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Today marks one of the most important deadlines in agriculture: Federal Crop Insurance enrollment. Used by more than 90% of commodity growers, this program provides a financial safety net that helps farmers manage risk in an increasingly volatile market. Here’s a closer look at how crop insurance works—and why it plays such a major role in planting decisions and the farm economy.
Global tensions are rippling through agriculture as fertilizer, fuel, and freight costs surge ahead of spring planting. With urea prices jumping and supply chains under pressure, farmers are once again facing rising input costs at the worst possible time.
March may come in like a lion, but farmers aren’t listening for a roar — they’re listening for rain. With over two-thirds of the U.S. facing drought conditions, subsoil moisture levels are becoming a growing concern ahead of planting season.
February may look frozen on the surface, but agriculture is anything but idle. From Federal Crop Insurance price setting and tax deadlines to almond blooms in California, spring calving, equipment maintenance and trade show season, this “slow” month is packed with decisions that shape the entire year ahead.
Farmer confidence took a sharp turn in January, falling 23 points according to the Purdue Ag Economy Barometer. From projected losses in the Corn Belt to rising bankruptcies and tighter purchasing plans, the numbers point to a year defined by caution and tough financial decisions across farm country.
Before he led a nation, Abraham Lincoln worked the land. This week, we look back at how a farm kid’s firsthand understanding of agriculture helped shape policies, institutions and opportunities that still influence American farming today.
Nearly 100 years ago, Grandma Nichols taught every grade in a one-room schoolhouse on the Illinois prairie. Her lesson plans were built around corn, livestock, pollinators, and the everyday realities of farm life, proof that what we now call regenerative agriculture was simply called farming.
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.
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.
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.
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