When Jeff Thompson rolled into his soybean fields in Colton, S.D., this fall, he was extra cautious. “My John Deere dealer told me not to combine ‘green’ beans,” he says. The reason had less to do with maturity and more with protecting important parts on his combine. He already had one belt replaced, and the process took several weeks. Unfortunately, his story, like so many others in this post-pandemic economy, isn’t unusual.
If Republicans control the House and get too aggressive on altering the food stamp program, history shows this is not how to get a farm bill enacted. If the GOP wins control of the House, many veteran farm bill observers signal a one-year extension, largely due to the work new leadership must do relative to hearings.
Some Iowa growers saw huge yield losses this season from a so-called edge effect. Illinois farmers report yield dings for the same reason. Agronomists are working to confirm contributing factors but haven't nailed them down yet.
Deer make for an exciting pursuit during hunting season, but they also can wreak havoc in your fields. In crop fields, deer can graze, trample and bed. Depending on your crop’s stage, this can have economic consequences.
