Harvest

Is the U.S. Corn and Soybean Crop Getting Smaller?

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 16:48:46 GMT

From disease to drought, this 2025 crop has been thrown a curve ball late in the season. It’s also pushing the crop to maturity quicker. And with USDA projecting currently projecting a record yield and crop, many analysts say the U.S. crop is likely going backwards in terms of yield, but that doesn’t necessarily mean USDA will cut yield projections next month.

USDA’s August crop production report showed a record-high 2025/26 U.S. corn yield projection of 188.8 bu. per acre and a record-high soybean yield estimate at 53.6 bushels per acre.

But as AgWeb reported earlier this week , southern rust could take a big bite out of the U.S. corn crop this year. The disease is causing turmoil for farmers who have a large crop in the making. In some cases, a Hail Mary fungicide application at R4 up to early dent (R5) might make sense this season, say agronomists. But in severe cases, the disease can wipe out 45% of the yield potential in a field, according to the Crop Protection Network (CPN) .

A map of counties where Southern Rust has been confirmed or reported in 2025.

(CPN )

Add to that fresh concerns about drought, as the latest U.S. Drought Monitor shows drought is now covering 33% of the country. When it comes to agriculture, 5% of the corn crop is now considered in drought, 11% of the soybean crop and 30% of the cotton crop.

USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey authored the Monitor this week, saying the drought picture has drastically changed over the past month.

“We’re seeing rapid expansion flash drought across the mid-south, lower Midwest into the Northeast,” Rippey says. “All of this drought has come on in just the last few weeks. At the end of July, we were virtually drought free in the Midwest, so to see these yellows and tans starting to light up, that is reflective of the overall dryness. Of course, it’s a different story in the West where we’ve got drought really deeply entrenched. But from the big picture here, a lot of focus on those developing drought areas from the mid-South into the northeast.”

The latest U.S. Drought Monitor shows how the dry August is impacting the drought picture across the country.

(U.S. Drought Monitor )

Rippey says as the taps turned off for some areas, some portions of the Eastern Corn Belt are seeing their driest August on record. He says that dryness is extending westward into parts of the southern and eastern Corn Belt.

“Agriculturally, all eyes are on the Northern Mississippi Delta into the Ohio Valley and the southern Corn Belt. A lot of those areas are receiving less than half of the normal rainfall during the month of August. A few areas have less than 25% of normal,” Rippey says. “And with those taps turning off, that is depleting topsoil moisture. We’re going to have to wait and see with crop production in September to see how the crops have handled this late dryness.”

The map showing the percent of normal precipitation proves areas of the Corn Belt, West and Northeast have turned off dry to end the summer.

(Brad Rippey, USDA)

Rippey says, on a positive note, temperatures have remained mild. So, even though the moisture has been sparse or absent, at least temperatures didn’t amplify the situation. But a dry August is still a concern.

Impact on Yield
Peter Meyer, who helped lead Pro Farmer Crop Tour in the east last week, says with the amount of dryness that’s entered the picture —and the fact that disease has exploded in many Midwest fields over the past week — he thinks the crop is getting smaller, not bigger. But that’s something that likely won’t show up until USDA factors in test weight, which will be the October report.

“I think the crop has gone backward since [Pro Farmer] Crop Tour,” Meyer says. “When I start to look at some of these numbers for the month of August, it was extremely dry in many, many areas. We’re talking the top 10 or 15 dry years out of the last 150, 160 years. So, that’s why the crop ran out of gas. It had a lot of moisture. The heat was there. It pushed a crop further and faster. I think we have an issue.”

Meyer says based on those factors, he’s dropped his yield estimate from the 183 bu. per acre he personally projected during Crop Tour last week.

“But I’m still not below 180 [bu. per acre]. I think we’re going to have an early harvest, and I think we’re going to have an earlier harvest in beans, too. That’s represents a problem here as far as the market is concerned.”

“It definitely feels like it’s going backward,” said Jim McCormick with AgMarket.net on U.S. Farm Report. “When we talk to our clients, which we have some all across the country, they are really concerned about it. Probably a little bit more in the east and the west where we’ve seen some of the driest conditions in 130 years in parts of Ohio. Is it a disaster? No, but it’s definitely taking the top end off the crop.”

Dan Basse, who’s AgResource Company’s president and founder, agrees the U.S. corn and soybean crops could be losing yield, but he warns that it may not be a dramatic cut.

“I think its going backward, but maybe not to the degree that the farmer would like,” Basse said on U.S. Farm Report. “We dropped our yield estimate from 189.2 to 187.1 [bu. per acre]. So, we’re down a skosh from USDA, but this is still a big crop. And some of the early deal data we’re getting out of Kentucky, Missouri and Kansas is above what expectations were. When you think about this crop, southern rust is a bad disease if you get it into blister or early milk stage. But when it happens at dent, you’re looking at yield losses of zero to 4%. So, let’s hope that farmers applied one application of fungicide and that kept them until the crop got in the dent. I’m hoping that’s going to limit yield losses going forward.”

USDA’s next yield revision could come Sept. 12. That’s when the agency is slated to release its latest crop production report. But if you look at USDA’s methodology in September, which is to factor in ear counts and pod counts, Basse thinks USDA could potentially raise its yield estimate next month.

“I think, in general, they tend to grow a little bit bigger,” McCormick says of USDA’s historical pattern of yield estimates from August to September. “I mean, look at last year’s analog year. The crop was big in August, it got bigger in September, then again in October before they started revising it down. It would not be a surprise that they will go bigger, but there’s gonna be a lot of pushback, like Dan said, from the disease pressure. There’s going to be a wide range on the estimate for the September WASDE when it’s all said.”

Basse adds: “I wouldn’t be surprised if USDA raises yield next month. Even on the Pro Farmer Crop Tour, it showed us record ear counts and record pod counts. Those are the two most important ingredients for the September report. Now, in October, we’ll have more to know about pod weights and ear weights. But for September, I’m kind of expecting USDA is going to be a few bushels, if you will, from the August estimate. It’s the October report that will determine how big is big.”

Oh, Deer — What A Day on the Farm!

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 19:28:00 GMT

Deer are both majestic and maddening. They make for an exciting pursuit during hunting season, but they also wreak havoc on vehicles, tires and fields.

With approximately 36 million deer in the U.S., those who call rural America home know deer-vehicle collisions are common, especially in October, November and December. Based on this November 2022 study , around 2.1 million deer-vehicle collisions occur annually, causing more than $10 billion in economic losses.

According to State Farm annual analysis , the top 10 states for animal collision, of which deer are the leading cause, are:

West Virginia
Montana
Michigan
Pennsylvania
Wisconsin
Mississippi
Iowa
South Dakota
Virginia
Rhode Island

A Farm Journal reader shared this run-in with a buck.

Deer – semi collision

(Farm Journal)

The Buck Stops Here
In addition to vehicle damage, unsuspecting tractor tires are often no match for deer sheds hiding in fields. Can you relate to these photos shared by fellow farmers?

Deer shed in tire

(Farm Journal)

Deer shed in tire

(Farm Journal)

Deer sheds in tires

(Farm Journal)

If you’ve had one of those horrible, no good, very bad days, or captured someone else’s, share it with Farm Journal. Whether you picked up a deer shed or sunk a piece of machinery in a mudhole, email images to whataday@farmjournal.com.

Shoo Deer — Not In My Field

Deer are a real pest when they graze, trample and bed down in crop fields. Depending on your crop’s stage, this can have economic consequences.

“Deer will feed on immature corn tassel tissue in the whorl during mid- to late-June and also on developing ears in early- to mid-August at the milk stage,” says Bob Nieslen, a retired Purdue University Extension corn specialist. “The decapitated plants usually survive, and ear development will continue through pollination and on to maturity, though the ears are usually less than full size.”

Thieves In Search of Antler Treasure
Awaiting the annual guarantee of antler drop in late winter or early spring, thieves hop private property lines to steal from those who manage. Lust or greed, the lure of shed treasure is a powerful pull to the public, despite purple paint, posted signs and fences.

Whitetail legend Steve Snow is on alert for shed poachers. Like a hot-nose coonhound, he zigzags through timber looking for fresh boot prints — the telltale sign someone is up to no good.

Snow is in hot pursuit of stolen sheds — a dose of frontier justice.

READ: Monster Deer Madness: Iowa Farmer Nabs Antler Thieves, Busts Multistate Shed Ring

Monster Buck Finds Its Way Back Home
Speaking of thieves, when 14-year-old Dave Richmond’s monster buck was stolen , he never gave up hope finding the spectacular rack. Following 14 years of cold-nosing dead-end trails, Richmond was stunned to receive an anonymous message: “I know where your deer is.”

Dumbfounded, Richmond was unable to accept the claim: “Impossible. Just no way. I figured it had to be someone pranking me.”

Two days later, he received a second message, along with an unmistakable photo.

“The picture told it all,” Richmond says. “I was looking at my deer.”

Welcome to a tale of deceit trumped by the enduring faith of a 14-year-old.

Dave Richmond recovers stolen deer antlers

(Photo by Whitetail Obsession Outdoors)

READ: Monster Buck Antlers Stolen from Teen Deer Hunter Recovered After 14 Years

The El Niño Effect: Is El Niño to Blame for the Historic Heat and Drought that Gripped the U.S. in 2023?

Tue, 02 Jan 2024 22:10:01 GMT

2023 was a year full of weather impacts on crops and livestock. From the intense heat in the South to the drought that parked itself across the South and Midwest, USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says those are the two weather events that stole headlines this past year.

“When we look back at 2023, I’m actually going to break heat and drought into two separate categories,” says Rippey. “Really, when you look at the extreme heat this past year, it was focused across the deep South from Arizona to Florida, and pretty much everywhere in between. And that was certainly a huge weather story that affected parts of the cotton belt.”

From wiping out a large part of the cotton crop in west Texas to hitting sugar cane production in Louisiana, Rippey says nearly the entire deep South saw impacts of the year’s extreme heat.

“Of course, that came with drought in many cases. But when you look at these overall temperatures, the hottest summer on record and a lot of hottest months on record, that was a big story in the deep South,” says Rippey.

While other parts of the U.S. still had drought, in some areas it didn’t pack as big of a punch because it came without the heat. That was the case in much of the Corn Belt. The drought hit last year without the extended intense heat, which had a big impact on crops.

“We were very fortunate, especially in the Corn Belt, that we did not see the combination of extreme heat and drought at the same time. And that actually led to some of those better outcomes than expected for U.S. corn,” explains Rippey.

With USDA currently projecting the 2023 U.S. corn crop to be the largest on record, Rippey says the mild temperatures are what helped save the crops.

“You do see that things actually turned out better in states like Iowa. When you look at the rainfall numbers, they were abysmal, almost as dry as 2012. But then the heat just wasn’t there. And today’s varieties are little bit more tolerant of drought and heat. And the outcome was a little better than we expected,” says Rippey.

It wasn’t all good news. While crop yields turned out better than expected for some farmers, the lack of moisture continued to dwindle grazing conditions and hay stocks in 2023. Those created additional hurdles in rebuilding the shrinking U.S. cattle herd.

So, what was the culprit that caused the intense heat that suffocated the South during the summer months? Rippey says while it’s still being studied, he thinks it’s tied to one major weather event in 2023, in particular.

“I will go out on a limb and say that that may have been an early sneak attack from El Niño ,” says Rippey. “The reason I say that is that because we did have an early onset El Niño. It was pretty much in place by late spring, early summer. It’s pretty consistent with El Niño to have a big ridge of high pressure that comes out of Central America. And at times, we’ve seen it before, that does sometimes extend all the way into the southern tier of the United States.”

He says El Niño can also be tied to the shipping crisis that wreaked havoc on exports in 2023, causing massive shipping delays, as well as forcing shippers to carry lighter loads.

“And certainly what happened in Mexico and parts of Central America, think about the Central American drought that’s causing shipping problems in the Panama Canal. A lot of that, I think, could be tied to the heat in the atmosphere related to the early onset El Niño,” says Rippey.

According to Rippey, the drought in the Midwest can be attributed to the blocking high pressure that wouldn’t budge across Canada this past spring, summer or fall.

“The U.S. Midwest happened to be on the southern end of a lot of that high pressure over Canada. So when we think about that, think about the Canadian wildfires, all the smoke coming down. And we were just on the southern edge of that in the Midwest,” Rippey explains.

He says that, along with Northeasterly winds blocking moisture from the Gulf, is what caused the drought in the Midwest.

“At the same time, high pressure was far enough north that the heat and unusual warmth were actually focused across Canada. So, it wasn’t all that hot on the southern end of the high, but it was dry. And that led to that cool drought in the western Corn Belt,” he adds.

El Niño is still in play, as Rippey says El Niño made a splash once again to close out 2023.

“Now that El Niño has kicked in, it’s a strong event, it could be one of the strongest on record,” says Rippey. “We’re seeing that influence of El Niño starting to grab a hold of the reins of U.S. weather patterns. And that’s pretty normal and certainly should continue into early 2024.”

What’s on tap for 2024? Rippey forecasts the intense El Niño will lead to what he calls “pretty profound” impacts for the rest of the winter, and even into spring.

Harvest Safety: Power Line and Railroad Tips You Need to Know

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 20:53:07 GMT

As farmers head to the fields for harvest, most will encounter powerlines and railroad crossings.

Here are three reminders of safety tips to follow in these areas.

Stay in Your Vehicle
Sometimes, it’s inevitable. The only point of field access for your equipment means going under a power line or right next to a power pole where the lines sag too far. And according to Fred Whitford, Purdue pesticide programs, clinical engagement professor, power lines in rural areas aren’t always maintained at the minimum clearance for agriculture.

If your equipment comes in contact with a power line while entering a field, the most important thing to do is to stay seated where you are.

“The key is if you hit a pole, if you hit the guide wires and pull something down, if you pull wires on you, you stay in the cab. You are safe in the cab,” Whitford says. “Assume everything is hot, in spite of what you think you heard, and stay there until a representative of the power company tells you it is safe to leave.”

The issue with exiting the vehicle is that most people will step out on one foot while maintaining contact with the vehicle, which creates the ground – making you the transmitter of electricity from the wires to the ground.

This rule should also be followed if you approach an accident where someone has made contact with a power pole.

“When you come up to an accident, you want to help somebody, “Whitford says. “You get out by holding onto something, putting your foot on the ground and then you just grounded yourself. That’s how you get killed.”

Whitford reiterates the best thing to do is to stay in your vehicle or cab and call 911. If you can see the number listed on the pole, you can also call the power company and let them know. The power company needs to shut off electricity to that pole before the police or EMTs can make contact.

How to Exit if a Fire Starts
While the best-case scenario is staying in the cab, that rule goes out the window if the equipment catches fire.

According to Whitford, there’s a specific way to exit without creating a ground.

“Cross your arms and just make a simple jump, sticking both feet down,” he says. “Then you’re going to shuffle your feet close together or you’re going to bunny hop.”

The key to this method is that by crossing your arms and jumping, there is no contact between your body and the vehicle once the ground is touched.

“This does not need to be an Olympic jump,” Whitford adds. “That would only make you stumble and get grounded.”

Railroad Crossing Best Practices
Don’t get too comfortable around railroad crossings this fall. Always make a complete stop and look both ways before crossing, even if it’s inconvenient.

If you come to a crossing where the arms are down, stay behind the white line and be patient.

But what if the arms are down and there’s no train in sight? Many motorists are tempted to take the risk and go around them. Whitford says there’s a much safer option.

“At every set of tracks, there’s a blue sign,” he says. “It has an 800-phone number and a 7-digit number with a letter, which is the DOT number of that track.”

The phone number will go to the dispatcher who operates the line. When you tell the dispatcher the 7-digit number and letter, they will know exactly where you’re at and can tell you if there is a train coming or if it’s a malfunction.

This is also useful if you get equipment stuck on a track.

“If the train is within a mile and a half, they should be able to bring it to a full stop,” Whitford says.

Once you’ve notified the train operator, you can call a wrecker and work on getting off the tracks. Once the tracks are cleared, be sure to call the train’s operator back and let them know you are off the tracks.

For growers who have railroad crossings on their property, it’s important to keep an eye on the blue sign and make sure it’s legible. If you have one that isn’t, find the next sign you can read, call the number and let them know you have one needing replaced.

“There could come a time when you may be stuck, your kids may be stuck or your ag retailer may be stuck,” Whitford says. “It’s important to make that phone call now.”

11 Ways to Make Sure Your Header Is Doing Its Job

Tue, 20 Sep 2022 05:04:00 GMT

Optimizing combine performance often requires Sherlock Holmes-type detective work. Cracked or chipped kernels in the grain tank might actually originate 10' in front of the driver’s seat, and grain lying on the ground after a pass might have never seen the inside of the machine.

“You can adjust your combine’s rotor speed, concave settings, cleaning fan speed and sieves all day long, and it won’t fix grain damage or grain loss problems at the header,” says Brent Kvasnicka, senior marketing product specialist for combines at AGCO North America.

When it comes to soybeans, many combine operators hope to harvest soybeans at 6 mph with less than 1 bu. per acre of grain loss. Achieving that goal requires careful adjustment and operation of both draper and auger-style grain small grain platforms.

Follow these 11 tips to keep grain loss at a minimum:

Corn Heads

■ The first step to minimize grain loss at the corn head is to match deck plate clearances to stalk size. All deck plates, fixed or variable, should be gapped about ¼" wider at the rear than at the front. Initially set hydraulically adjustable deck plates halfway between their minimum and maximum opening, then let the crop tell you how to fine-tune the setting.

“If you see a lot of butt shelling and strings of kernels in the rows right behind the head, the deck plates are likely too wide,” says Matt Badding, John Deere tactical marketing manager for harvest equipment. “If you tighten them too much you might see cut-off stalks and more trash. Balance the deck plate setting to minimize butt shelling without cutting off stalks.”

■ Whole stalks and trash moving into the machine is a sign of extreme gathering chain/stalk roll speed.

“Extra residue makes it harder for the grain to sift down through the trash and risks carrying some of that grain out the back,” says Jeff Gray, Claas Lexion product coordinator. “Minimizing the amount of trash going into the feeder house generally minimizes the amount of grain going out the back.”

■ Damaged grain in the grain tank leads many combine operators to mistakenly adjust concave settings and threshing speed. Adjusting internal combine settings does little to reduce grain damage if that damage originated at the corn head.

“Even if you’re not actually butt shelling at the deck plates, if you’re running the (stalk) rolls too fast, it can slightly crack the kernels when they smack down against those deck plates,” says Kelly Kravig, Case IH harvest marketing manager “Then when the ears get into the combine, those cracked kernels go ahead and shatter in the rotor, even though the rotor isn’t the cause of the damage.”

■ Corn head augers are another potential source of grain damage. The height of the auger off the floor of the corn head is critical. Badding advocates setting augers so their flighting grabs all ears.

“What you don’t want is the auger flighting so high it pinches ears against the trough and scrapes off the tips or cracks kernels,” he says. “If you’re getting tipped kernels in the grain tank, check the auger height before you make adjustments to the concave clearance.”

■ Modern corn heads offer stalk chopping or processing options but there are costs associated.

“Those heads are designed to process stalks, but you have to balance the power requirements of shredding stalks into confetti, along with how it can degrade threshing and separation, if you feed extra material through the machine,” Badding says. “Setting a corn head has a major influence not only on grain quality and grain loss, but on the condition it leaves the stalks and residue.”

Soybean Platforms

■ Cutterbars are the starting point for optimum performance of both auger and draper platforms. Not only must sickle knives be sharp enough to snag a leather glove, but the rock guards and all wear points must be factory-fresh. Dull sickle sections, or rock guards with rounded edges where the sickle slides back and forth, gnaw rather than slice bean stems. Any vibration to a stem during its harvest can shake loose or shatter pods.

■ The angle of the cutterbar should be parallel to the ground or slightly downhill by 1° to 3°. That angle is determined on older platforms by mechanical adjusters on the bottom, rear of the platform. Newer platforms adjust cutterbar angle by mechanically or hydraulically tilting the entire head. If the angle is too steep, the cutterbar is prone to pick up rocks or gouge the soil. If the angle is such that the platform runs on the rear of its skid shoes, the cutterbar tends to cut stubble higher and drag stems and leaves under damp conditions.

■ Cutterbars must be straight so automatic header height control systems work properly.

“Bent cutterbar supports can create high spots [in a cutterbar] that make it more difficult for the cutterbar to flex and follow ground contours,” Badding says. “Bends in a cutterbar also increase wear to the knife.”

■ Check cutterbars by raising a platform 5' to 6' off the ground. Sight across the cutterbar from one end of the platform. High spots in the cutterbar suggest bent supports or brackets. Diagnosis can be tricky because small irregularities among cutterbar supporting components are magnified by the geometry of those components. A 2" hump in a cutterbar can be the result of only a ¼" bend in a support frame or related component.

■ Older platforms with broad, wide skid shoes flex and follow the ground surface better if the previous year’s crop debris and dirt is cleaned from the tops of the skid shoes. Use compressed air to blow from behind the sickle toward the rear of the skid shoes. Material packed into that pivot point hinders the skid shoes from flexing and following the soil surface.

■ Newer platforms feature an adjustable hydraulic system to control the pressure of the cutterbar against the ground.

If operators increase pressure, more of the weight of the cutterbar is carried by small hydraulic cylinders under the header frame, Kvasnicka says. This makes the cutterbar less heavy and less likely to push in damp or soft soil conditions.

If operators reduce cutterbar pressure, Kvasnicka says less of its weight is supported by the small hydraulic cylinders. The cutterbar becomes heavier but more flexible and better able to follow surface irregularities. The increased weight and contact with the soil surface can lead to pushing
in damp or soft soils, though.

Once basic settings are made, adjustments to the specific platform further optimize performance.

Running an auger platform? Read Dan Anderson’s tips on minimizing grain loss .

Using a draper platform? Use these tips to dial in belt speed for even feeding .

Trouble Shipping Grain And Feed Via Rail Far From Over, Concerns Now Growing About Possible Worker Strike At Harvest

Mon, 18 Jul 2022 20:00:15 GMT

Rail retains a vital role in the transportation of goods across the U.S., but this year, the 140,000- miles worth of railroad tracks across the country haven’t been immune to the supply chain chaos plaguing U.S. transportation sectors.

Now, a potential stoppage on the nation’s railways this fall is spurring concern, even after President Joe Biden signed an executive order Sunday to keep the nation’s rail traffic on track.

“What I’m hearing from our members is fewer equipment issues,” says Mike Seyfert, president and CEO of the National Feed and Grain Association (NFGA) . “The equipment and engines don’t seem to be breaking down, but the amount of time it’s taken to get the trains and the reliability of receiving them have.”

With more than 1,000 members today, NFGA represents everything from grain buyers and handlers to transportation companies who ship the grain.

“It seems to be most severe right now in the West, or for those who are trying to ship west on those lines that are going into the western part of the country,” says Seyfert. “Either for feed purposes, processing purposes, or export purposes to the western side.”

What’s Driving the Issues Shipping Via Rail?

Today’s rail issue centers around labor and the amount of time it’s taking to receive shipments via rail.

“The velocity to deliver trains is getting more and more difficult. You’re having challenges with having enough locomotives in different locations,” says Ken Erikson, senior vice president at S&P Global Fuels, Chemicals and Resource Solutions Group . “You have challenges with crews who may have been hit by weather, who may be hit by diversions, some of the rail crews timeout or they don’t have enough locomotive engineers in the right position.”

Eric Wilkey of Arizona Grain, Inc . is seeing the issue firsthand. Area farmers were in the middle of harvest, and Wilkey still hadn’t received the rail cars he needed.

“We’ve got a whole harvest that’s basically been received, and we haven’t been able to ship anything,” Wilkey told U.S. Farm Report at the end of June.

Wilkey says rail cars that were supposed to arrive in early May started to finally trickle in during the first part of July, but that was two months behind schedule.

“We never stopped the farmers from harvesting, so we have created some really large inventories and that has significant cash-flow impacts on us,” adds Wilkey.

Hearing Hints at Complexity of Issue

In April, the Surface Transportation Board (STB) stepped in, holding a hearing to get to the root of the rail issues. The hearing was full of differing opinions and pointed questions.

Just prior to the hearing, Landus Coop, which represents 7,000 farmer-owners in Iowa, submitted testimony saying rail issues meant they were only able to load half the number of shipments necessary, and the backlog meant farmers trying to haul grain to the coop were being turned away. The letter stated:

Landus is only able to load half the rate of shipments necessary today. With 450,000 bushels loaded in each train, this impact multiplies daily.
Farmers trying to haul grain to us today are getting turned away because we cannot make the inventory space for them. This is an important and optimal window of time when farmers must haul remaining old-crop inventory in preparation for harvest.
Disruption to inventory flow has led to increased handling costs and reduced customer service throughout Landus. We are experiencing lost business daily due to the disruption.
Grain bushels are getting “trapped” in pockets of surplus supply, while shipping destinations are experiencing a growing deficit in access to supply.
Our soy processing facility has experienced a 10% decrease in production over the past six months due to rail performance alone. This is in turn further impacting profitability and our ability to access markets where soybean meal is in highest demand.
Trucking is not a viable alternative transportation mode today due to labor shortages.

The letter went on to say “If this situation is not resolved quickly, we risk the potential for livestock producers in California and other states potentially running out of feed.”

Concerns About Labor Issues Growing Worse at Harvest

Rail carriers and unions are in the middle of labor negotiations right now. The collective bargaining process made headlines last week, as Biden had until Sunday, July 17, to create a Presidential Emergency Board (PEB). The move was an essential step in keeping the collective bargaining process on track, as well as keeping the nation’s railways operating.

“We are pleased that President Biden has taken an important step by creating a PEB to help all parties find a reasonable path forward,” says Association of American Railroads (AAR) president and CEO Ian Jefferies. “An agreement that allows both our hardworking employees and the industry to thrive into the future remains possible.”

AAR points out the Railway Labor Act governs collective bargaining for the rail industry, which aims to help parties reach an agreement without work stoppages or disruptions to U.S. freight rail movements.

While a crisis was averted with the president’s executive order, the collective bargaining process is far from over. Now, there are fresh concerns the ongoing labor dispute could come to a head just as harvest arrives in the Midwest this fall.

“Once we get into mid-September, there’s also a risk of some labor issues, even labor stoppage on some of the rail lines,” says Seyfert. “And so getting these things addressed now, and all of us working together before we get particularly into that fall harvest timeframe is essential. We’ve really never been in a situation where a reliable and resilient rail service is more important than it is now.”

Tense Labor Negotiations?

The April hearing in front of the STB gave a hint to just how tense those labor negotiations could continue to be. Rail carriers pointed out just how severely impacted they’ve been from what’s been dubbed the “Great Resignation,” and the issues getting labor back up to speed. Certain rail carriers also outlined the plans in place to get labor back to necessary levels to operate efficiently and smoothly.

However, rail workers place blame on the railroads, saying there’s more to the story. Mark Wallace, locomotive engineer, and vice president of Brotherhood Of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), which is North America’s oldest rail labor union, testified during the STB hearing in April.

“Since 1984, 40 railroads have been reduced to seven class one carriers, now largely controlled by speculators and hedge fund investors,” he stated. “This culture of profits over safety, customer service and the lives of railroad workers is now exposed as this industry is network fails on a daily basis.”

“Now, they signaled to us in meetings publicly and otherwise they are having some success in hiring again and getting crews successfully through training,” says Wilkey. “For the Midwest, there’s a little bit of time, but for us, there’s no time. We’re in harvest right now. And I don’t have time to wait another three months for crews to be trained.”

It’s not just the hearing that hinted toward prolonged trouble with train transportation. Grain handlers like Wilkey says current rail bids point to problems persisting into fall.

“These car values would be somewhere north of $1,000 per car this fall,” says Wilkey. “And so that’s the market sending signals that there’s going to be tightness, there’s going to be concerns.”

Typically, Wilkey says those bids would be around $100 per car.

Congress Urges STB to Take Action

In late June, 51 members of the U.S. House of Representatives signed a letter and sent to the STB regarding issues with the rail system in the U.S.. The letter asked STB to continue to work through the current rail issues with all stakeholders in order to address short-term challenges and find a resolution.

“On behalf of our constituents and farmers around the country, we write regarding poor rail service, which has limited fertilizer shipments, among other essential agricultural inputs and commodities, including grain and feed,” the letter stated.

“At a time when global fertilizer supplies and global crop production are highly disrupted, imposing shipping curtailments on fertilizer inputs and grain, as recently proposed by Union Pacific, will cause major supply chain disruptions, hurt American farmers, and exacerbate the food crisis considerably. We must ensure critical commodities reach essential industries and workers, such as America’s farmers, who are essential to feeding our nation and the world. Food is a national security issue, and we must treat it as such,” the 51 members wrote in the letter.

The Senate sent a similar letter to the STB in May.

Wait Times Cause Economic Pain

As the labor battle plays out, the short-term issues are causing grain handlers economic pain.

“There have been significant economic impacts,” says Wikley. “I would estimate since the first of the year, today, there’s been in the order of $100 million paid out by the industry to solve this logistics problem that’s developed. And that’s just outside of the bounds of normal.”

The battle over labor seems to have a long tail, as those in the grain industry try to work together to make sure this major shipping vein doesn’t buckle.

Here’s Why You Need to Find Time for A Nap During the Busy Season

Fri, 24 Jun 2022 19:13:34 GMT

How much sleep do you get each night during the busy season? Researchers out of University of Nebraska—Lincoln (UNL) found that planting, harvest and calving season shave off 28 minutes of farmer’s sleep each night.

While 28 minutes doesn’t seem like much when you consider your ever-growing to-do list, Susan Harris, UNL extension educator, and Amanda Prokasky, assistant professor of education and child development at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, found this sleep deficit is a recipe for disaster.

“Half an hour less sleep in one night is no big deal,” says Prokasky. “But when you start subtracting 30 minutes of sleep every night for four to six weeks during a busy season, that sleep deficit can become pretty significant.”

Proof in the Pudding

To complete the study, 40 ag workers wore an Actigraph Spectrum Plus—a wrist monitor that continuously records data on motion and activity—for one week during a busy season and one week during a slower, “more routine” week, according to Harris.

Their findings not only show farmers spent 28 fewer minutes sleeping, but they also spent 25 less minutes in bed.

According to another farmer sleep study conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the University of Nebraska Medical Center, farmers who sleep fewer than 7.5 hours per night increase their risk of injury by 61%.

NIH also found that decreased sleep results in decreased stability, making it 7.4 times more likely that you’ll have poor, inconsistent balance.

Minor Adjustments Could Make a Difference

To avoid on-farm incidents, Harris and Prokasky suggest producers:
1. Take a brief break—even if it’s 15 minutes.
2. Consider a nap—research shows a 20-to-30-minute nap will improve mood, sharpen focus and reduce fatigue without leaving you feeling groggy.
3. Adjust your schedule

The UNL researchers intend to create educational interventions on the importance of sleep during agriculture’s busiest seasons.

“We learned a lot of interesting things and learned what to do differently moving forward,” Prokasky said. “Now it’s about finding additional collaborators to take this to the next step.”

More on farm safety:
Kids on the Farm: Don’t Take Your Eyes Off Safety
One Family’s Tragedy Sparks Nationwide Farm Safety Project

Five Days In, Here’s How the John Deere Worker Strike Is Already Impacting Farmers During Harvest

Tue, 19 Oct 2021 13:21:53 GMT

More than 10,000 John Deere workers have been on strike for five days. Both Deere and United Auto Workers Union (UAW) insist negotiations are ongoing, but the strike is already impacting farmers who are busy with harvest. From sourcing parts to manufacturing tractors and planters, the strike could sting a supply chain that’s already strained.

It’s the biggest private-sector labor strike in more than two years. From Iowa to Illinois to Georgia, 10,000 hourly Deere workers who are part of the union can be seen picketing outside 14 John Deere manufacturing sites.

The strike comes at a critical time for farmers harvesting and searching for parts. John Deere continues to say it’s committed to keep operations going, with local farmers telling Farm Journal that salaried employees are being recruited to backfill vacancies on production floors.

“John Deere is committed to a favorable outcome for everyone involved and is committed to reach an agreement with UAW,” a John Deere spokesperson told Farm Journal. “Our immediate concern is meeting the needs of our customers, who work in time-sensitive and critical industries, such as agriculture and construction, and also to protect the livelihoods of others who rely on us, including employees, dealers, suppliers and communities.”

UAW hadn’t responded to Farm Journal as of Monday afternoon, saying negotiations were ongoing.

Double Dose of Issues: Supply Chain and Worker Strike

The strike issues are two-fold: keeping parts supplied to farmers at harvest, while continuing to build new equipment such as planters that are already delayed due to shortage of parts and supplies. The Parts Depot in Milan, Iowa, is open and operational. And with just over half the U.S. corn crop harvested as of Sunday, with USDA’s latest Crop Progress Report also showing 40% of the soybeans in the country are still sitting in U.S. fields, the parts problem may continue to intensify in the coming weeks.

But the workers on strike are already hitting home for one local farmer trying to harvest his crop. 2021 harvest came to a halt this weekend for Scott Bohnert, who farms just outside Moline, Illinois. Bohnert, whose wife, Karen, is the dairy editorial director for Farm Journal, said after their combine broke down over the weekend, it’s been a chess match to find the necessary part as both the strike and supply chain shortages are creating obstacles in finding a fix for the combine.

Bohnert says he’d typically drive to Milan, which is nearby, to pick up the part. Since the part wasn’t available there, he found it at an after-market parts company 10 miles from the farm. But citing the John Deere strike in Milan, the company wouldn’t allow Bohnert to pick it up. Instead, the parts company told Bohnert they would have to ship the part by freight, which would take days and add more costs. So, instead, the Bohnerts drove seven hours round-trip Monday to pick up the part from a John Deere dealer in Indiana.

Planter Problems Next?

As the hurdles during harvest are echoed by farmers across the country trying to find parts for all colors of equipment, concerns are also growing about what the supply chain issues, combined with the worker strike, will mean for parts and planters this spring.

John Deere Planter Works in Moline, Ill is being impacted by the strike. As salaried employees are sourced to help keep the plant operational, some fear if the strike lasts months versus days, it will cut into planter availability this spring. Typically, planters are built by mid-March, but if the strike lasts 90 days or more, there could be severe delays.

Tractors Already Sold Out for 2022

John Deere has already shut off orders for large tractors, including the 7000, 8000 and 9000 series. One John Deere dealer told Farm Journal the 9000 series are in the tightest supply, and many tractors that are 7000 series and up are already sold out for 2022.

Machinery Pete Says It’s Impacting Used Equipment Values

Veteran used equipment value insider Greg Peterson, also known as Machinery Pete, says both the John Deere strike and the issue of sourcing semiconducters by CNH could push used equipment values higher .

“All this, of course, works to push potential buyers back into the used market, which as I said from the top, and as I’ve been saying all throughout 2021 … the USED MARKET IS ON FIRE,” Peterson wrote in his latest blog post.

Peterson described it as a “tidal wave coming,” saying decades of reporting on the used equipment market has found the highest used equipment values at auction occur in November to December.

“In fact, 16 of the past 18 years, used farm equipment values have gone up during the fourth quarter, shown clearly here in my Machinery Pete ‘Used Values Index’ quarterly report going back exactly 20 years.”

Strike Could Last Months

The strike started last week after UAW workers rejected an offer that would have given 5% wage hikes for some workers and 6% for others. According to Reuters , the proposed deal would have called for 3% raises in 2023 and 2025.

One worker on strike told Farm Journal the disagreement with the corporation isn’t only fueled by wages. While wages is on the list, for many, the more important piece workers are picketing for are health insurance and profit sharing. In addition, supply chain issues have created irregular hours and schedules at plants, which adds to the frustration for some workers who aren’t salary.

Two workers on strike told Farm Journal the general consensus is the strike could last the remainder of the year, as a settlement may not be reached between Deere and UAW before the holidays. However, neither John Deere or UAW commented on a timeline of the talks.

In the meantime, those on strike are going without pay. In Moline and Milan, local restaurants are supplying food to workers on strike. Last week, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) voiced support of the workers on strike saying the workers have gotten the short end of the stick for decades now.

Both Deere and UAW didn’t comment on an expected timeline to reach a deal, or if a new deadline has been set to resolve the labor disagreement. The last strike against Deere by UAW lasted 163 days in 1986.

Suicide Prevention Week: Manage Stress On The Farm

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:51:27 GMT

Farming is stressful—this year proves challenging for even experienced farmers. However, it’s important for you, friends and family to remember that stress on the farm should be just that—stress on the farm. Your farm’s success doesn’t change who you are as a person or your value.

Remember that, and train yourself, your family and your friends in healthy ways to reduce stress and develop positive physical and mental health.

“Farm and ranch families often experience pressure, conflict and uncertainty,” said Sean Brotherson, North Dakota State University Extension family science specialist in a press release . “If feelings of frustration and helplessness build up, they can lead to intense family problems involving spouses or partners, children, parents and other relatives.

“If left unresolved, these feelings can lead to costly accidents, poor decisions, strained relationships, health concerns and risks—including suicide,” he continued.

Here are three ways Brotherson recommends dealing with stress:

Take Control of Events: plan ahead and find people who can help before key seasons, such as harvest and planting, arrive. Set priorities and focus on what needs to be done today and what can wait.
Take Control of Attitudes: identify sources of stress and which ones you cannot change. Shift your focus from worrying to problem solving, and focus on what you achieve rather than what wasn’t accomplished. Set realistic daily goals.
Take Control of Your Responses: when stressful situations arise don’t be afraid to step back and take a break. Relax your body and mind, take deep breaths, think positively, balance work and play and find someone to talk to or seek help if needed.

Keep watch of yourself and your family and friends. Stressful times can lead to desperate situations—which unfortunately could include suicide. Watch for signs of suicidal thoughts or actions.

For every suicide that results in death, there are 25 failed attempts. But there are concrete actions you can take as a family member or friend to reduce the risks, said Cassandra Linkenmeyer, Minnesota area director for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Know the signs. Learn them here . This week is Suicide Prevention Week, hosted by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention . Mental health is a critical issue that farm families shouldn’t be afraid to address. If you or someone you know needs help, reach out to your local mental health resources.

Minding Mycotoxins: How to Protect Livestock in Direct Grain Sales

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 03:03:51 GMT

If you’re considering selling some of your wet grain to livestock owners, it’s important you determine who will test for mycotoxins. The season’s weather and conditions could mean mycotoxins spring up.

“We haven’t heard a lot about toxins yet, but I think there’s going to be some after looking at fields,” says Ted Koehler, Syngenta Enogen ruminant nutritionist. “I’ve seen quality issues everywhere from southern Iowa to northern Wisconsin where there is noticeable mold on ears.”

Because molds and mycotoxins could start rearing their ugly heads, it’s time to start sampling for them in grain that will become feed. Grain sellers should work with livestock owners to determine who will take the sample, where it will be sent and how the cost should be covered. You might be used to the elevator sampling for you, but in direct sales to livestock producers you’ll have to be conscious of mycotoxins yourself.

Here’s what you need to know about sampling for dangerous levels of mycotoxins in grain, according to research from Iowa State University :

Mycotoxins aren’t evenly distributed in grain, so you’ll need to pull a variety of samples to get an accurate view.
Just because you’re sampling grain with visible molds doesn’t mean it’s a sample that will contain mycotoxins. Grain without visible mold can have the fungi.
Send dry samples to the lab instead of wet as the mold can keep growing. You can dry a standard 1-pound sample in the oven to 13% moisture before sending.

Gather your sample and send it to reputable laboratory. Be sure to ship samples in coolers on ice to preserve the grain.

No matter what, understand what is acceptable for the end user—it varies by animal. “Feedlot animals can tolerate some mycotoxins more than dairy,” Koehler adds.

Here’s a quick look at Purdue University’s guide on what is acceptable in feed for the three dangerous strains of mycotoxins—note there are more than 800 kinds.

Learn more about wet grain management and how livestock and grain producers can partner for a win-win here:

Wet Grain Problem? Solution: Sell It to Livestock Owners For A Win-Win

Tools to Help with High Moisture Harvest

Could Grain Bags Be Your Wet Grain Storage Solution?

Need-To-Knows Of Moisture, Quality Deductions And Long Elevator Lines

Harvest

Is the U.S. Corn and Soybean Crop Getting Smaller?

Oh, Deer — What A Day on the Farm!

The El Niño Effect: Is El Niño to Blame for the Historic Heat and Drought that Gripped the U.S. in 2023?

Harvest Safety: Power Line and Railroad Tips You Need to Know

11 Ways to Make Sure Your Header Is Doing Its Job

Trouble Shipping Grain And Feed Via Rail Far From Over, Concerns Now Growing About Possible Worker Strike At Harvest

Read More: U.S. Rail Strike Averted For Now As Biden Steps In Before Sunday’s Deadline

What’s Driving the Issues Shipping Via Rail?

Read More: Livestock Producers Report Being Just Days Away From Running Out of Feed Due to Shipping Rail Issues

Hearing Hints at Complexity of Issue

Concerns About Labor Issues Growing Worse at Harvest

Tense Labor Negotiations?

Congress Urges STB to Take Action

Wait Times Cause Economic Pain

Here’s Why You Need to Find Time for A Nap During the Busy Season

Five Days In, Here’s How the John Deere Worker Strike Is Already Impacting Farmers During Harvest

Double Dose of Issues: Supply Chain and Worker Strike

Planter Problems Next?

Tractors Already Sold Out for 2022

Machinery Pete Says It’s Impacting Used Equipment Values

Strike Could Last Months

Suicide Prevention Week: Manage Stress On The Farm

Minding Mycotoxins: How to Protect Livestock in Direct Grain Sales