For over a month now, nearly anyone who can lift a fork has asked what the "new normal" in American agriculture will be after Covid-19 loosens its terrible grip.Six weeks later, we now have a pretty good idea that ag's new normal will look like ag's old normal even if it takes a Presidential ...
A recent Commstock report, "Test all Packing Plant Workers and their Families" brought out a response from an industry insider telling me that testing is exactly what they are doing or attempting to do. For purposes of explanation I am going to make you the top-level management of a packing ...
We are at that in-between time of year when the furnace runs in the morning and the air conditioning kicks in during the afternoon. We are paying to heat and cool the same air each day.I'm not complaining, though. We have finally thrown off the icy shackles of winter, clearing the way for me to ...
Most people involved in ag agree that they have never seen such a fast and problem free planting season. Lots can happen in ten days if most of the days are sunny and rain free. With more 16 to 36 row planters operating these days one does not see that many rigs in the field at one time. With ...
It's Rick Friday's cartoon submission for May 7, 2020.
Before we take the next unsteady step into a very different future, let's make sure it's a step up the ladder and not a step off the plank.How? We can start with disciplined decision making: Use proven facts, lean on practical experience, and focus like a laser on what is safe and smart.That ...
I am a little surprised that there has not been more concern expressed over the ramification of everything going on relative to our national security, both general and energy security. In another update on the USS Theodore Rooseveltthe investigation now leads them to believe that the ship did ...
Cow-calf producers expected to see largest impact from COVID-19Cattle producers will receive $5.1 billion of the $9.6 billion of the USDA direct payments for livestock producers. A study from Oklahoma State University estimates cattle industry losses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic will ...
Markets across the board started the week off on edge after the energy sector brought some volatility to the market. The big headline that caught a majority of national headlines was the story that crude oil traded into negative values. The unprecedented event was caused by the shortage of oil ...
Once producers have completed planting their spring crops, they report these planted acres to their local USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) office. Filing an accurate and timely report for all crops and land uses, including prevented plantings and failed acreage, is an essential part of ...
