Search results for 'TN'

The Simple Business Lesson that Farmland Partners Can Teach Us

By The Crossover

Published 5 months ago

There’s a simple lesson to be learned from the recent Farmland Partner’s accusations that has nothing to do with ethics... Not for the purposes of picking on Farmland Partners but to get a good reminder of a simple business lesson that can lead to ruin if forgotten (as it often is)... If you live or farm in an area where Farmland Partners has purchased property in recent years, and you have an idea of what fair market value is in your area, then there’s a good chance that one of the major themes of the article was not news to you... Hindsight is 20/20 and Farmland Partners may have gotten away with overpaying for those assets had farming not entered a volatile downturn in the last few years... I think there’s little doubt that Farmland Partners bought much of their portfolio while using financial modeling that reflected peak commodity prices...

Categories: Agribusiness

Argentina rebounds thanks to partnering with Mexico, the newest and possibly wealthiest Associate Member of MERCOSUR

By Robert Morgan

Published 6 months ago

The Member; Argentina, has experienced fluctuations in economic growth over the past decade in recent years, growth has slowed sharply once again as dangerously high inflation pressures have weakened domestic demand. has undergone massive fluctuations in recent decades. Argentina has experienced wild fluctuations in economic growth over the past decade. In recent years, growth has slowed sharply once again as dangerously high inflationary pressures have weakened domestic demand. Gross Domestic Demand(GDP) growth will be weak at best over the near term as export demand remains weak and high inflation impacts domestic demand growth...

20 Years Later: What Roundup Ready Crops Taught Us About Weed Management

By Amanda Allworth

Published 4 months ago

It’s been over two decades since the first Roundup Ready crops were planted in commercial fields. At the time of introduction, the technology was revolutionary for farmers, who found a highly effective and convenient chemistry to control a broad spectrum of weeds. Roundup Ready corn and soybeans quickly became the norm in fields across the United States, and as a result, application of glyphosate increased dramatically. The initial ease and success of Roundup Ready technology may have caused some farmers to become lax with their weed management programs, which was ultimately a factor in the introduction of glyphosate-resistant weeds. The agricultural community certainly made mistakes with the introduction and use of Roundup Ready technology...

4 Steps to Building Soil Organic Matter in the South

By Laura Barrera

Published 5 months ago

As we learn more about what goes on in the world beneath our feet, increased attention has been placed on soil organic matter. And for good reason. While it only makes up a small percentage of most soils, the Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE) says it’s the “very foundation for healthy and productive soils” — and the more organic matter there is, the better the results... Farmers are witnessing the benefits of higher organic matter first-hand... Buz Kloot, an aquatic scientist and research associate professor at University of South Carolina, has witnessed this effect across soils in the state...

Blockchain Technology: A Lifeline to Small-Scale Farmers

By Gregory Heilers

Published 8 months ago

Technology has been an integral part of agriculture since at least 5,000 years ago, documented through the use of ploughs in ancient Sumeria. Today, drone and GPS farming is old news. Still, some in the industry are unsure of the latest development to disrupt agriculture... To better understand the blockchain, and its potential impact on the agricultural industry, I sat down with Edwin Luk (Twitter: @EdwinLuk8175), a partner at Sysconverge and advisor to the Blockchain Advisory Council... ”Ag Unity uses funds from partner NGOs to provide farmers with free smartphones pre-installed with AgriLedger...

Pencil Out Fungicide Profitability

By Amanda Allworth

Published 6 months ago

Will it pay to apply a fungicide? That’s the million-dollar question for farmers looking to boost production on a limited budget. The honest answer is, it depends... Partner Up Adding the right tank mix partners can make your fungicide work harder... Think about other tank mix partners that might make sense with your fungicide application... A smart application starts with choosing the right fungicide, applying it at the right time and adding the right tank mix partners to improve overall plant health...

Categories: Agribusiness, Corn

Nuisance Lawsuits are Taking a Bite Out of Big Pork

By Maria Dampman

Published 4 months ago

In 1611, William Aldred took his neighbor to court. Thomas Benton was being sued for “erecting a hogstye so near the house of the plaintiff that the air thereof was corrupted. ” In common language, the pigs stank, making it impossible for Aldred to enjoy his home which, in his words, had become “unbearable to live in. ” The courts sided with Aldred, saying the odor was “depriving him of his dignity” and therefore, a violation of his rights... In a state where residents are outnumbered by pigs 38-1, the low-income, often minority population in these rural counties has realized that no help is coming after decades of complaints to a wide number of individuals, organizations and to Smithfield executives, as well...

Categories: Hogs

Citizens Weekly Newsletter October 12, 2018

By Angie Setzer

Published 2 months ago

This Week in AgricultureA Mixed Bag of Information from the Week that Was: October 12, 2018· A USDA supply and demand update, weather, trade talks and outside market volatility were the most talked about developments across the board this week. · Trade was relatively quiet the first part of the week as a failure to break out above short-term resistance levels and concerns over a potentially bearish USDA report pressured corn and beans. Developments in the outside market structure though created great concern throughout all markets resulting in a risk off attitude and increased selling pressure mid-week. · Ideas that a shift in Fed policy towards a more hawkish tone resulting in increased interest rates, though known for some time now, was pointed to as the reasoning behind the selloff... This week brought talk that China could join the Trans Pacific Partnership as a way to force the US’ hand...

Categories: Agribusiness

Citizens Weekly Newsletter June 22, 2018

By Angie Setzer

Published 6 months ago

This Week In Agriculture:A Mixed Bag of Information from the Week that Was: June 22, 2018· Another volatile week as traders work to decipher what a continued trade war could mean for commodities going forward and the old adage “rain makes grain” is put to the test. When the closing bell rang for the week we saw December corn down nearly 5 cents, December wheat down 12 and November soybeans down 14. · The week started relatively weak as heat that had built throughout the bulk of the Corn Belt over the weekend was expected to give way to cooler temperatures coupled with extreme moisture in areas of the Belt that had seen beneficial rainfall the week before. With corn ratings nationally sitting at 78% good to excellent—a near record high and bean ratings at 73% the common idea was rain would continue to benefit production... · Traders remain perplexed about what President Trump is doing when it comes to trade, citing issues with NAFTA partners, Japan, China, the EU, India and just about anyone else we are doing business with, while others are quick to point out he was clear about a desire to seek a unilateral approach to trade agreements...

How Cover Crops Affect Your Fertilizer Strategy

By Laura Barrera

Published 5 months ago

When it comes to cover crops and nutrient management, a lot of the focus is on what cover crops can do for soil fertility. Depending on the species being used, they can prevent leftover nutrients from running off into waterways or even produce some fertilizer for future crop use. But how should farmers adjust their fertilizer practices for their cash crops following cover crops? John Pike, a contract researcher and cover crop specialist for the Zea Maize Foundation and IL Sustainable Agriculture Partnership, and a former Research Agronomist at the University of Illinois at Dixon Springs Research station, says that while there are some nuances that need to be planned for, the basic principles of soil fertility and crop management are much the same. “It’s a matter of fine-tuning the cover crop system to fit the soils, climate and equipment that’s available in the operation that we’re talking about on any given day,” he says. “We’re talking about soil fertility and growing corn and beans and wheat or whatever the crop is, so approach it from a logical standpoint, one step at a time, to figure out the best system for the crops, soils and equipment you’re dealing with...