The prolonged drought in the west and southwestern states has taken quite a toll on the beef cow herd. In Oklahoma alone, the July slaughter cows and bulls have more than doubled since last year.
Nationally, beef cow slaughter was up over 14 percent compared to last July. Cull cow prices have been…

A myriad of events are influencing grain markets and activity at the Chicago Board of Trade. This summer’s weather, the Russo-Ukrainian War, and the potential for a U.S. recession are major concerns of all participants in grain marketing. At this point, we have no way of knowing which single factor or…

Thriving amid a global pandemic takes hard work, commitment, thinking outside the box, and having marketing options in place. That’s according to Gary and Parker Yost, who have a cattle feeding operation in Wheaton, Minnesota. The Yosts operate a 600 head finishing operation on land that has been in Gary’s wife’s family since…

Committed to supporting and encouraging farm kids to pursue ag careers, National Farmers awarded three $1,000 scholarships this year. Taryn Goss, Justyne Frisle, and Carlee Mae Long are our 2022 Farm Kids for College Scholarship recipients.

Illinois National Farmers Member and State Leader, Ron Schultz passed away June 6. He was a member of the National Farmers Organization since 1962, holding the office of a national board director for Illinois since 1991. Schultz was a lifetime grain and livestock farmer, retiring in 2018. He became a Burrus seed dealer in…

Four-decade-long former National Farmers staff member Pete Lorenz, Beloit, Kansas, passed away May 1. He was 76. Lorenz was known for his farmer-focused approach and promoted the need for farmers to group market to receive more income from the marketplace. “Pete was a dedicated professional and helped thousands of…

Gene A. Starchaska, age 88 of Manawa, Wisconsin died unexpectedly while fishing with his son in Minnesota on May 22. He served National Farmers in DePere, Wisconsin, at National Farmers Ledgeview Marketing Center for more than 30 years. He is responsible for Ledgeview Marketing Center’s growth in cattle numbers through…

Dedication. Commitment. Fun. Those words exemplify John Petersen, a former National Farmers national director who passed away May 5, in Caledonia, Minnesota. He was best known for growing and managing the National Farmers Caledonia Marketing Center that handled both hogs and cattle. He was 88. “I remember running hogs with…

National Farmers Organization’s ongoing support of mandatory Country of Origin Labeling continues with recent U.S. House legislation. Congressmen Lance Gooden (R-Texas) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) introduced a bill for MCOOL in late March, which would help consumers differentiate beef produced domestically from the nearly 3 billion…

One thing that unites us all is the fickleness of the weather. It seems that spring always brings either too much moisture when we need it in the field or not enough once the crops are in the ground.
During May and June, I had the pleasure of calling National Farmers members across the country to tell them…

In spite of all the challenges we have faced, our dairy program continues to grow. I can’t tell you how proud I am of each and every one of you, staff and members alike, who have worked so hard to make this growth possible. We all want to continue down this positive road. When I think of growth, I think of three important…

A Purdue University-CME Ag Economy Barometer survey recently reported producers are very concerned about their farm’s 2022 performance because of escalating production costs. Namely, input prices.
Most don’t believe now is the time to buy equipment or make big investments in their operations.

Conventional and organic grain markets have experienced unprecedented volatility in the past few months. In fact, it is near record levels for both conventional and organic producers. Fueled by weather, unprecedented activity by fund traders, expanded trade limits at the CBOT, the war in Ukraine, and delayed plantings; supply and…

Wisconsin has been a leading producer of all things dairy since the late 19th century. At that time, the state transitioned away from being part of America’s breadbasket, growing wheat and became the dairy state.
According to the USDA, Wisconsin is the second largest milk-producing state, accommodating one-fourth…

Whether you produce conventional grains, milk or beef, it’s getting tougher to make real profits today as inputs skyrocket. That’s why we offer AgProfit Strategies Workshops in 15 states across the heart of farm country. Filled with advanced information about marketing, risk management, budgeting, and…

Aaron Johnson says organic farming is all he has ever known. Thankful to be continuing the organic farming traditions that began in Madison, South Dakota, with his mom and dad, aunt and uncle, Johnson, and his wife Kristin, are raising their three children, Anika, 10, Anthony, 8, and Leah, 4, on the same land and in the same house where…

Collective grain marketing is alive and well in today’s organic grain market. And so is market price discovery in both the organic and conventional grain markets.
It’s often been said that either you’re at the bargaining table or you are on the menu, but I don’t agree completely with…

In recognition of June Dairy Month, I would like to dedicate this issue of the National Farmers Magazine to the dairy industry and especially our own dairy department and all of our producers and staff that are devoted to producing and marketing excellent quality milk to help fill the needs of the consuming public.

Another year, another gloomy dairy report from the USDA. The number of licensed dairy farms in the United States is now officially below 30,000.
Think about that. I, like many of you, can remember back to a time in which some individual states had more…

Many cattle marketing analysts have been wondering what the next Black Swan event could be. On February 24, as the first missiles launched over Ukraine, we had our answer.
I believe COVID-19 has had a long tail affecting cattle markets. But now, the Russia-Ukraine war is impacting…

Most U.S. farmers are busy getting equipment and fields ready for planting, if they haven’t started already. They have been planning since last harvest what crops to grow, which varieties to plant, and all the other details that go into the next successful harvest. Sure, plans change, but I don’t know of any farmer that waits until…

Profit margin drives the decision for Chris Halls and his parents, Mark and Michelle, to finish Holsteins on their Brooten, Minnesota operation, in the rolling hills of the west central part of the state. “We’ve always been able to make more money feeding Holsteins than colored cattle…

Re-establish non-recourse loans as a price support instead of marketing loans, and that loan rates be set at $5.00 per bushel on corn, $7.50 per bushel on wheat, and $12.00 per bushel on soybeans. Re-enact a farmer-owned grain reserve program with the fallowing provisions: The reserve…