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…

A long-time advocate for National Farmers Organization passed away Dec. 11. Kelly Shockman, Grand Rapids, N.D., was past president of the North Dakota National Farmers Organization, and served on the organization’s national board of directors. He was active in farm politics at both…

There are many factors to consider when selecting your workers’ compensation insurance. Here are some terms – five Ds – you may have heard and the affect they have on the cost of your coverage. Dividends. Dividends are a way to share in the good performance of your operation. If you…

National Farmers Organization signed on to a letter by several farm groups urging passage of the American Beef Labeling Act of 2021, Oct. 27. The legislation would restore mandatory Country of Origin labeling for beef. The American Beef Labeling Act (S.2716) addresses…

Our Dairy Division is growing. That’s wonderful, but we can never forget that new milk needs new markets. Our sales staff relies on seven time-tested principles as they develop good homes for the milk our members produce. 1. We don’t compete with our buyers by owning or operating processing…

Even in these strange COVID-19 times, the Livestock Division staff continues to post year-over-year, double-digit volume increases. As issues of staffing, quarantines, masks and mandatory vaccinations plague the packing industry and trickle down to markets and producers, National Farmers Livestock has…

This past year has presented many and varied challenges, however, your National Farmers Grain Division has experienced a successful year with significant growth and the addition of some excellent professionals to our team. LuAnn Robinson, our longtime grain settlement specialist, retired…

National Farmers Grain Division has named two new marketing representatives. Scott Wharton is the new conventional grain representative for Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio.
Wharton grew up on a National Farmers dairy operation in Mason, Illinois, and has considerable…

Corn is King. – We have all heard that saying over the years. In today’s world does it mean anything. Is it even relevant?
Those of us in National Farmers used to predict that cheap corn meant cheap…

Have you had a chance to see the new ad we are running in farm papers across the country? If not, you can look at it in this edition of the Magazine.
We’ve been getting some great responses to the ad. I’d like to hear from each…

What a difference a couple of months can make. Last time I penned this article we were wondering how high the market could go. Now, of course we’re wondering if it can get back to the level it was then, the hope marketing…

Basis levels for November-December 2021 delivery are higher for farmers’ delivery locations east of the Mississippi, when compared with the harvest pressure placed upon the cash markets. For farmers, basis is one market signal to…

After last year’s convention cancellation because of safety concerns about COVID-19, members are excited to attend our annual winter meeting next year. And Bettendorf, Iowa is the place for Convene ‘22, February 8-9. We have packed the…

On September 15, National Farmers Union kicked off its virtual 2021 Fall Legislative Fly-In. National Farmers Organization Legislative Coordinator, Gene Paul represented members at the event. “The core issues NFU presented were…

Former National Farmers President DeVon Rollison Woodland, 92, Blackfoot, Idaho, passed away in his home on September 23, 2021. Woodland was a farmer and rancher, and was a dedicated and passionate advocate for family farmers. He had a 23-year career with the National Farmers…

Let’s take a look at cattle market fundamentals first, and it’s all good news. Cattle on feed numbers are down, the cow herd is shrinking while domestic and foreign demand are strong. Nothing but blue skies and higher markets on the horizon, right? Sure if this was pre-BSE, which I will refer to…

The countdown is on. In last year’s August monthly crops reporting, corn yield was set above 180 bushels per acre. Then a rare storm, Derecho, passed through much of the Midwest causing destruction to buildings and crops. As harvest progressed, yields were found considerably lower than…

No one reading this needs to be reminded of how rough our marketing road has been during the past several years. Mega-dairies are flooding our markets with milk, a pandemic turned the entire industry on its head, processors and retailers grow bigger and more powerful by the day. The list…

The summer of 2021 has proven to be a year of volatility from weather, markets and in some cases finding market access. It makes a farmer flinch.
In mid-July a tornado did extensive damage to our largest marketing center which is located in…

President Joe Biden on July 9 issued a comprehensive executive order addressing issues related to consolidation of businesses, including agribusinesses, and the tide of economic issues it sparks for the production level of the farm industry. National Farmers commends the administration’s efforts…

On my Montana ranch we finished haying this year on July 4. That may not sound like news to most people, but producers in our area usually don’t even start preparing to get into the fields until after Independence Day. With extreme drought hammering the whole region, we actually began haying…