-again, off-again winter weather. John Baranick, an agricultural meteorologist from DTN, said temps we're seeing a lot of normal temperature swings during the transition from winter to spring. "We sure are. I mean, th...
AI, Tech, and 2026 National 4-H Conference
The administrator of USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the oversight body of the National 4-H organization, says there is not necessarily a theme to the annual National 4-H Conference held every April in the National Capital Region. Yet Jaye Hamby says, for this year's gathering, "This is more top...
The Price of NH3 now and into the Fall
Fertilizer markets are currently facing renewed volatility, with anhydrous ammonia prices drawing close attention from the agricultural sector. While recent geopolitical tensions are a significant factor, market analysts point out that the upward trend in prices began earlier. Gary Schnitkey, a University of Illinois A...
February Pork Exports Above Year-Ago; Another Big Month for Beef Variety Meat
February was a mixed bag for U.S. beef and pork exports. Pork exports during the month were higher compared to the same time last year. Dan Halstrom, the president and CEO of the U.S. Meat Export Federation, said pork exports were one percent above February 2025. "The volume was up slightly from a year ago, at 243...
Growing The Beef Herd Will Lead To Tighter Supplies
It's a tale of two sectors in the livestock industry. For ranchers and those selling cattle, prices have been high for some time, leading to good returns and the distinction of being one of the few bright spots in today's Agricultural economy. But on the other side of that coin, you have the packers, which the Universi...
When Will Mexican Cattle be Allowed Back Into the U.S.?
A big question in the U.S. beef industry is when or if cattle from Mexico will once again be allowed across the southern U.S. border. Lee McGlamery, the co-owner of MP AgriLytics, doesn't foresee the resumption of Mexican cattle entering the U.S. anytime soon. "No, I don't. To me, I think there are some political ...
PCM Data Shows Farmer Production Practice Consistency
A decade of data from the Precision Conservation Management program showed that farmers are highly consistent in their practices from year to year, and this consistency impacts agricultural conservation efforts. Illinois Corn Growers Association Water Quality Specialist Laura Gentry says that while farming practices va...