CFTC Sues Agridime for Ponzi Scheme
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has filed a civil enforcement action against Agridime. The Texas-based company allegedly operated a Ponzi scheme that cheated thousands of people in at least 14 states. From 2021-to-2023, Agridime operated an online platform to buy…
Wheat Seeding Nearly Complete for MN Farmers
Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers Association Executive Director Brian Sorenson says the crop is being set up for a good season. “The rains that we got over the last several weeks have resulted in nice soil moisture and conditions for…
Tiling Remains Sticking Point for Minnesota Farmers
Ag groups like the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association are hard at work this week to work on important issues with Minnesota Legislature before a supplemental budget bill gets signed. Executive Director Joe Smentek says drain tiles remain a big issue…
‘A Fun Time of the Year’
The Red River Farm Network Crop Watch broadcast made a stop at the Jay Nord farm east of Wolverton, Minnesota on Tuesday. At that time, the corn was in and soybean planting was close to wrapping up. “The open winter…
Seeking Affordable Healthcare
The expansion of MinnesotaCare’s public option has been a legislative priority for the Minnesota Farmers Union. “If we could do one thing to make it easier for family farmers to build their businesses and make it easier for young families…
MCGA Supports AFREC Renewal
In St. Paul, the Minnesota House version of the agriculture budget bill allows the Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council to end at the end of June. It repurposes the 40 cent per ton fertilizer fee for water quality projects…
Ag Credit Survey Cites Lower Farm Income
The Minneapolis Federal Reserve’s quarterly agricultural credit survey of over 60 ag lenders cited growing pessimism. Fed Regional Outreach Director Joe Mahon pointed to declining farm income as a key contributor to that sentiment. “Seventy percent of lenders across our…
USTR Issues Report on Chinese Trade
The U.S. Trade Representative’s Office has released a review of the tariffs imposed on China during the Trump Administration. The report said these tariffs had a minimal impact on the U.S. economy, but it resulted in less trade with China.…
Appeals Court Rules on RFS
The federal appeals court in Washington, D.C. has rejected an attempt by the oil industry to overturn the Renewable Fuel Standards for 2020, 2021 and 2022. Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper said the decision is “a win…
Use Executive Power to Lower Food Prices
Democratic lawmakers, led by Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren and Massachusetts Congressman Jim McGovern, want to control food prices. This group wants President Joe Biden to take executive action to address consolidation in the food and agriculture sectors. The lawmakers want…
CFTC Sues Agridime for Ponzi Scheme
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has filed a civil enforcement action against Agridime. The Texas-based company allegedly operated a Ponzi scheme that cheated thousands of people in at least 14 states. From 2021-to-2023, Agridime operated an online platform to buy…
Bennett to Lead AMVAC’s U.S., Canada Business
AMVAC has appointed Mason Bennett as the vice president of its North American crop division. For the past eight years, Bennett has been AMVAC’s regional business manager in the Southeast. Bennett succeeds Scott Hendrix.
Wheat Seeding Nearly Complete for MN Farmers
Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers Association Executive Director Brian Sorenson says the crop is being set up for a good season. “The rains that we got over the last several weeks have resulted in nice soil moisture and conditions for…
Tiling Remains Sticking Point for Minnesota Farmers
Ag groups like the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association are hard at work this week to work on important issues with Minnesota Legislature before a supplemental budget bill gets signed. Executive Director Joe Smentek says drain tiles remain a big issue…
Wheat Seeding Nearly Complete for MN Farmers
Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers Association Executive Director Brian Sorenson says the crop is being set up for a good season. “The rains that we got over the last several weeks have resulted in nice soil moisture and conditions for…
Ag Credit Survey Cites Lower Farm Income
The Minneapolis Federal Reserve’s quarterly agricultural credit survey of over 60 ag lenders cited growing pessimism. Fed Regional Outreach Director Joe Mahon pointed to declining farm income as a key contributor to that sentiment. “Seventy percent of lenders across our…
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 cites the Dow Jones Industrial Average as one of the ‘hot’ aspects of the market. “That’s had eight stronger sessions,” said…
More Rain in Southern Brazil
Since Friday morning, central and northeastern Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil received 3.5-to-7.5 inches of rain. Much of that area received 12-to-25 inches in the last wave of heavy rains in late April and early May. More rain is…
Assessing Frost Damage in Russia
Wheat markets reacted this past week to freezing temperatures in Russia. World Weather Incorporated says temps dropped into the mid-to-upper 20s in central and southern Russia and extremes in the upper teens in the north. Weekend temps were much warmer.…
Tariff Decision May Impact Soybean Oil
The Biden Administration is scheduled to raise tariffs on products produced in China as soon as this week. The list of products has not been released, but there is speculation used cooking oil will be impacted. Market analysts believe a…
Wheat Tour This Week
The Wheat Quality Council Winter Wheat Tour will be held this week. WQC Executive Vice President Dave Green says interest in the Kansas wheat crop remains high. Per usual, a widely variable crop is anticipated in Kansas. “The southwest is the…
Appeals Court Rules on RFS
The federal appeals court in Washington, D.C. has rejected an attempt by the oil industry to overturn the Renewable Fuel Standards for 2020, 2021 and 2022. Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper said the decision is “a win…
CFTC Sues Agridime for Ponzi Scheme
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has filed a civil enforcement action against Agridime. The Texas-based company allegedly operated a Ponzi scheme that cheated thousands of people in at least 14 states. From 2021-to-2023, Agridime operated an online platform to buy…
Bennett to Lead AMVAC’s U.S., Canada Business
AMVAC has appointed Mason Bennett as the vice president of its North American crop division. For the past eight years, Bennett has been AMVAC’s regional business manager in the Southeast. Bennett succeeds Scott Hendrix.
The Spring Planting Rush
As the Red River Farm Network pulled into Fergus Falls Tuesday for Crop Watch, the dust was flying and planters were rolling. Rob Fronning, who is with AgCountry Farm Credit Services, said the early-planted wheat “is up and looking really…
FFA Teacher Ambassadors Selected
The National FFA Organization has named its National Teacher Ambassadors for the upcoming school year. These 64 individuals will be a resource for other ag teachers in their states. There are four teachers selected in the tri-state area. They are…
SD Corn Comments
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. This week’s edition of the South Dakota Corn Comments serves as a reminder about mental wellness and available resources. Listen to the update.
Bayer Ag Division Outperforms
Bayer outperformed its peers in a tough market in the ag business division. Overall financials are lower than last year but higher than expected. Overall sales in the ag division declined by three percent to just over $8.5 million. Earnings…
Wheat Seeding Nearly Complete for MN Farmers
Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers Association Executive Director Brian Sorenson says the crop is being set up for a good season. “The rains that we got over the last several weeks have resulted in nice soil moisture and conditions for…
The Spring Planting Rush
As the Red River Farm Network pulled into Fergus Falls Tuesday for Crop Watch, the dust was flying and planters were rolling. Rob Fronning, who is with AgCountry Farm Credit Services, said the early-planted wheat “is up and looking really…
Working on Grain Crop and a Calf Crop
Four Hill Farms is located straight east of Barnesville, Minnesota. When RRFN made a stop at the farm Tuesday, the corn, spring wheat and sugarbeet planting was done and the end was in sight for the soybeans. “I expected the…
‘A Fun Time of the Year’
The Red River Farm Network Crop Watch broadcast made a stop at the Jay Nord farm east of Wolverton, Minnesota on Tuesday. At that time, the corn was in and soybean planting was close to wrapping up. “The open winter…
Crop Watch: Corn, Sugarbeets Off to a Good Start
CW Valley Co-op Mike Bjertness is pleased with the corn stand in his Comstock/Wolverton, Minnesota area. “The corn is just starting to poke through, but the concerns we had with the cool, wet weather were immaterial; things are looking good.”…
Pioneer Agronomy Update
In the Pioneer Agronomy Update, Pioneer Field Agronomist Eric Lagge says the early planted corn is beginning to emerge. “If you have corn in the ground that was planted in the week of April 22, it would be a good…
Seeking Affordable Healthcare
The expansion of MinnesotaCare’s public option has been a legislative priority for the Minnesota Farmers Union. “If we could do one thing to make it easier for family farmers to build their businesses and make it easier for young families…
CFTC Sues Agridime for Ponzi Scheme
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has filed a civil enforcement action against Agridime. The Texas-based company allegedly operated a Ponzi scheme that cheated thousands of people in at least 14 states. From 2021-to-2023, Agridime operated an online platform to buy…
Working on Grain Crop and a Calf Crop
Four Hill Farms is located straight east of Barnesville, Minnesota. When RRFN made a stop at the farm Tuesday, the corn, spring wheat and sugarbeet planting was done and the end was in sight for the soybeans. “I expected the…
Activist Groups Step Up Federal Focus
A new coalition of 15 animal rights groups has been formed to make local, state and national policy changes. The Animal Policy Alliance’s mission is to end what it sees as animal cruelty in large-scale farms. This coalition says it…
Prop 12 Needs a National Solution
The farm bill may see some action before the end of the month in the House Agriculture Committee. National Pork Producers Council Assistant Vice President of Domestic Policy Chase Adams says agriculture needs to get a farm bill done. “Not only…
Seeking Affordable Healthcare
The expansion of MinnesotaCare’s public option has been a legislative priority for the Minnesota Farmers Union. “If we could do one thing to make it easier for family farmers to build their businesses and make it easier for young families…
MCGA Supports AFREC Renewal
In St. Paul, the Minnesota House version of the agriculture budget bill allows the Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council to end at the end of June. It repurposes the 40 cent per ton fertilizer fee for water quality projects…
Ag Credit Survey Cites Lower Farm Income
The Minneapolis Federal Reserve’s quarterly agricultural credit survey of over 60 ag lenders cited growing pessimism. Fed Regional Outreach Director Joe Mahon pointed to declining farm income as a key contributor to that sentiment. “Seventy percent of lenders across our…
USTR Issues Report on Chinese Trade
The U.S. Trade Representative’s Office has released a review of the tariffs imposed on China during the Trump Administration. The report said these tariffs had a minimal impact on the U.S. economy, but it resulted in less trade with China.…
Appeals Court Rules on RFS
The federal appeals court in Washington, D.C. has rejected an attempt by the oil industry to overturn the Renewable Fuel Standards for 2020, 2021 and 2022. Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper said the decision is “a win…
Use Executive Power to Lower Food Prices
Democratic lawmakers, led by Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren and Massachusetts Congressman Jim McGovern, want to control food prices. This group wants President Joe Biden to take executive action to address consolidation in the food and agriculture sectors. The lawmakers want…
CFTC Sues Agridime for Ponzi Scheme
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has filed a civil enforcement action against Agridime. The Texas-based company allegedly operated a Ponzi scheme that cheated thousands of people in at least 14 states. From 2021-to-2023, Agridime operated an online platform to buy…
Tiling Remains Sticking Point for Minnesota Farmers
Ag groups like the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association are hard at work this week to work on important issues with Minnesota Legislature before a supplemental budget bill gets signed. Executive Director Joe Smentek says drain tiles remain a big issue…
Activist Groups Step Up Federal Focus
A new coalition of 15 animal rights groups has been formed to make local, state and national policy changes. The Animal Policy Alliance’s mission is to end what it sees as animal cruelty in large-scale farms. This coalition says it…
Prop 12 Needs a National Solution
The farm bill may see some action before the end of the month in the House Agriculture Committee. National Pork Producers Council Assistant Vice President of Domestic Policy Chase Adams says agriculture needs to get a farm bill done. “Not only…