Brooks Schaffer Market Report for Friday, October 9th
This is the SFN Market Report with Brooks Schaffer of Palmetto Grain. Reach him at brooks@palmettograin.com or 843-540-4540. Corn market spent most of the week trading around the $5 level on the December contract. There was some more follow-through selling on Monday, but we got a strong dose of turnaround Tuesday as co...
Isaias Could Bring Needed Rain to Carolinas
We were expected to see several inches of rain come through the Carolinas this past weekend, but according to all accounts, not a lot of areas saw that rain total. And now we have the first named hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic season. How is all of that going to impact the Carolinas and the drought map? We've got State...
USDA Announces $1.8 Billion in 2026 Conservation Program Payments
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today it is issuing approximately $1.8 billion in Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) payments to agricultural producers and landowners for their participation in key conservation programs for 2026. These payments include Grassland CRP payments that play an important r...
Built for This Moment - Rural Cooperatives
The importance of the cooperative business model in our nation's economy, and particularly rural America. "They pool resources and deliver vital services where they're needed most, often in rural areas, not exclusively. They're key partners for the community," says Rural Business Cooperative Services Deputy A...
U.S. Agriculture Won't Survive Without Labor Availability
Many agriculture stakeholders are throwing their support behind House Ag Chair GT Thompson's "Securing Agriculture's Workforce Act" as a possible solution to decades-long labor shortages on U.S. farms and ranches. Matt Teagarden, chair of the American Business Immigration Coalition's Ag Council, talked about ...
Diesel Fuel Costs Hammering Farmers at Harvest
As farmers head into the fields for harvest, then truck that crop off-farm for sale and processing, they are getting hit hard at the fuel pump. Mike Steenhoek, Executive Director of the Soy Transportation Coalition, has calculated what an average farm operation might be paying this year over last. "A typical farme...
A New Neighbor in Farm Country
The growth of data centers is creating new opportunities in rural America, but it's also raising questions about land use, infrastructure, and the future of farming. American Farm Bureau Federation economist Bernt Nelson says those conversations are happening at a time when many farmers are facing significant financial...
Dairy Producers Question DMC Performance, USDA to Review
Dairy producers are raising questions about how well the Dairy Margin Coverage program is reflecting current conditions. USDA Undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation Richard Fordyce says farmers told him they're concerned the program isn't triggering as often or as strongly as they expected. "One of th...
USDA Invests $25 Billion to Strengthen Rural Communities
U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural Development Glen R. Smith announced today that Rural Development invested nearly $25 billion in loans and grants in fiscal year 2026. These investments are helping rural communities grow and maintain critical services that families, farmers, and businesses rely o...
Ag Groups Watch Fuel Policy Developments
It's been a week since the meeting between President Trump and President Xi at the White House. Will the recent discussion lead to stronger trade relationships? Representatives from the ethanol and cattle sectors recently voiced what's at stake for U.S. agriculture, zeroing in on fuel. Renewable Fuels Association Presi...