High Court Hears Tariff Case – The U.S. Supreme Court spent three hours of oral arguments on Wednesday regarding the President’s use of emergency powers to impose tariffs. There was some skepticism, with Chief Justice John Roberts noting the emergency statute has never been used to justify tariffs. “The vehicle is the imposition of taxes on Americans and that has always been the core power of Congress,” said Roberts. “To have the President’s foreign affairs power trump that basic power for Congress seems to me to kind of neutralize between the two powers, the Executive power and the Legislative power.” The tariff case is on an expedited schedule and has broad implications for agriculture.

12 Million Tons in 2 Months ‘is Doable’ – The U.S. and China have reached a trade deal, but Soy Transportation Coalition Executive Director Mike Steenhoek says it won’t mean much if it isn’t specific or enforceable. “Having some degree of specificity, that’s important.” The deal calls for China to purchase 12 million tons of soybeans by the end of the year. “It’s very much within our bandwidth to be able to export 12 million metric tons over that period of time (2 months),” said Steenhoek. “Normally, this is the time when soybeans are the preeminent export for U.S. agriculture. Because of this impasse with China and soybeans, we haven’t seen as much activity in soybean exports. Corn has kind of replaced that, and we’re going to have to make a switch back once a deal is finalized. There will be some adjustments for that, but it is very doable.”

MFU Minute – Minnesota Farmers Union President Gary Wertish offers his perspective on the U.S.-China trade negotiations in the latest MFU Minute. Listen to the report. 

Uncertainty Lingers – Soybean basis levels received a boost from news that China intends to buy up to 12 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans. DTN Basis Analyst Mary Kennedy reminds us that until the soybeans are shipped and en route to China, nothing is guaranteed. “China has a knack of buying from us and then six months later, when the shipment time has come or even before that, they cancel it,” said Kennedy. “Bottom line is there’s nothing that’s certain with China, in my opinion.”

Trump Tariff Payments Proposed – President Trump says tariff revenue could be used to fund payments of at least $2,000 for most Americans. In a post on Truth Social, Trump called opponents of tariffs “fools” and said the U.S. is “the richest, most respected country in the world” with low inflation and a record stock market.  The president didn’t specify who would qualify for the payments, but said high-income earners would be excluded.

Trump Remains Focused on Beef Prices – During an Oval Office briefing with reporters on Thursday, President Trump railed against the Democrats’ current focus on affordability. Trump said food and energy prices have come down under his leadership. However, consumer beef prices remain in his crosshairs. “We have much lower prices than they (Biden Administration) do,” said Trump. “We only have one thing, beef, because the cattle ranchers are doing well. We’re going to bring the beef prices down; they understand that, even if we have to help them out.” On October 16, Trump made his first social media post about the price of beef, saying it was too high. Imports from Argentina were eventually cited as a way to lower consumer beef prices. The cattle market has seen extreme volatility and a sharp decline since mid-October. Feeder cattle futures have dropped more than $55 per hundredweight since that time.

POTUS Targets Packing Industry – On Friday, President Trump put meatpackers in the crosshairs, saying they “are driving up the price of beef, through illicit collusion, price fixing and price manipulation.” On Truth Social, Trump said his administration would launch an investigation. Attorney General Pam Bondi quickly followed, saying a Justice Department investigation is underway. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins was next up on social media. Rollins posted “POTUS is cracking down on the foreign-owned meat-packing cartels that have been ripping off American ranchers and driving up prices!”

Pro and Con Response – In response to the White House comments, Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts said ‘U.S. beef processors welcome a fact-based discussion about beef affordability.’ Potts also emphasized beef packers have been losing money for more than a year. She cited the government’s own data confirming catastrophic losses are happening and will likely continue into 20026.  R-CALF USA praised the investigation, saying consumers should pay prices based on a competitive market, not a monopolistic one.

CR Passes the Senate – After a record 40 days, the Senate voted last night to end the government shutdown. Eight Democrats crossed over to vote for the bill after Republican leadership promised a vote to extend the Affordable Care Act subsides. This short-term continuing resolution would be in effect through January 30. It also sets the stage for action on three-year-long appropriations bills; Agriculture, Veterans Affairs and military construction projects. “As I said many times, I firmly believe the way to fund the federal government is by passing appropriations bills in regular order, a process that gives senators from both parties to have their voices heard.” That’s Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota. Since there’s been a change in the legislation, the House needs to vote again. That potentially could happen before the end of the week.

Ag Agenda Awaits After Government Shutdown – The House passed a clean continuing resolution and Senate Republicans are on the same path. The current version only extends the government spending until November 21. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer expects that timeline to be adjusted to December or January. When the stalemate is eventually broken in Congress, lawmakers will need to quickly address the appropriations process. “All 12 appropriations bills were passed out of committee so this thing is moving rather quickly, but you also need time to do the farm bill, you have time to do the national Defense Authorization Act,” said Emmer. “There are many priorities that need to get done before the end of the year, but if Chuck Schumer and the Democrats in the Senate continue to give the American people a stiff arm, it’s going to be more and more difficult the closer we get to Thanksgiving.”

Farmers, Ranchers Face Disproportionate Share of ACA Premium Increase – Enrollment is underway for the Affordable Care Act insurance products. With the stalemate in Congress, ACA premium tax credits are scheduled to expire at the end of the year. The majority of the ag community is represented in the individual insurance market. “We’ve done some digging and the data tells us that about seven out of ten ag producers, whether they’re farming or ranching, are receiving some sort of tax credit for their health insurance,” explained Farmers Union Insurance Sales Director Lance Boyer. Significant price increases will be seen without congressional action. “You’re going to see people that are paying $300 or $400 a month that might go to $1,200 a month, you’re going to see people that are paying $800 or $900 a month that are going to go to $2,500 a month,” said Boyer. “There are going to be substantial increases.”  Boyer stressed the importance of having a relationship with the local agent to get the best possible option.

Farm Bill 2.0 Remains Top-of-Mind – North Dakota Representative Julie Fedorchak joined Minnesota Congressman Tom Emmer in a briefing with North Dakota reporters on Thursday. Fedorchak said she has been discussing Farm Bill 2.0 with House Agriculture Committee Chair Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson. “A large percentage, probably two-thirds, of the key elements of the farm bill were passed in the Working Families Tax Cut Plan, formerly called the One Big Beautiful Bill, so we did a lot of really great and important work in that bill for farmers,” said Fedorchak. “That creates certainty for them going to the next growing season by including increasing the crop insurance and reference prices and providing additional export assistance. There is the conservation title still out there and I’m definitely working with ‘GT’ Thompson and other ag leaders to talk about how we can make that really perform for our producers.”

An Important Step for Supplemental Disaster Relief – The Office of Management and Budget has completed its review for the second phase of the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program. This program is for farmers who had shallow losses and did not receive an indemnity payment. USDA’s next step is on hold until the government shutdown is over.

Corn Found Moisture – Karlstad, Minnesota farmer Kurt Aakre has wrapped up his harvest, reporting better-than-expected yields. “We finished our harvest about two weeks ago, with the corn being the last stuff coming off,” said Aakre. “We’re thankful we got that done; now we are deep banding some fertilizer.” Aakre is happy with all of his crops, but especially the corn. “We did not have a lot of rain this summer and I think the roots went really deep and they found moisture way down; it really helped.”

Mother Nature Slows Corn Drydown – The corn harvest has been a bit of a slog for Mike Appert at Hazelton, North Dakota. The corn has been wet. Fields are plenty wet, too. “There’s a lot of water in the fields; we’re getting stuck with the grain cart and the combine, too.” Appert says the early September frost hurt the local crop, especially on the low ground. Storage is at a premium. “People are stuffing everything they got, every bin, and building is going to be full of grain. People are a little reluctant to haul it in and give it way if they don’t have to, but you do see some grain being moved to the market just because people are out of storage room.”

September Freeze Stalled the Corn – Channel Seed Technical Agronomist Derek Crompton is seeing a fair amount of corn still standing as you go north and west in North Dakota. “When that frost came in September during that full moon phase, it kind of just arrested the development of that corn and they’ve had a hard time getting that corn to dry down,” said Crompton. “I think that’s the theme if you get to Jamestown country, and the same as you get up to the Canadian border, it just slowed everything up with that frost/freeze.”

Early Frost Cuts Yields – Harvest continues across central North Dakota as farmers race to finish corn before colder weather arrives. “Most everything’s coming off pretty fast. So I would say, there’s 25 percent of the corn left out there,” Clark Price said. Price, who farms at Washburn, said yields are uneven due to an early September frost that affected some areas more than others. “That frost was the real key factor there. It took 40. 50 bushels off that corn for sure and maybe some places more than that, depending on how hard the frost was. When your yield monitor should be going up in the lower areas, it’s going down.”

Farmers See Mixed Results in Harvest Season – Harvest is moving forward across parts of eastern North Dakota, but earlier wet conditions continue to slow progress in some areas. Ron Truax, owner of Spring Creek Ag, says soybean harvest lasted longer than usual due to the saturated fields. “The area north of the interstate, the area we cover, like western Barnes County, the east side of Stutsman County was extremely wet. It really delayed the harvest, a lot of beans came off really late.” Despite soybean delays, Truax says the corn crop has been a bright spot this fall. “Corn is just impressive, maybe not the real high peaks, the 280-300 (bushel per acre yields) very often, like some years we see, but overall just a good solid corn crop that’s pleasantly surprising.” Storage has been a challenge in areas affected by severe storm damage, with more corn being stored in bags where bin sites were compromised.

Wet Corn Slows South Central ND Harvest – Corn harvest in south central North Dakota is progressing; however, the pace has slowed. “This corn crop is good, but it’s wet, so you’re only as fast as the dryer,” said Mike Brandenburg, who farms at Edgeley. “The dryer is kind of the limiting factor.”  Brandenburg says farmers are working field by field, filling wet bins, letting grain dry, and then transporting it to elevators and ethanol plants. “You just sit in line a lot. That is what we do. Elevators are getting full and starting to pile now, too.”

Late-Season Push to Finish the Harvest – Numerous crops are still standing in North Dakota. “It’s been a struggle,” said Kristie, field agronomist, Pioneer. ” There’s still flax out. There are still sunflowers out. There are still soybeans that are out, but it’s getting to be less and less.” With dry weather, Sundeen sees the end of this harvest season. “We just need no moisture for probably two to three weeks. If we can get that, I think guys will get the rest of the crop in.”

A Mixed Bag in Southern ND – Thunder Seed District Sales Manager Derek Haug says most of the soybeans in southern North Dakota are done. “There are still some pockets of areas that were wet or had some later-planted beans that hung on longer, where they’re still grinding away at it.” Corn is more of a mixed bag. “There are guys that are done, and there are areas that are just starting.”

A Long Beet Harvest Campaign – The Red River Valley sugarbeet harvest is nearly finished after a long, drawn-out season for some farmers. Harrison Weber, Executive Director of the Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers Association, “It’s been a long battle and strung out here;” said Harrison Weber, executive director, Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers Association. “Tough going for those guys.” American Crystal Sugar Company yields are close to the five-year average. However, sugarbeet disease remains a concern, particularly Cercospora leaf spot. “Cercospora is kind of turning into being enemy #1 for not only our region, but really the entire industry.”

Cercospora Impacts Beet Quality – Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative Executive Vice President Mike Metzger is pleased with overall sugarbeet yields, but disease pressure affected sugar quality. “We should be right in between 28 and 29 tons to wrap up (for an average yield), that’s a good-sized crop, but we are a little disappointed in the quality. For us, it was Cercospora. We had a lot of fields that were tobacco brown, regardless of how many times the guy sprayed, Mother Nature just got the best of us.”

A Tough Year for Soybeans, Potentially a Record Year for Corn – This past spring featured a combination of very warm weather, a rapid cool-down, followed by heavy rains. Bayer Top Producer Account Manager Troy Sayler says those early-season conditions influenced the soybean crop at harvest time. “The beans were disappointing across North Dakota and northern Minnesota. What looked like 50 bushel beans was not.” Rather than planting soybeans in 2026, Sayler is seeing farmers consider alternatives, like canola, dry edible beans and sunflowers. It is an entirely different story for corn. “Corn just seemed to flat-out handle the weather better; for a lot of farms, corn yields are stacking up to this being one of their best years ever.”

Wet Weather Narrowed Application Window – In areas with higher-than-average rainfall, Syngenta Agronomic Service Rep Jason Snell says there may have been an impact on residual herbicide activity. “Sometimes their application windows got smaller than they normally would.” Fall fertilizer decisions are still being made. “We may see more holding off on fall application of fertilizer due to the prices; some guys had some tougher yields, and everybody was dealing with lower prices, which may affect cash flow as well,” said Snell. “That may reduce some of these fall applications, but I would say it’s a small percentage. Most guys that I’ve seen that do a lot of fall fertilizer are going to continue to do that.”

Easing H-2A Visa Delays – The Labor Department is recalling 200 furloughed workers to focus on visa processing, including H-2A visas. That should help avoid processing delays for farmers and agricultural companies using the H-2A international workers.

SD Corn Comments – In this edition of South Dakota Corn Comments, United States Marine Corps Veteran Sam Nelson wishes everyone a Happy Veteran’s Day. Listen to this important message. 

Markets Need Timely Information – Data has been lacking with the government shutdown. Mike Zuzolo of Global Commodity Analytics and Consulting does not believe it has been a significant detriment to the markets because weekly export inspections have been available. “I think we’re getting long in the tooth, though, at this point with almost 40 days,” said Zuzolo. “Because this is such a critical time for both grains and livestock, we need numbers to direct us in terms of buying decisions for fertilizer, acreage decisions, do I buy feed if I’m a livestock producer, or do I hold pat? I think as we get closer to the holidays, it gets more and more important.”

Brazil Crop Estimates Increase – Brazilian crop production is trending higher than earlier projections. StoneX says its latest customer survey suggests soybean output for the 2025/26 season could reach 178.9 million metric tons, compared to USDA’s current estimate of 175 million. Corn production is also projected to increase, with StoneX placing the crop at 135.2 million metric tons, up from USDA’s estimate of 131 million.

Bangladesh Buys Beans – According to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, the top three soybean crush companies in Bangladesh have agreed to buy $1 billion of U.S. soybeans over the next year. That’s three times what Bangladesh purchased in 2024. On X, Rollins said other countries are lining up to buy American soybeans after President Trump’s trade deal with China.

Australian Canola Going to China – Australia is preparing to ship its first canola to China in five years. At least three cargoes have been booked for the fourth quarter. Australia was shut out of the Chinese market five years ago in a dispute over phytosanitary issues. This business is seen as a trial run to see if Australia can meet China’s specifications for canola.

From Field to Fuel – The Canola/Wheat Outlook and International Durum Forum brought growers from across the region to Minot. Northern Canola Growers Association Executive Director Barry Coleman says canola growers seem pretty happy with their yields. “We had around a 1,900-pound average, but we won’t know exact numbers until January, due to the government shutdown.” Coleman says many of the conversations at this year’s event were around better access to the biofuels market. “We think we can really do some things to position ourselves as best we can as a crop to be able to take advantage of the biofuel market in the future.”

What’s Hot, What’s Not in the Markets – In this week’s edition of What’s Hot, What’s Not in the Markets, Martinson Ag Risk Management President Randy Martinson says the soybeans continue to be the hot spot while awaiting sales to CHina. Meanwhile, the cattle market continues to be ‘not hot’. Click here to listen to the full report.

Farming for the Future – The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is partnering with the Red River Farm Network and the Linder Farm Network to provide information on soil health events and topics. This week, Drew Kessler, Houston Engineering, talks about a new website for farmers. It is called the Conservation Connector. Click here. 

Interior Department Expands Critical List – The Department of the Interior has added potash and phosphate to the nation’s list of critical minerals, a move welcomed by agriculture groups looking to expand domestic fertilizer production. “This should really help people get through the permitting process to bring on more capacity domestically, and that’s going to be good for everybody in the system,” said Daren Coppock, president/CEO, Ag Retailers Association. “We coordinated a meeting probably a month ago at the White House that I think contributed to this discussion because it allowed people who are in the industry to really share the story of why we need this.” Coppock added that the move is also a win for farmers and the broader agricultural sector. “Anything we can do to make more sources of supply available at competitive prices for retailers and growers, that’s going to be good for everybody.” The designation aims to reduce reliance on foreign fertilizer suppliers, support farmers, and strengthen national food security.

MPCA Withdraws Rulemaking for Treated Seed Disposal – The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is withdrawing the rulemaking process for pesticide-treated seed disposal. The decision is based on a May report from the Administrative Law Judge, which said the agency made procedural errors during the rulemaking process. If the MPCA initiates the rulemaking process again, it will need to start from scratch. The Legislature directed the MPCA to focus on unused and unsold treated seed in 2023, defining it as solid waste. A joint statement by the Minnesota Corn Growers Association and Minnesota Soybean Growers Association said this action is a win for farm groups and family farmers.

MN Corn Matters – Minnesota Corn Growers Association Director of Public Policy Amanda Bilek recaps the MPCA decision on unsold and unused treated seed. Listen to Minnesota Corn Matters. 

14 Small Refinery Exemptions Approved – The EPA has approved 14 requests for small refinery waivers, exempting these companies from the biofuel blending mandates. Two requests were denied. The agency now has 15 small refinery exemptions pending. The biofuel industry generally opposes these waivers from the Renewable Fuel Standard because it cuts into ethanol demand.

Rollins to Speak at Dairy Convention – Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins will deliver the keynote address Tuesday morning at the joint annual meeting of the National Milk Producers Federation, National Dairy Board and United Dairy Industry Association. The meeting is being held in Arlington, Texas.

Optimism Seen in Dairy Sector – Farm Business Management instructor Nate Converse says the quarterly financial reports are coming in slightly better than the forecasts made earlier this year. “Milk prices are a little lower than what we would have projected sitting at the table in March of last year, but calf and cull cow prices made up for that, and feed prices have been relatively favorable.” On the negative side, Class III futures are lower than hoped for in this fourth quarter and the early part of 2026. Fortunately, high beef cattle prices have given dairy farmers a significant source of revenue. “Take the cull revenue and the beef calf revenue and divide it out by the hundredweights of milk produced and it’s been sitting pretty consistently at the $4 to $5 range in per hundredweight of milk just in income coming from bull calves and cull cows so even with a little lower milk price, that’s been bolstering farm income for the dairy sector.” Converse, who is based at Little Falls, Minnesota, said dairy farm expansion has been hampered by the availability and cost of replacement dairy heifers and high construction costs.

U.S. Beef Exports Drop 36 Percent – U.S. beef exports are down sharply. For the month ending October thirty-first, exports fell thirty-six percent from a year ago, according to USDA data released during the ongoing government shutdown. Sales to Mexico and Canada were down 27 percent, with other global markets off 17 percent. No beef sales to China were reported during the period. Analysts with Steiner Consulting Group say U.S. beef may be facing further headwinds, noting China could target the sector with additional trade measures.

MN Beef Checkoff Increase Vote Scheduled – A referendum vote has been scheduled for a possible increase to the Minnesota beef checkoff. The current checkoff rate is $1 per head, with those funds split evening between the state and national promotion and research programs. The proposal would bump that rate another 50 cents a head, but it would be refundable if requested. An in-person hearing will take place at the Minnesota Cattle Industry Convention in early December and there will be two other virtual hearings in January. Ballots will be mailed out at the end of March. It’s been more than 30 years since the last checkoff increase.

MN Beef Update – The Minnesota Beef Checkoff is focused on building demand. Executive Director Kelly Schmidt discusses the current market environment and the work being done to build demand. Click here to listen. 

Angus Bootcamp Set for December in Missouri – The American Angus Association is launching its inaugural Angus University Herdsman Bootcamp, December 1-2 in St. Joseph, Missouri. “The bootcamp is an opportunity for producers to speak with staff, ask questions, and better understand the depth of resources available through their Association membership,” says Levi Landers, director of member and field services. The two-day program will be held at the American Angus Association headquarters. For more information, click here.

Farmers Plan to Use Aid to Reduce Debt – The latest Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer shows a sharp decline in financial outlook among U.S. crop farmers. Survey respondents in mid-October said they expect this year’s financial performance to fall well below last year, citing weaker margins and ongoing market uncertainty. More than half of farmers surveyed say they plan to use recent federal aid payments to pay down existing debt. While most remain supportive of the administration’s tariff strategy, that support has softened since the initial rollout earlier this year.

Land O’Lakes CEO Cites Difficult Economy During ND Trip – Land O’Lakes CEO Beth Ford and North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong met this past week in Bismarck. Ford praised the state-owned Bank of North Dakota for its farm debt refinancing program. “It is challenging out there, but certainly no one is sitting on their hands; they are taking actions to support farmers, rural communities and resilience of this industry.” Farm stress is mounting with negative farm income forecast for the third straight year. Policy issues were part of the conversation during her two-day trip to North Dakota. “We still need a farm bill,” said Ford. “With the China deal coming together, we are seeking more detail and actual orders placed and shipped and further, a durable deal with improved market access.” Ford also joined Valley United CEO Paul Coppin at a farm near Grandin.

National Wheat Yield Contest Results Announced – Nick Pfaff of Bismarck was named a ‘bin buster’ in the spring wheat dryland competition with a yield of 147.8 bushels per acre. Pfaff was using a Croplan variety. Brent Phillip of Goodridge, Minnesota was first in the division. His WestBred variety came in just under 124 bushels per acre. For the division considering the percent over county average, Jordan Christman of Hettinger, North Dakota wins. His WestBred variety topped 101 bushels per acre, when the county average was just 39 bushels per acre. There was a new pilot contest category using digital tools, like ClimateView or the John Deere Operations Center. Isaac Hendrickson of Agate, North Dakota had the high yield of 119 bushels per acre with a WestBred variety. Brad Disrud of Rolla, North Dakota had the highest percentage over county average with 103 bushels per acre when Towner County had an average closer to 55 bushels per acre. Disrud planted WestBred 9590.

Wheat Contest Yields at 10-Year High – When you consider the 28 national winners in the National Wheat Yield Contest, the average yield was 147 bushels per acre. That’s the highest in the ten years of the competition. National Wheat Foundation Executive Director Anne Osborne shares the results from the spring wheat category. “On the spring wheat side, we saw a bin buster, the same bin buster as last year, Nick Pfaff, that was exciting for him with a different variety.” The winners will be recognized at Commodity Classic in late February. State and national winners are listed on the National Wheat Yield website.

NAWG-USW Boards Meet in TX – The board of directors from the National Association of Wheat Growers and U.S. Wheat Associates met this past week in Austin, Texas. In addition to a joint policy session, the two groups received an update on global wheat markets, transportation and international food assistance programs.

Fielding Questions: Featuring Tate Moser – In this week’s edition of Fielding Questions, MN AgDirect Territory Manager Tate Moser talks about the AgDirect equipment financing program. Fielding Questions is a podcast produced in collaboration between AgCountry Farm Credit Services and the Red River Farm Network. Follow this link. 

Dry Bean Scene – In this week’s edition of the Dry Bean Scene, Rock and Roll Agronomy owner Jason Hanson talks about a tough year for dry beans in the Devils Lake region. Click here to listen.

Court Orders Rewrite of GE Food Label Rule – USDA will have to rewrite portions of its 2018 genetically engineered food labeling rule after a federal appeals court said the agency acted unlawfully by excluding certain refined foods from labeling requirements. The Ninth Circuit ruled that foods can still be considered bioengineered even if the genetic material is not detectable through testing. Once USDA revises the rule, more products may be required to carry GE labels. The court also said USDA must clarify that QR codes alone are not enough for labeling access and must provide additional disclosure options. The requirement to use the term “bioengineered” will remain in place. The case now goes back to USDA for a new rulemaking process.

Study Shows Openness to Gene-Edited Foods – New consumer research from the Center for Food Integrity and FMI shows consumers are more open to gene-edited foods when the benefits are clearly explained. The study found purchase intent increased for pork, eggs, tomatoes and bananas when consumers understood how gene editing could improve animal health, reduce waste, stabilize supply or enhance nutrition. The research also showed that transparency and FDA approval play a key role in trust. More than seventy percent of consumers said they were satisfied when provided clear information on how and why gene editing is used.

Canola Minute – Northern Canola Growers Association Executive Director Barry Coleman discusses the recent annual meeting. Listen to the Canola Minute at this link. 

Feeding America Receives Major Donation – The CHS Foundation and CoBank are combining to make a $2 million donation to Feeding America. The money will be used to address food insecurity in rural areas.

Revenues Down for America’s Largest Farm Cooperative – CHS is reporting quarterly net income of nearly $598 million. That’s down from $1.1 billion in the same period last year. The ag segment was helped by strong sales in crop protection and crop nutrients. Less favorable crush margins and global factors were negative. Volumes were good for the CHS Energy business, but overall performance was down from year to year. CHS plans to return $120 million in cash patronage and equity distributions in the 2026 fiscal year.

Modest Income Growth for Farm Credit – The Farm Credit System reports quarterly net income of $2.1 billion, up more than four percent from a year ago. Net interest income increased by more than six percent. Loan volume was also up.

AGCO Sales Soften if Q3 – AGCO reports net sales of $2.5 billion for the third quarter, down nearly five percent from the same quarter in 2024. North American sales declined more than 32 percent. The most significant sales declines were in high-horsepower tractors, sprayers and combines.

ADM Cuts Outlook for Third Time This Year – Archer Daniels Midland posted a profit of $108 million in the latest quarter, up from $18 million one year earlier. Tighter crush margins resulted in a downturn in the company’s outlook. ADM officials said ongoing confusion surrounding tariffs, biofuel policies and lower soybean prices has hurt their business.

Bunge Q3 Earnings Announced – For the third quarter, Bunge had net income of $166 million, down from $ 221 million one year ago. This is the first full quarter since closing the deal with Viterra. Profits were boosted by Bunge’s soybean processing and refining business.

Higher Fertilizer Prices Push Nutrien Profits Higher – For the first nine months of the fiscal year, Nutrien had net income of $1.7 billion. That topped market expectations. Profits were driven by higher potash and nitrogen prices and lower overhead costs. The Saskatoon-based company is reviewing options for its phosphate business, which could include strategic partnerships or a possible sale.

Job Cuts for Hormel Foods – Minnesota-based Hormel Foods plans to eliminate 250 corporate and sales positions. The corporate restructuring will also include a voluntary early retirement program. Hormel President John Ghingo said the company is directing its resources into technology, innovation, food safety and quality.

Zoetis Issues 3Q Financials – The animal health company Zoetis reports third-quarter net income of $721 million. That’s up six percent from the same quarter last year. Sales were flat at $2.4 billion. Company officials cite a robust pipeline and major new product approvals.

Corteva Narrows Loss – Corteva experienced a loss of $320 million in its latest quarter. That compares to a loss of $524 million a year earlier. Corteva plans to separate its seed business from its crop protection business. Seed sales increased five percent and crop protection sales were up three percent.

First Release from Corteva Biologicals Portfolio – Corteva has announced two new insect control options. Goltrevo bioinsecticide is the first release in Corteva’s Biologicals portfolio. It combats sap-feeding and chewing insects, including corn leafhopper. Varpelgo is highly effective on chewing insects, including armyworms, loopers and beetles in corn, soybeans and other crops.

Early Purchase Programs Gain Traction – While harvest winds down, crop input suppliers are offering early purchasing deals for 2026. BASF Marketing Director Brady Spangenberg said it was obvious this past year that interest rates have a huge influence on a farm’s bottom line. “If you have an operating note at seven or eight percent (interest), that basically adds $1-$2 per acre just in input costs.” This past year, over 30 percent of BASF customers took advantage of early-season purchase programs. That’s the highest ever for the company. Spangenburg says simple is best for a grower financing program. “If you book now with your dealer, BASF will support the cost of that interest all the way through to November or December, depending on your plan,” said Spangenberg. “That’s a year’s worth of interest and that alone should help offset some of those balance sheet issues related to the operating note. To be as simple as possible, the threshold to get in is relatively small. a minimum $10,000 purchase, one brand gets you in.” Zero percent financing is in place until mid-March. In today’s economy, Spangenburg said farmers are doing more research to find the right financing partner. Listen to the full interview. 

See & Spray Technology Tops 5 Million Acre Milestone in ’25 – John Deere’s See and Spray technology was used on more than five million acres of crop ground during the 2025 growing season. Thanks to target applications, John Deere customers have reduced non-residual herbicide use by an average of nearly 50 percent. According to third party research, the See and Spray technology has delivered an average yield increase of two bushels per acre.

Gevo Sells Luverne, MN Ethanol Plant – Gevo has completed the sale of its Agri-Energy ethanol plant at Luverne, Minnesota. The new owner, AE Innovation, plans to resume ethanol production at a facility that has been shut down for the past five years. Gevo retained ownership of the majority of the assets to produce low-carbon isobutanol as a feedstock for jet fuel and other products.

StableFeed Wins AURI Ag Innovator Award – The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute has named StableFeed as its Ag Innovator of the Year. The Kasson-based company specializes in equine feed and supplements that use alternative ingredients to support horse health, including sainfoin, a cover crop that requires far less frequent tilling than traditional forages. StableFeed has continued to expand its product line since launching in 2017 and has surpassed $1 million in annual sales. AURI has worked with StableFeed since 2018 on product development, formulation, and manufacturing support. The award recognizes innovation, use of Minnesota-grown commodities, and market success.

German Dealerships Divestiture – West Fargo-based Titan Machinery plans to divest its German dealership operations. Company officials cite a challenging market within Europe. The deals are expected to close within 120 days, pending regulatory approvals.

Wilkinson Makes Bid for State Senate – A past president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is making a run for the South Dakota Legislature. Todd Wilkinson, who led NCBA in 2023-2024, is seeking a State Senate seat. The Desmet rancher is also an attorney

Fischbach Names Press Secretary – Reece Stallman has joined the staff of Minnesota Representative Michelle Fischbach as press secretary. Most recently, Stallman had a job in fundraising in Washington, D.C.

Wall Reelected to NSA Board – Jed Wall has been reelected to the National Sunflower Association board of directors, representing the hybrid seed industry. Wall is a field sales team manager for Nufarm. Previously, Wall was with Legend Seeds. Wall is based in Wahpeton.

Tjelde Promoted at WREC – Tyler Tjelde is the new director of the North Dakota State University Williston Research Extension Center. Most recently, Tjelde was the WREC’s dryland irrigation agronomist.

Potato LEAF 2026 Class Named – The Potato Leadership, Education and Advancement Foundation has announced the 2026 class for its annual leadership institute. There are nearly 25 potato leaders selected for the training, including Shine Enander of Grenora, North Dakota. The ten-day program includes stops in Florida and Washington, D.C. for a review of the policy issues facing the potato industry.

After 34 Years at Paulsen, Steever Retires – After 34 years with Paulsen, Sara Steever has retired. Steever began with the Sioux Falls agency in 1991 as a graphic artist. She served for seven years as Paulsen’s president. Steever is a past president of the National Agri-Marketing Association.

Comella Passes – Former Rhea+Kaiser Media Director and Vice President, Patsy Comella, passed away unexpectedly on October 23. Comella was one of four original Rhea+Kaiser employees when the agency started in 1978. She retired in 2018.