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March 2013 corn futures dropped below $5.50 in early May 2012 and were drifting lower when U.S. drought conditions turned prices higher starting in mid-June. The price of that contract peaked in early August, just short of the $8.50 mark. March 2013 soybean futures dropped below $11.50 in December 2011before South American drought conditions and then U.S. drought conditions sent that contract above $17.25 by mid-September 2012....More

E15 cleared the final regulatory conditions imposed by the EPA in 2012, but its path to market has not been smooth sailing. Earlier this year, the Grocery Manufacturers Association filed a lawsuit against EPA, suggesting that the agency overstepped its authority under the Clean Air Act when it granted partial waivers allowing E15 to be used in certain engines. However, on August 17, the U.S. Appeals Court for the District of Columbia Circuit sided with the EPA, confirming its partial waiver approval for E15....More

Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) are forecasting another good year for farm machinery sales. According to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers’ (AEM) twice-a-year business barometer, the vast majority of companies expect “positive” to “very positive” results for sales revenues in 2013. The exception is the livestock sector, which is bearing the brunt of higher feed prices....More

Remlinger Manufacturing offers the PFM belt driven power ditchers in both a center cut and offset model for simple, economical field water control. The power ditcher ditches up to 12 in. deep in a single pass and shows good results in most soil conditions. The spring tensioned self-adjusting belt drive assures proper tension with little down time for service or maintenance, eliminating alignment, adjusting and leak problems usually associated with high RPM chain drive systems....More

The global population is expected to hit 9 billion by 2050 and there's an urgent need to reform food production to meet the rising demand....More

Crary Industries, Inc. and Wayne’s Tile Pro have announced that the two companies entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement that covers all of Wayne’s Tile Pro operations. Wayne’s Tile Pro, located in Morgan, MN, has manufactured quality agricultural tile plows, stringer trailers and other tiling accessories for the past 26 years....More

The livestock and poultry industry as well as the ethanol industry respond to today's decision by the EPA to keep the Renewable Fuels Standard levels as is despite concerns over high corn prices. The EPA announced today that it has not found evidence to support a finding of severe “economic harm” that would warrant granting a waiver of the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS). The decision is based on economic analyses and modeling done in conjunction with the USDA and the DOE....More

Penton Media today acquired Farm Progress from Fairfax Media Limited of Sydney, Australia, significantly expanding its agriculture sector footprint to become the largest and most diversified agriculture information business in North America, offering live events, digital products, data, marketing services and publications. This acquisition directly supports a key Penton strategy of increasing investment in existing sectors that offer strong long-term growth potential, and it more than doubles Penton’s position in agriculture, which becomes the company’s largest sector group....More

Wilbur-Ellis Company, a recognized leader in the distribution and marketing of plant protection, seed and nutritional products, announced it has acquired the assets of Mott Grain, located in Mott, N.D.  The acquisition broadens Wilbur-Ellis’ footprint in Southwest North Dakota and will complement the company’s aerial application business. ...More

In our November 2012 cover story, we looked at the fuel efficiency of the new Tier 4i-compliant row-crop tractors over 150 hp. For this latest round of testing, the Nebraska Tractor Test Lab (NTTL), the official testing lab, had to revise its testing procedures to account for the extra fuel and fluids needed to meet the mandated 90% reduction of particulate matter also known as soot, and a 50% drop in oxides of nitrogen, which forms smog....More