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About Fred Nichols

Fred Nichols, Chief Marketing Officer at Huma, is a life-long farmer and ag enthusiast. He operated his family farm in Illinois, runs a research farm in Tennessee, serves on the Board of Directors at Agricenter International and has spent 35 years in global agricultural business.

When Winter Hits the Herd

Arctic cold swept much of the country this winter, prompting warnings to bring pets indoors. But cattle don’t get snow days. Built with an internal furnace and guided by generations of husbandry wisdom, ranchers and their herds weather the cold together—fed, watered, dry, and checked no matter the conditions.

By |2026-01-26T12:16:44-07:00January 26th, 2026|Ag News, Blog Post, Plant & Soil|Comments Off on When Winter Hits the Herd

Corn Breaks Records and Markets

U.S. corn growers just shattered production records, topping 17 billion bushels for the first time ever. But while yields hit historic highs, corn prices moved in the opposite direction—setting up new challenges for markets, margins, and the broader farm economy in 2026.

By |2026-01-20T11:13:19-07:00January 20th, 2026|Ag News, Blog Post, Plant & Soil|Comments Off on Corn Breaks Records and Markets

A Familiar Story: Margins Squeeze, Resilient Farmers

Rising input costs and stagnant crop prices are squeezing farm margins to their widest gap in a decade. Yet despite the pressure, farmer sentiment remains surprisingly strong as growers look for smarter, more efficient ways to improve their operations rather than simply cutting rates.

By |2026-01-12T12:55:40-07:00January 12th, 2026|Ag News, Blog Post, Plant & Soil|Comments Off on A Familiar Story: Margins Squeeze, Resilient Farmers

The Price of Scarcity: Iowa Farmland at a Record High

A record-breaking $32,000-per-acre farm sale in northwest Iowa is turning heads across agriculture. While the math behind today’s farmland prices may not pencil out, limited land supply, prime soils, and motivated buyers continue to push values to historic highs.

By |2026-01-06T07:23:58-07:00January 6th, 2026|Ag News, Blog Post, Plant & Soil|Comments Off on The Price of Scarcity: Iowa Farmland at a Record High

Dreaming of a USDA Christmas

USDA’s newly announced $12 billion relief package is meant to serve as a bridge for U.S. farmers facing mounting financial pressure. However, with rising input costs, trade disruptions, and a reliance on record subsidies, many growers will spend their checks before they even arrive.

By |2025-12-15T13:12:06-07:00December 15th, 2025|Ag News, Blog Post, Plant & Soil|Comments Off on Dreaming of a USDA Christmas

Seedling to Season’s Greetings

From fresh pine scent to sustainable farming, real Christmas trees do more than brighten the holidays. This week, we explore how America’s Christmas tree farmers grow a renewable crop that supports local agriculture, boosts wildlife habitat, and helps the environment, one seedling at a time.

By |2025-12-08T10:24:07-07:00December 8th, 2025|Ag News, Blog Post, Plant & Soil|Comments Off on Seedling to Season’s Greetings

The Christmas Cactus

Blooming just in time for the holidays, the Christmas cactus is more tropical than desert-tough. Native to the Brazilian rainforest, this festive plant thrives in humid conditions, indirect light, and even grows on trees, making it a unique holiday classic with a surprising backstory.

By |2025-12-02T09:59:13-07:00December 2nd, 2025|Ag News, Blog Post, Plant & Soil|Comments Off on The Christmas Cactus

How the “Three Sisters” Fed a New World

Discover how the Native American “Three Sisters” farming system, corn, beans, and squash, created a powerful, regenerative growing method that helped feed the New World and shaped sustainable agriculture long before modern science.

By |2025-11-24T11:49:26-07:00November 24th, 2025|Ag News, Blog Post, Plant & Soil|Comments Off on How the “Three Sisters” Fed a New World

The Bearing That Broke the Farmer’s Back

Equipment breakdowns have always been part of farming, but today, the repair bills and downtime can feel unbearable. With parts prices soaring, dealer labor rates climbing, and right-to-repair battles heating up, farmers are feeling the squeeze every time a machine quits.

By |2025-11-18T10:18:10-07:00November 18th, 2025|Ag News, Blog Post, Plant & Soil|Comments Off on The Bearing That Broke the Farmer’s Back

“If You Give a Farmer a Dollar”

Farmers may be tightening their wallets, but their optimism is holding strong. Despite cutting back on equipment and fertilizer spending, new data shows farmer sentiment is the highest it’s been in four years.

By |2025-11-11T09:24:56-07:00November 11th, 2025|Ag News, Blog Post, Plant & Soil|Comments Off on “If You Give a Farmer a Dollar”
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