Field Posts

An unexpectedly hot farm equipment market, fueled by the months long rise in commodity prices, is colliding with some of the biggest commercial rollouts of autonomous farm implements in 2021. Technologies that have been discussed for years are finally making their way into farmer’s hands, and the industry is already looking ahead to the next iteration. Today, we’ll talk with Progress Farmer Senior...

After nearly one full year of podcast, here at Field Posts we’re taking some time to reflect on some of the many critical and exciting stories we’ve covered in the past 49 episodes. We’ve talked markets, weather, crops, diseases, laws, politics, livestock, equipment, and about the lived experiences of farmers in a time of tremendous upheaval. What we haven’t spent as much time diving into is anoth...

A bizarre spring variously brought unseasonably cold weather, dryness, and heat to different parts of the country, setting the stage for an unpredictable crop year, even as grain stocks remain tight across the board. We’ll talk with DTN’s Bryce Anderson about how spring conditions are continuing to impact planting, what they might mean for the mid-season in the US’s many growing regions, and what...

The April WASDE dropped Friday, April 9th. As usual, it was a relatively ho-hum report, but the market environment it was delivered into is anything but. DTN’s Todd Hultman joins us today to break down what the market was actually responding to (a clue: it wasn’t the report) and to speak more to what might be ahead from international markets beyond China. We’ll take a closer look specifically at h...

With a new administration finding their footing in Washington, a renewed and re-energized focus on alternative energy, and wind in particular, is elevating many community tensions around wind leases on farmland. Today, Progressive Farmer Crops Editor Matt Wilde joins us to share the specific story about farmers, wind energy and the community response in Madison County, Iowa, and how the fallout fr...

March’s dynamite prospective planting report dropped Wednesday, March 31st, and markets responded with surprise and worry to low acres. DTN’s Todd Hultman joins us today to break down that market reactions and to help shed some light on why the USDA, or producers themselves, might be underestimating what planting in the year to come. We’ll take a closer look at corn, soybean, and wheat plantings,...

As the current wheat season draws to a close, DTN Progressive Farmer is taking a deeper look at the winners of the 2020 National Wheat Yield Contest, awarded by the National Wheat Foundation. DTN staff reporter Emily Unglesbee joins us today to take a deep dive on how America’s most bin-busting wheat farmers achieve those top results. We’ll talk management styles and varieties, population and soil...

2020 was a wild ride for the US cattle market, and now with the first few months of 2021 under our belts, it looks like the uncertainty will continue. DTN’s Livestock analyst Shayle Stewart joins us today to take a deep dive on the cattle market in particular. We’ll talk boxed beef prices, COVID and demand shifts, exports, and the continuing impacts of a strong corn market. Plus a thoughtful look...

The March WASDE dropped Tuesday, March 9th, representing the first relatively quiet winter report of the season.  DTN’s Todd Hultman joins us to break down market reactions and to help unravel what seem to be some overly conservative estimates by the USDA. We’ll take a closer look specifically at long term price trends, whether the growing demand for corn and soybeans is likely to hold out, what w...

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack was confirmed just a days ago, and as he and his team settle in at Department headquarters in DC, ag spaces are already buzzing with what might be on the docket. Today, DTN’s Chris Clayton gives us the full download on a broad range of topics, from ethanol and regulation to COVID relief and the future of meatpacking. We’ll discuss what a more determined focus o...

Over the past year,  the first Reader Insight Survey from DTN has collected nearly 10,000 pieces of farmer feedback on equipment to offer a never-before-seen level of insight about Big Iron. We’ve spoken to DTN’s Dan Miller twice here on Field Posts on individual category winners, but as of the 2020 DTN Ag Summit, the votes are in, and the overall best in show was announced. Today, we’re featuring...

A little over five years ago, Dr. Ranveer Chandra started the Farm Beat program at Microsoft. It was started to help solve the world’s upcoming food problem by finding ways to grow more, healthier food without harming the planet. Dr. Chandra spoke at the DTN’s 2020 Ag Summit about how data will be the key to doing just that. Today, we’ll hear his talk about how farmers should be preparing for an e...

The February WASDE dropped Tuesday, February 9th, bringing with it some additional bullish news for corn and soybeans, though perhaps not quite as much as expected.  Today, DTN’s Todd Hultman joins us to break down the expectations and market reactions to what's usually a quiet report. We’ll take a closer look at recent purchases from China, what these might indicate about future demand, and...

 Finding the optimal trade-off between tillage and yield is becoming increasingly difficult for farmers to achieve. How can precision tillage technologies play a role? Progressive Farmer's Crops editor Matt Wilde joins us today to break down the costs and benefits of the latest tech to help inform farmer decisions on how to invest for the 2021 season. 

From the 2021 Covid-19 possibilities to what a new administration might be planning at USDA and EPA, Field Posts gets deep into the weeds on what factors might have the potential to derail a season that’s already looking more profitable in the markets than the last several. Today, we’re sitting down with the DTN Editor in chief Greg Horstmeier and Progressive Farmer editor in chief Gregg Hillyer t...

Since 2005, DTN Progressive Farmer has been selecting two farmers every year from various parts of the country to participate in their annual View from the Cab series. These farmers, Ryan Jenkins of the Florida Panhandle and Reid Thompson of Illinois, get to know each other and DTN’s Pamela Smith as they work through  weekly calls and check-ins, sharing their stories and their seasons with the res...

A few unexpected announcements surprised markets coming out of a set of reports from USDA this week. The news could bode well not only for soybean markets, but for corn and wheat too in the months ahead. DTN's Todd Hultman joins us to break down how can producers stay on top of this fire hose of information. Today's episode is brought to you by ADAMA

2020 has official come to a close, but at the dawn of a new calendar year, many of the biggest worries of the past persist. Progressive Farmer Senior Editor joins us this week to discuss what farmers and rural American's may be thinking about the year to come in his analysis of the DTN Zogby Pulse of Rural America Survey. We'll talk COVID impacts, healthcare, the economy, the environment...

The December WASDE dropped Thursday, December 10th, bringing with at an unexpectedly low estimate for soybean demand, an unexpected move after a year of big swings from USDA on exports. Today, DTN’s Todd Hultman joins us to discuss what’s usually a very quiet report, what neutral outlooks for corn and wheat, and a bullish soybean market, could mean for the markets during the likely quieter months...

Over the last decade, young farmers and ranchers have been on a wild ride. But a few among them are shining particularly bright, and making a name for themselves. Today we listen in on the announcement of the 2020 class of Best Young Farmers and Ranchers as they discuss key issues their facing and share about their vision for the future of agriculture with DTN's Dan Miller as part of the DTN...

The 2020 election is finally behind us, and as the political dust settles in Washington, all eyes are on the Biden administration and what the new blood in the nation’s capitol might mean for the ag sector. We’re joined today by DTN’s Chris Clayton, who’ll give us a preview of USDA and EPA chief picks, and also explore the possible shake-ups in the House and Senate ag committees. We’ll discuss the...

2020 has been a year like no other, and has fundamentally rocked so many aspects of agricultural businesses and lives, and preparing for what comes next will take more than just investing in the farm. DTN's Katie Dehlinger joins us to discuss how you can use the DTN Ag Summit to invest in a more vibrant future for your farm business.  Sign up for the DTN Ag Summit today at dtn.com/agsummit . 

The November WASDE offered some genuine surprise for a market that is already in the midst of a bullish run. DTN's Todd Hultman joins us to help us understand whether the source of that surprise, and other uncertainties beyond the farm economy, should be cause for concern as planning for the 2021 crop season gets underway.   This episode of Field Posts is sponsored by ADAMA. Learn more at ADA...

As the 2020 season comes to a close, many farmers will be looking at how they can put capital to work in the coming year. DTN's Vicki Myers brings us the latest update on ag land values, and what experts are expecting could be in store in the next 12 months.  Read the full story "Seller's Market" in the November issue of DTN Progressive Farmer, or visit dtnpf.com for more repor...

The November 3rd election is just days away, and though coronavirus has made it clear that we won’t know the result by election night, the question remains-- how will farmers and rural American votes?  DTN’s Dan Miller joins us to discuss the results of DTN’s  Pulse of Rural America poll, in partnership with Zogbys, and to hear how shifting perspectives on everything from the farm economy to healt...