Global Agricultural Developments

Market Movers

• Overnight tone: Grain and soybean futures were lower overnight@SuccessfulFarm. Market Minute noted corn and soybeans bounced off the lows with decent price action despite being lower, and suggested grains may stay sideways until fresh newsMarket Minute LLC.

• Soybeans (positioning signal): The Commodity Report said it opened a 50% long position in soybeans after the market broke out to the upside from a major consolidation, while flagging that a reversal could make it a short target again The Commodity Report.

• Corn (technical levels & trade alerts): Market Minute highlighted a failed rally that retraced 50% of last February’s highs (a level that had been key support) @MarketMinuteLLC and pointed to $4.37 as both a 50% retracement of November highs and a prior key support level @MarketMinuteLLC. It also issued a $4.50 corn sell alert@MarketMinuteLLC.

Innovation Spotlight

• Equipment updates (field efficiency & precision):

  • New Holland T7 SWB tractors: reported to cut turning radius 20% with a new front axle @SuccessfulFarm.
  • Case IH Puma tractors (155/165/185 hp): positioned around the latest precision technology and an updated cab designed for comfort and easier access @SuccessfulFarm.

• Feed operations scale-up (North America):Akralos Animal Nutrition officially launched, combining Alltech and ADM feed operations into a 40-plus-mill North American network@SuccessfulFarm.

• Farm operations software (digital workflow): Nick Horob shared that the software he’s building to help farms manage digital jobs, tasks, and analysis is “coming to life” @NickHorob.

• Yield impact data point from soil-practice transitions: In a regenerative-ag discussion, one operator reported that when converting a field to “soil healthy practices,” yields dropped as much as ~30%, with a goal of rebuilding soil over time so ROI becomes higher than traditional methods r/RegenerativeAg.

Regional Developments

• China & Brazil (oilseed fundamentals):

  • China is expected to import 106.5 mmt of soybeans in the current marketing year @ArlanFF101.
  • Brazil is expected to produce 181.6 mmt of soybeans based on a February customer survey @ArlanFF101.

• United States (export inspections—weekly & marketing-year pace):

  • Weekly export inspections (week ending Jan. 29, mln bu): corn 44.7, grain sorghum 2.1, soybeans 48.2, wheat 12.0@ArlanFF101.
  • Shipments specifically to China (week ending Jan. 29, mln bu): corn 0.0, grain sorghum 2.1, soybeans 27.2, wheat 0.0@ArlanFF101.
  • Marketing-year-to-date pace vs USDA targets:
    • Corn inspections exceed the seasonal pace needed by 332 million bushels (vs 337 the prior week) @ArlanFF101.
    • Wheat inspections exceed pace by 56 million bushels (down from 58) @ArlanFF101.
    • Soybean inspections are 187 million bushels short (improved from 191 short) @ArlanFF101.
    • Grain sorghum inspections are 34 million bushels short (worse than 31 short) @ArlanFF101.

• Weather (U.S. Corn Belt): Snow was expected in parts of Iowa and Nebraska@SuccessfulFarm.

• Trade & market access (Malaysia): The first “Trade Reciprocity for U.S. Manufacturers and Producers” mission of the year in Malaysia included 16 U.S. agribusinesses touring supermarkets to increase U.S. fruit and seafood presence, engagement with Petronas on sustainable fuels, and discussions to clarify halal standards to enable premium halal-certified U.S. beef access in Kuala Lumpur @usembassykl.

• Dairy expansion signal (Indonesia/Australia):Indonesia imported 1,300 cows from Australia as part of an ambitious dairy plan r/farming.

• Biofuels policy (U.S./Canada): A shared headline noted U.S. biofuel policy movement “fails to clarify the Canadian feedstock question” r/farming. (Source link shared: https://www.realagriculture.com/2026/01/u-s-biofuel-policy-movement-fails-to-clarify-the-canadian-feedstock-question/r/farming)

Best Practices

• Livestock reproduction (cows): Cow pregnancy rates were framed as hinging on body condition, heifer development, nutrition, and bull management at breeding time @SuccessfulFarm.

• Cattle market context (risk framing): Successful Farming flagged an “extending cattle cycle” with still lower inventories@SuccessfulFarm, while Market Minute described cattle as fundamentally tight and emphasized potential vs risk in the market Market Minute LLC.

• Crop protection (corn postemergence):Kyro® postemergence herbicide was described as supporting the “second pass,” with a wide application window and tank-mix flexibility across conventional and traited seed corn programs @AgPhDMedia. Product page: http://www.corteva.us/products-and-solutions/crop-protection/kyro.html@AgPhDMedia.

• Pest pressure (corn rootworm): A farmer noted the Extended Diapause Northern Corn Rootworm is getting closer each year, and that rotation doesn’t work once it’s in the field r/farming.

• On-farm learning loops (process discipline):

  “Tradition is great…except when it costs you a whole bunch of money.” @AgPhDMedia

  Ag PhD listed examples of traditions it viewed as costly (e.g., planting soybeans starting in May, broadcast-only fixed-rate fertilizer, rarely soil testing, and limiting varieties to those proven for a couple years) and encouraged testing new products/technologies on a small scale to build more profitable “new traditions” @AgPhDMedia.

• No-till residue learning (Ontario): A farmer reported that a 2-year no-till residue study on soybean fields was presented at the Eastern Ontario crop conference r/farming.

• Water buffering for irrigation (storage): One approach described using a 2000g tank filled from a well on a schedule (every other hour) and then drawing it down all at once each morning for irrigation r/homestead. A suggested low-cost cistern alternative was IBC totes with DIY plumbing r/homestead.

• Garden/pest exclusion (squirrels): Robust row cover hoops (metal EMT conduit + solid clips) were described as the only consistently effective protection after trying many methods, especially for crops up to ~24 inches tall r/homestead.

Input Markets

• Derivatives friction: Transaction fees were reported to be increasing on CBOT agricultural futures and options@GrainStats.

• Farm finance: Producers were reported to be requesting larger loan levels amid rising interest rates@SuccessfulFarm.

• Feed industry footprint: The Akralos launch combined Alltech and ADM feed operations into a 40-plus-mill network in North America @SuccessfulFarm.

Forward Outlook

• Grains likely need a fresh catalyst: Market Minute’s base case was sideways trade until fresh news in grains Market Minute LLC, even as it noted export shipments stout again and made an argument for higher corn exportsMarket Minute LLC. In the near term, the export-inspections pace data (corn ahead; soybeans behind) is one of the clearer fundamental signals in this set @ArlanFF101 +1.

• Oilseed planning lens (global supply/demand): Watch how expectations for China’s 106.5 mmt soybean imports and Brazil’s 181.6 mmt production interact with U.S. shipment flow indicators (including the Jan. 29 week’s soybeans inspected for China at 27.2 mln bu) @ArlanFF101 +1.

• Risk management costs & timing: With CBOT transaction fees rising, hedging and options strategies may face higher friction—worth reviewing execution/clearing costs ahead of seasonal decision windows @GrainStats.

• Cattle operations: With messaging pointing to lower inventories and a market that’s “fundamentally tight,” breeding-season execution (nutrition, body condition, bull management) remains a controllable lever amid broader cycle dynamics @SuccessfulFarm +2.

Market Movers

The sources provided for this period did not include specific commodity price moves (grains, oilseeds, livestock, or inputs) or quantified drivers (e.g., export sales, currency, weather shocks) suitable for a price-impact summary.

Innovation Spotlight

Hog production: free tool to measure/mitigate GHG impacts (U.S.)

A free digital calculator developed by the Iowa Pork Industry Center and Iowa State University Extension aims to help hog producers understand how production practices affect environmental outcomes—specifically to measure and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions@SuccessfulFarm.

Soil & field management: sampling, partial harvest, and cover crops (source: Ag PhD)

• A short video shares advice for soil sampling on new fields@AgPhDMedia.
• Another video explains why they harvest parts of the field@AgPhDMedia.
• A separate note flags that cover crops are becoming “a very important helper” for farmers in many regions @AgPhDMedia.

Reduced disturbance: no-till results in low-rainfall conditions

A practitioner in a low rainfall area described the plow as “a villain,” and reported no-till improving fragile soil and yields “night and day” versus full tillage r/RegenerativeAg. They added that this system still relied on herbicides in place of tillage and targeted fertilizers to address native deficiencies and compensate nutrients exported from the farm r/RegenerativeAg.

They also suggested further improvement could be possible with weed zappers and compost adoption, but that economics and availability are constraints r/RegenerativeAg.

Regional Developments

Animal health monitoring: foreign-aid program cuts tied to bird flu and screwworm

In a discussion referencing an Agri-Pulse report, commenters said the Trump administration cut funding for U.S. foreign aid programs monitoring bird flu and screwworm, which they described as a “highly successful program” at the source r/farming +1.

Source link shared in-thread: https://www.agri-pulse.com/articles/22636-bird-flu-screwworm-monitoring-among-foreign-aid-programs-killed-by-trumpr/farming

Best Practices

Rotational grazing: paddock design, rest periods, and stocking goals

• One plan: on ~20 acres (including a 1-acre pond), fence ~9 treeless acres into 8 paddocks and rotate weekly—1 week grazed followed by 7 weeks restr/Permaculture.
• Rest-week actions described: high mowing for weed reduction, overseeding, and (if feasible) irrigationr/Permaculture.
• Stocking target: ~3–3.5 AU per acre of paddock “without needing hay,” while planning to keep 6 cows, 6 calves, and 6 yearlings (and potentially add sheep if forage is surplus) r/Permaculture.

A separate operator considering sheep + chickens described reseeding ~14 acres to a more diverse pasture mix and using perimeter hot wire with temporary divisions in a Greg Judy AMP grazing style; they noted prior owners reportedly ran ~50 sheep but also fed “a fair amount of hay” r/Permaculture.

Pastured pigs: feasibility, management intensity, and containment options

System feasibility & management load

• Multiple commenters argued that raising pigs primarily on pasture can be done without creating feral pigs, contrasting this with historical free-ranging and wild boar introductions r/Permaculture +1.
• One perspective emphasized the labor intensity: historically, communities used a dedicated swineherd, while modern systems may require specialist labor or a well-provisioned electric fencer/Permaculture.
• Another warning: if you’re not present “24-7” (even with electric fencing), you may fail; pigs can learn routines, and the commenter estimated ~1/10 may be “naughty” and coordinate escapes r/Permaculture. They also noted uncontrolled pigs can create neighbor conflictr/Permaculture.

Containment approaches mentioned

• Electric: works well once pigs respect it; use at least two strands (one nose-height, one lower) r/Permaculture.
• Woven wire: described as more reliable long-term but with higher upfront cost; adding a hot wire inside any fence provides backup r/Permaculture.
• Hotwire specifically: described as easy and helpful for rotating pigs/livestock to new areas in permaculture systems r/Permaculture.
• Panels/stone: hog panels can work if set firmly; stacked stone walls “might” work but require skill r/Permaculture. Another commenter advised avoiding “home grown fencing” unless built from on-property stone r/Permaculture.
• Live hedges: one commenter said thorny hedge fencing (e.g., Osage orange, hawthorn, black locust) can be “bull strong and hog tight” if done properly with a good gate, but can take 5–20 years to establish; the same commenter preferred conventional fencing when it’s time to raise hogs r/Permaculture.

Practical husbandry to reduce fence pressure

• “Satisfied pigs don’t try to get out”: provide sufficient space plus shelter/water/food access; still ensure no holes in the fence line r/Permaculture.
• One family approach described: buy piglets in spring and harvest in late fall using regular fencing, with “no issue” as long as there’s ample space and food r/Permaculture.

Orchard guild detail: yarrow placement

In a fruit tree guild context, yarrow was described as having shallow, non-aggressive roots and generally not competing much with a young fruit tree; suggested spacing was about a foot from the trunk, placing it around the drip line or just outside it for sun and spread, and noting it attracts pollinators and beneficial insectsr/Permaculture.

Homestead cropping: corn and potatoes (mulches, timing, storage)

• Corn: rotate crops year to year and stagger plantings every 2 weeks (example given: 4 rows of 30 ft) r/homestead. Another approach: apply straw mulch once corn reaches ~6–12 inches tall to suppress weeds and hold moisture r/homestead.
• Potatoes (straw/hay methods):
  • Shallow trench planting and covering with straw was described as working well r/homestead.
  • “Ruth Stout” method: clear ground, drop seed potatoes on the ground, cover with ~8 inches of hay; when the plant dies, pull back hay and pick up potatoes off the ground r/homestead.
  • Container option: “bucket potatoes” using cut-down 55-gallon drums were described as working very well r/homestead.
• Short-season/storage note: 75–90 day potato varieties were mentioned as storable using a cool place and a large half barrel filled with sandr/homestead. Another grower on poor clay soil with a short season reported switching away from potatoes because the varieties that fit their season “aren’t storable enough,” making it cheaper to buy their main carb than to buy seed r/homestead.

Farm-gate economics (direct sales): eggs at market

A farmer-market discussion suggested that even at high egg prices, selling eggs may not pencil out; one example cited ~$260 per market from 35 dozen eggs (described as “not worth your time”), while noting some sellers bundle eggs with veggies and bread r/homestead.

Input Markets

Crop protection application quality (equipment-driven)

• Nozzle choice and maintenance were highlighted as factors that can positively impact herbicide applications@SuccessfulFarm.
• A separate note recommended winter sprayer prep to avoid “spring headaches,” linking to maintenance steps: https://www.agriculture.com/sprayer-maintenence-steps-for-winter-8753834?taid=697fdb0494daca000114b51a&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter@SuccessfulFarm.

(These sources did not provide pricing, availability, or trade-flow details for fertilizers, feed, or crop protection products.)

Forward Outlook

• Time horizons matter for infrastructure choices: living hedge fencing may take 5–20 years to become functional r/Permaculture, while electric/hotwire approaches can be deployed quickly and support rotational moves r/Permaculture +1.
• Winter-to-spring readiness: sprayer winterization/maintenance was framed as a way to avoid spring downtime @SuccessfulFarm.
• Feeding plans should match seasons and stocking: at least one grazing discussion assumed hay is needed when snow is on the groundr/Permaculture, and grazing plans targeting 3–3.5 AU/acre depend on forage conditions and active rest-period management (mowing/overseeding/irrigation) r/Permaculture.
• Root crop strategy: if short seasons constrain storability, growers may pivot crops (e.g., away from potatoes) based on storage outcomes and seed economics r/homestead, or try short-season varieties with cool storage approaches (e.g., sand barrel) r/homestead.

Market Movers

U.S. livestock: cattle inventory hits a 75-year low

USDA-reported U.S. cattle inventory (including calves) fell to 86.2 million head, described as the lowest level in 75 years@mutludogru01. The post attributes the decline to high costs that prevent farmers from making money and successive droughts@mutludogru01.

The same source says this is expected to increase the need for U.S. cattle imports and that beef prices are anticipated to rise@mutludogru01.

Corn & wheat (archival trading commentary surfaced on X)

A set of notes shared on X describes positioning and trade decisions around corn and wheat:

• A recommendation to buy 2 million bushels of the Dec ’11 corn contract following a “terrible” planting report and an expectation of tightness through year-end; a selloff was described as a favorable entry point @GrainStats.
• A follow-up noted corn trading at 58.25 with a long entry at 57.25, and a plan to add at 56; it also referenced client interest and a bullish MS report dated July 23@GrainStats.
• A message asking about unwinding half a corn position after it was up 10% since September and “fading” the rally @GrainStats.
• A profit-taking note: “up $230,000 (11.5%)” on a recent corn position, with a recommendation to take profits @GrainStats.
• A historical trade summary: entered 7/6/11 for 335,000 bushels at $6.095/bushel (notional $2,041,825, termination 11/25/11) and closed 7/13/11 at $6.79/bushel for $232,825 profit @GrainStats.
• A note about pairing long corn exposure with wheat puts@GrainStats.

Biofuels margin snapshot (archival)

One post cites spot ethanol at $2.70 with cost basis $1.70 and a spread of “almost $1.00,” alongside a view that GPRE could make about $1bn (while “still using $500mm in earnings”) and references $4bn enterprise value @GrainStats. It also states Jeffrey Epstein was investing in ethanol companies GPRE and Pacific Ethanol in 2013–2014@GrainStats.

Innovation Spotlight

An ag-focused AI agent builder with “memory” designed for farm operations

A developer shared details of an AG-focused AI agent builder that includes a memory system intended to help agents “remember what matters” about an operation, organize knowledge, discard what’s no longer relevant, and improve over time while protecting important decisions and preferences @NickHorob.

Key elements described:

• Two memory types

  • Daily Logs (short-term): a daily journal of agent actions, voice/text captured, and completed tasks; kept forever as a record of activity @NickHorob.
  • Curated Memories (long-term): durable knowledge such as facts, preferences, decisions, seasonal context, and relationships (examples include field size, communication preference, planting decision, “currently in harvest season,” and who manages which fields) @NickHorob.

• What gets stored: after an agent run or conversation, the system reviews what happened, asks AI what is worth remembering, and saves “only the truly notable information” @NickHorob.

• Organization & summarization: memories group by category (e.g., a specific field, equipment, preferences). When a category grows (example threshold: 10+ memories), it summarizes into a concise overview @NickHorob.

• Retrieval methods: semantic search, entity links, category summaries, and recent logs; it also weights relevance by season (e.g., planting-related memories become more relevant in spring) @NickHorob.

• Conflict handling & corrections: it can detect conflicts (example: a field’s acreage stated differently months apart) and keep both with a contradiction note or mark the newer as correct @NickHorob. Users can correct wrong memories, with a full history of changes and timing @NickHorob.

• Retention rules: after 30 days summarized memories are archived; after 90 more days archived memories can be deleted—except that important decisions and preferences are never deleted@NickHorob.

Regional Developments

United States: tight cattle supply signal

The USDA-reported U.S. cattle inventory decline to 86.2 million head (including calves) is described as being driven by high costs and drought, with expectations for more imports and higher beef prices@mutludogru01.

Turkey: import plans, domestic supply, and farm demographics

• A Turkey-focused post says this U.S. cattle situation would negatively affect Turkey’s 2026 plan to import 500,000 cattle@mutludogru01.
• It argues the solution is not imports, but developing domestic dairy farming and meeting male calf needs from local farmers@mutludogru01.
• Separately, the same author notes registered farmers’ average age is 59, with one-third aged 50–64 and one-third 65+@mutludogru01. It adds that youth-focused incentives (support differences, reduced credit interest, investment priority) are not very effective, and that making farming profitable through scaled, quality, efficient production is key to attracting younger people @mutludogru01.

Washington (U.S.): regenerative practices + co-op marketing for profitability

A Washington rancher, Will Bowdish, is highlighted for using multi-species cover crops, rotational grazing, and cooperative beef marketing to improve soil health, water management, and farm profitability@SuccessfulFarm. A related post says improving soil health and working with co-ops helped create more flexibility and opportunity and a stronger bottom line despite a challenging production region @SuccessfulFarm.

Best Practices

Rodent-resistant feed storage (practical guidance from homesteaders)

Practical storage ideas shared in a homesteading thread:

• Metal drums/containers with tight-fitting lids were described as the only option mice and rats can’t chew through r/homestead +1.
• Consider handling logistics: one commenter cautioned about the ability to unload ~300 lb drums, while another noted using a skid steer r/homestead +1.
• Plastic can be chewed through by mice; one commenter also warned that squirrels can get into containers r/homestead +1.
• Avoid storing feed in large glass containers due to breakage and contamination risk; metal was described as lighter, stronger, and safer r/homestead.
• For raccoon pressure, one approach was placing cinder blocks on metal trash can lids because raccoons can work lids loose even when they fit well r/homestead.

Egg handling for countertop storage

A Successful Farming post summarizes: don’t wash eggs if you want to keep them on the counter@SuccessfulFarm.

Podcast link (as shared): https://www.agriculture.com/podcast/living-the-country-life-radio/should-you-wash-eggs-or-not?taid=697deec194daca000114a894&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter@SuccessfulFarm

Soil health and grazing systems (Washington ranch example)

A Washington ranch example cited multi-species cover crops, rotational grazing, and co-op beef marketing as approaches associated with improved soil health, water management, and profitability @SuccessfulFarm +1.

Input Markets

Ethanol margin snapshot (archival)

One cited view puts spot ethanol at $2.70 against a $1.70 cost basis (nearly $1.00 spread) and references GPRE earnings and valuation figures ($500mm in earnings used; $4bn enterprise value) @GrainStats.

Forward Outlook

• Beef price pressure: The cited USDA-related commentary expects higher beef prices and increased cattle import needs in the U.S. following the inventory drop @mutludogru01.
• Turkey planning: The same thread argues Turkey’s stated 2026 cattle-import plan (500,000 head) could be negatively affected, and recommends focusing on domestic dairy development and sourcing male calves locally @mutludogru01.
• Operational readiness with AI tools: The described farm-agent memory system explicitly weights relevance by season (e.g., planting memories becoming more relevant in spring), suggesting a workflow geared toward seasonally timed decisions and recordkeeping @NickHorob.

Market Movers

Grains & oilseeds (U.S.)

• Corn and soybean futures were lower overnight@SuccessfulFarm.
• A market note also flagged that farmers were aggressive sellers of soybeans last fall as commercial storage grew@SuccessfulFarm.

Soft commodities

• Cocoa prices were reported at their lowest level since 2023@irfandonat.

Exports: ongoing focus (global)

Grain and soybean exports remain a hot topic, ranging from concerns about demand destruction to claims of major trade improvements Grains in Context: Where Macro …. A new export-focused analysis is digging into corn, wheat, and soybeans—including current export pace, global grain flow, and what could influence movement in coming months Grains in Context: Where Macro ….

• Link: Friday Footnotes: An Export RundownGrains in Context: Where Macro …

Innovation Spotlight

Cropin: plug-and-play AI platform aimed at food value-chain risk

Cropin launched Cropin Ecosystem, a plug-and-play platform built on more than a decade of agricultural data and advanced AI models, intended to support decision-making from sourcing through supply planning r/AgriTech. Cropin says its models deliver over 90% forecasting accuracy, supporting supply assurance and planning against pests, disease, and price swingsr/AgriTech.

The platform is positioned to help companies manage pressures including climate volatility, geopolitical uncertainty, and supply chain disruption, with the stated goal of improving farm/supply visibility to steady availability, protect margins, support climate-smart farming, and meet stricter traceability/sustainability requirements r/AgriTech.

• Timeline: Cropin says customers can deploy quickly and see operational changes within six monthsr/AgriTech.

Farm marketing automation: expanding from cash bids to basis alerts (U.S.)

A grower using an AI agent (“Hera”) reported expanding automation beyond daily cash price notifications:

• Hera is now set to track new-crop corn price at a local elevator and notify on day-to-day and basis changes@NickHorob.
• Hera now also tracks basis changes (in addition to daily cash price notifications) @NickHorob.
• Planned enhancement: alerts (and potentially phone calls) if cash price or basis moves exceed a threshold@NickHorob.

Community-building for “AI on Your Farm”

Work continues on Fullstack Ag, described as a community for AI on Your Farm@NickHorob.

Regional Developments

Northern Plains weather (U.S.)

• Wintry weather is expected in Montana and South Dakota@SuccessfulFarm.

Animal health / biosecurity response (U.S.–Mexico)

• Texas issued a statewide disaster declaration and expanded response efforts as New World screwworm cases in Mexico move closer to the U.S. border @SuccessfulFarm.
• Link: Texas ramps up defenses as New World screwworm advances in Mexico@SuccessfulFarm

U.S. policy: farm bill timing + subsidy design debate

• House Agriculture Chair G.T. Thompson has tentatively scheduled a farm bill markup for the week of Feb. 23 (per Politico reporting and three people familiar with the plans) @SuccessfulFarm.
• A Farmdoc analysis highlighted how farm subsidy policy can “pick winners and losers,” arguing base acre design and payment structures can create uneven outcomes and influence planting decisions @SuccessfulFarm.

Best Practices

Early planting risk management: test seed for cold soils (corn/soybeans)

Ag PhD argued the germination score on a seed tag can be misleading because it’s typically based on a warm germination test (77°F)—while local soils may not reach that temperature until June @AgPhDMedia. They recommend using a cold germination test (≤50°F) as a more accurate indicator in cold soils @AgPhDMedia.

Implementation guidance:

1. Get seed early, take a sample, and send it to a lab yourself@AgPhDMedia.
2. If results come back lower than desired, you may be able to exchange seed before planting—or delay planting until soils warm @AgPhDMedia.

Planter readiness

• “Now’s the time to check your furrow openers” @AgPhDMedia.

Soil and cropping systems

• Cover crops: A reminder highlighted that cover crops provide multiple benefits (shared via a short video) @AgPhDMedia.

Pest awareness (corn)

• Rootworm beetles can fly into fields@AgPhDMedia.

Water planning in perennial systems (Nebraska)

In a permaculture discussion about Nebraska, one commenter cited ~30 inches/year average rainfall in their city, with potential drought-like periods in summer and winterr/Permaculture. Suggested design elements to handle both heavy rains and drought included swales and pondsr/Permaculture.

Input Markets

Seed quality as a “hidden input”

• Because cold germination scores are not typically provided by seed companies (per Ag PhD), they recommend lab testing your own seed sample to avoid surprises when planting into cold soils @AgPhDMedia.

Forward Outlook

• Weather readiness (U.S.): With wintry weather expected in parts of Montana and South Dakota, monitor field conditions and timing-sensitive fieldwork plans @SuccessfulFarm.
• Policy calendar (U.S.): Watch late February for the tentatively scheduled farm bill markup (week of Feb. 23)@SuccessfulFarm.
• Biosecurity watch (U.S.–Mexico): Texas’s disaster declaration and expanded response underscores the need to track developments tied to New World screwworm cases advancing in Mexico@SuccessfulFarm.
• Marketing workflow: Basis and cash-bid monitoring automation continues to evolve (e.g., alerts on basis changes and threshold moves), potentially tightening response time to local market shifts @NickHorob.

Market Movers

Grains & oilseeds: currency + weather + policy headlines in the driver’s seat

• Weaker dollar tailwind: Grain and soybean futures were higher overnight on a weaker dollar@SuccessfulFarm. A separate market note (Turkey-based) also flagged weak dollar as a key influence on grain and oilseed prices@irfandonat.
• Weather premium headlines: The same market note pointed to freezing cold as another factor influencing grain and oilseed prices @irfandonat. In addition, one newsletter cited super cold forecasts in Ukraine as a market input Market Minute LLC.
• U.S. policy/macro overhang: Price action was also framed as being affected by U.S. budget headlinesMarket Minute LLC and a broader “outside volatility” backdrop spilling into grains Market Minute LLC. That same market note cited a “Trump effect” among drivers being discussed @irfandonat.

Export demand snapshot (U.S.): weekly sales and featured buyers

• Weekly export sales (week ending Jan. 22, mln bu): corn 64.9, grain sorghum 9.1, soybeans 30.1, wheat 20.5@ArlanFF101.
• Featured buyers (week ending Jan. 22):
  • Corn: Japan 14.4 mln bu net; Mexico 13.8 mln bu net @ArlanFF101.
  • Soybeans: China 8.6 mln bu net @ArlanFF101.
  • Grain sorghum: China 5.1 mln bu net; Spain 4.3 mln bu net @ArlanFF101.

Marketing-year pace vs. USDA targets (U.S.)

• Corn: Marketing-year-to-date export sales were 352 mln bu ahead of the seasonal pace needed to hit USDA’s target (vs. 359 mln bu the prior week) @ArlanFF101.
• Soybeans: Marketing-year-to-date export sales were 13 mln bu short of the seasonal pace (vs. 25 mln bu short the prior week) @ArlanFF101.
• Wheat: Marketing-year export sales to date were 68 mln bu ahead of the seasonal pace, unchanged week-over-week @ArlanFF101.
• Grain sorghum: Marketing-year-to-date export sales were 14 mln bu short of the seasonal pace (vs. 11 mln bu short the prior week) @ArlanFF101.

Innovation Spotlight

Farm marketing automation: daily cash bids into a spreadsheet (U.S.)

A farmer described using an AI agent (“Hera,” a Clawdbot agent) to set up a script that automatically pulls cash corn price and basis from a local elevator every day at 4 PM and writes it to a CSV/spreadsheet—set up via “a couple of WhatsApp messages” @NickHorob. The script was built remotely on the user’s Mac @NickHorob, and later the user reported it delivered the cash bids into a spreadsheet as promised@NickHorob.

Farm management software options surfaced by practitioners

• FarmX (beta): A cloud-based farm/ranch management system (free tier + paid tiers with a 14-day trial) designed to work across devices r/AgriTech. Highlighted modules include field mapping (satellite imagery), crop rotations/activity logsr/AgriTech, livestock tracking and grazing rotationsr/AgriTech, financial records/reportingr/AgriTech, weather integrationr/AgriTech, and a trucker portal for field-location sharing and harvest coordination r/AgriTech.
• Protura.nl: A free mapping tool for managing agroforestry systems: http://www.protura.nlr/Permaculture.

Reality check on ag monitoring tech: durability vs. accuracy

A field monitoring project described ongoing trade-offs between accuracy, durability, and maintenance in outdoor deployments r/PrecisionAg. The system tracks temperature, humidity, dissolved oxygen, and solar radiation, prioritizing long-term reliability over advanced features r/PrecisionAg, and tested industrial sensors (including Renkeer) in real conditions rather than labs r/PrecisionAg.

Regional Developments

Trade & policy

• U.S.–El Salvador: USTR signed the “final” Agreement on Reciprocal Trade with El Salvador, described as eliminating barriers and enabling more exports for grains, seafood, dairy, and meat products@SecRollins. USDA said it is committed to maximizing opportunities under the agreement @USDAForeignAg.
• Iowa (U.S.): A bill to ban the use of eminent domain for carbon sequestration pipelines was rewritten in the Senate Commerce Committee with language described as “substantially similar” to an eminent domain bill proposed by the Senate majority leader @SuccessfulFarm.

Weather and conditions (U.S.)

• Nebraska & Iowa: Light snow was expected in parts of Nebraska and Iowa@SuccessfulFarm.
• Corn Belt drought update: The latest U.S. Drought Monitor maps were highlighted as showing how a weekend winter storm impacted drought conditions across the top 18 corn-growing states@SuccessfulFarm.

Animal health (U.S.)

• Iowa: The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship detected a second outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a Kossuth County mixed-species flock within a week @SuccessfulFarm.

Agribusiness & legal risk

• Contracts: A group of Midwest farmers alleged a grain buyer with two large grain elevators in Indiana steered them into complicated and fraudulent marketing contracts@SuccessfulFarm.
• Settlements: Archer-Daniels-Midland Co agreed to a $40 million settlement resolving an SEC accounting investigation; Tyson Foods reached a $48 million settlement over pork price-fixing claims in long-running antitrust litigation affecting meat processors @SuccessfulFarm.

Logistics context (U.S.)

A trade-focused post noted that U.S. grain exporters historically did little containerized grain/oilseed shipping, but that container shipping adoption ramped in the mid-2000s@GrainStats—described as an “industry going from zero to one” for container traders @GrainStats.

Best Practices

Soil fertility: avoid nitrogen overspend and long-term soil costs

• Nitrogen management was framed as a “tricky nutrient”: too little reduces yield, while too much can mean overspending and losses via leaching, denitrification, and volatilization@AgPhDMedia.
• On leaching specifically, a soil fertility expert cited on Ag PhD’s show was summarized as saying roughly 85% of nitrate nitrogen converts to nitric acid before it leaches, stripping calcium and lowering soil pH—potentially requiring lime to restore pH and calcium @AgPhDMedia.
• Implementation guidance: dial in nitrogen rates as closely as possible using variable rate applications and avoid excess to reduce long-term soil remediation costs @AgPhDMedia. Ag PhD also noted that modern technology makes variable-rate fertilizer application “simple and easy” @AgPhDMedia.

Farm safety: transporting pesticides

If you’re moving pesticides around the farm, one reminder emphasized taking time to prepare for travel—extra caution can prevent a costly spill@SuccessfulFarm. (Reference link: https://www.agriculture.com/tips-to-transport-pesticides-safely-8597804?taid=697c10c12840fc000164fc29&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter@SuccessfulFarm)

Poultry-to-garden nutrient recycling (small-scale)

A homesteading thread described a simple manure capture system:

• Tie a tarp (burlap mentioned) under cages to collect droppings; urine drains through, while solid manure dries quickly r/homestead +1.
• Weekly routine: detach one corner, sweep manure into a 5-gallon bucket, and apply to the garden weekly r/homestead +1.
• Monthly cleanup: hose off the tarp about once a month to keep odors down r/homestead.

Regenerative agriculture: learning resources shared by practitioners

A commenter argued that regenerative agriculture requires deep understanding of ecology/biology/soil science and highlighted plant–herbivore relationships as central to rebuilding prairie topsoil and improving water-cycle function r/RegenerativeAg. They recommended several soil-health resources and speakers (books and YouTube channels/talks) as starting points r/RegenerativeAg.

Input Markets

Fertility economics: nitrogen efficiency as an “input market” lever

While no specific price quotes were provided, the nitrogen discussion above explicitly linked over-application to:

• direct overspend, plus losses through multiple pathways @AgPhDMedia
• longer-term soil correction needs (lime to restore pH/calcium after leaching-related acidification) @AgPhDMedia

Biofuels/processing signal (U.S.)

Ethanol production was reported as falling week to week in a daily market roundup @SuccessfulFarm.

Forward Outlook

• Marketing posture: One market note said USDA advises “reward rallies”Market Minute LLC, and also flagged that the market was close to a soybean sell signalMarket Minute LLC.
• Planning timing: The same note suggested producers often want to wait for insurance pricing for new cropMarket Minute LLC.
• Watch list (next catalysts referenced): outside volatility and U.S. budget headlinesMarket Minute LLC, plus continued monitoring of cold-risk headlines (including Ukraine forecasts) Market Minute LLC and ongoing U.S. winter weather updates (e.g., parts of NE/IA) @SuccessfulFarm.

Market Movers

Grains: higher trade, driven by money flow and currency headlines (U.S.)

• Jan 28 pricing snapshot (CBOT/KCBT/MGE): March corn $4.2975 (+3.25¢), March soybeans $10.7875 (+11.5¢), March Chicago wheat $5.3025 (+7¢), March KC wheat $5.3775 (+5¢), March spring wheat $5.7525 (+3.5¢) Grain Markets and Other Stuff. The same “up 3/7/11” tone showed up in early trade chatter @GoddessofGrain +1.

• What was blamed/credited for the rally: Farm Journal’s close framed the day as fund buying with “very little underlying change in the fundamentals,” tied to market attention on comments interpreted as a pivot away from a strong-dollar posture Farm Journal.

• Dollar backdrop: One segment described the U.S. dollar as at its weakest level in nearly four years Grain Markets and Other Stuff, and also highlighted the USD as at its weakest vs. the Brazilian real since May 2024 Grain Markets and Other Stuff.

• Macro flow into commodities (but uneven across ag): A Farm Journal guest tied commodity index strength since October to a reported Fed pause in quantitative tightening and later balance-sheet actions (described as effectively QE), correlating with higher commodity indexes and fund buying across sectors (metals/energies/meats) Farm Journal. Another market commentator argued the ag sub-index has shown “absolutely no life at all,” even as broader commodity indexes are strong Grain Markets and Other Stuff.

Soybeans: Brazil logistics + biofuels policy timing

• Brazil port logistics: Soybean strength was linked to slower deliveries to Brazilian ports and an “uptick in premiums” at the port, with attention on whether FOB values hold in Brazil vs. last year Farm Journal.

• Biofuels policy watch (U.S.): Market participants flagged “hopeful or positive” news flow on 45Z and that RVO levels may be announced in the coming weeks, with an EPA “first half of March” timing cited for resolution Farm Journal. Another Farm Journal segment also said it looks like March before RVO/SRE-related announcements Farm Journal.

• Technical framing: Soybean oil was described as forming a rounding bottom/cup-and-handle type pattern and “breaking out again,” with the view that a favorable March biofuels decision could support soybeans Farm Journal.

Corn: E15 headlines vs. range/structure signals

• E15: Trump said Congress is “very close” to a deal allowing year-round E15 and referenced “up to 2 billion more bushels of corn” potentially consumed domestically Grain Markets and Other Stuff. Multiple analysts emphasized that this is voluntary, not mandatory, and would likely take years to materially alter balance sheets; the market response was described as muted Grain Markets and Other Stuff +1.

• Exports/sales: U.S. exporters reported a flash sale of 4 million bushels of corn and 306,000 metric tons of sorghum to unknown destinations (current marketing year), noted as the first U.S. sorghum flash sale since Aug 2020Grain Markets and Other Stuff.

• Balance-sheet nuance: One Farm Journal guest said U.S. corn carryout now represents 51% of global corn carryout excluding China (up from ~44% a year ago), and linked that to U.S. exports “overperforming” Farm Journal.

• China rumor channel (unconfirmed): A Farm Journal guest referenced rumors that China’s corn crop may have high toxin levels, citing inverted European wheat spreads as a possible sign China is looking for blending alternatives (potentially wheat or U.S. corn) Farm Journal.

Wheat: weather premium vs. export competitiveness

• Winter risk is hard to quantify early: A Farm Journal segment said wheat damage is typically unclear until dormancy breaks, with low correlation between freeze situations and final yields at this point in the crop year Farm Journal +1.

• Export pricing challenge: One Farm Journal segment cited U.S. wheat offers carrying roughly a $30 premium to competing offers from Argentina, Russia, Ukraine, Europe, and French wheat Farm Journal.

Livestock: cattle inventory focus; hogs cool after fund-length extremes

• Cattle: Grain Markets reported cattle futures mostly lower and boxed beef lower (Choice $368.11, Select $365.19) Grain Markets and Other Stuff. Farm Journal flagged the cattle inventory report as a key near-term directional input, alongside weather/logistics constraints on trade Farm Journal.

• Hogs: A Farm Journal close described a pullback as profit-taking/money rotation after highs, alongside “near record fund length” and “near record open interest” in hogs Farm Journal.

Innovation Spotlight

Low-carbon nitrogen-to-ethanol supply chain pilot (U.S.)

CF Industries and POET, working with major ag co-ops, described a pilot to develop a low-carbon fuel + fertilizer supply chain, tracking the carbon intensity of low-carbon nitrogen fertilizer sold to corn growers in four states Farm Journal. POET said it expects to produce ~5–6 million gallons of ethanol from corn grown using that fertilizer Farm Journal.

Barn-level metagenomic disease monitoring for poultry (U.S.)

Barnwell Bio raised $6M to deploy metagenomic, whole-barn early disease detection in poultry facilities (starting in the U.S. Midwest and Southeast) r/AgriTech. The system creates a barn “microbiome fingerprint” from foot swabs, then turns results into risk scores and visuals to guide interventions (e.g., targeted antibiotics, biosecurity upgrades, nutritional and water-based treatment) and track whether interventions are working over time r/AgriTech.

Low-tech stream restoration with beaver dam analogs (Iowa, U.S.)

A Practical Farmers of Iowa webinar described beaver dam analogs (BDAs) as human-built structures that mimic beaver dams to “prime the pump” for beavers and low-tech watershed restoration—without heavy equipment Practical Farmers of Iowa.

• Cost: roughly $500 (at $30/hour labor, using local willows) Practical Farmers of Iowa.
• Field performance: the presenter said a BDA survived a “thousand year flood event” (though not perfectly) Practical Farmers of Iowa and also referenced surviving “2000 year flood events” in the same year Practical Farmers of Iowa.
• Caveat: not a one-size-fits-all approach; not suited for large streams and requires potential for beaver migration into the site Practical Farmers of Iowa.

Regional Developments

South America: Argentina heat/dry risk; Brazil crop size and logistics

• Argentina: Hot/dry conditions were described as putting crops at risk, with temperatures nearing 104°F in key regions and little rain expected until February; USDA estimates cited were 53 MMT corn and 48.5 MMT soybeansGrain Markets and Other Stuff. Another segment anticipated Argentina staying drier for the next two weeks, with the view that estimates could be trimmed Grain Markets and Other Stuff.

• Brazil: Beyond port delivery complications supporting nearby soybean pricing Farm Journal, Farm Journal also cited private entities raising Brazilian soybean estimates toward a first-ever 180+ MMT crop, increasing competition for U.S. exports Farm Journal.

• China buying pattern: Grain Markets reported China shifting soybean purchases back toward Brazil, booking at least 25 cargoes of Brazilian soybeans for March/April shipment due to a significant Brazil price advantage, and suggested China is unlikely to buy additional U.S. soybeans until new-crop availability in September Grain Markets and Other Stuff.

U.S.: cold risk and freeze management

• Florida fruit crops: Farm Journal warned of potential mid-to-low 20s (°F) temperatures around Orlando/Lake County, raising concern for citrus, strawberries, and blueberries Farm Journal. Irrigation-based freeze protection (sprinklers) can help—because freezing water generates heat—but high winds can reduce effectiveness or even make it worse Farm Journal.

• Midwest cold: A Successful Farming note flagged extreme cold expected in parts of Indiana and Ohio @SuccessfulFarm.

Trade: U.S. wheat to Bangladesh

A nearly 60,000 metric ton shipment of “premium, high-protein” U.S. wheat arrived at Chattogram Port, described as among the historic first shipments of this type of wheat @USAmbBangladesh +1. The same source noted Bangladesh produces only 13% of the wheat it consumes annually @USAmbBangladesh.

Best Practices

Crop protection choices for corn broadleaf control (U.S.)

Ag PhD compared three herbicide approaches:

• Status: broad broadleaf control, includes a corn safener; cited at ~$20/acre@AgPhDMedia.
• HPPDs (e.g., Callisto): good on most broadleaves but weaker on vines/perennials; often $2/acre or less; provides soil residual but comes with carryover and resistance concerns @AgPhDMedia.
• Liberty: requires Liberty-tolerant corn (examples given: SmartStax, PowerCore Enlist); strong on broadleaves and most grasses but no residual and spray coverage is critical @AgPhDMedia.

Marketing discipline and rotation focus (U.S.)

• A Farm4Profit segment emphasized tight farm margins and the importance of cash management/cash flow, plus measuring your position to define risk and make clearer decisions Farm4Profit Podcast.
• A Michigan Master Farmer profile highlighted using hedging, basis, and call options as part of grain marketing Brownfield Ag News and maintaining crop rotation over time Brownfield Ag News.

Practical livestock notes

• Cold stress and cattle performance: Farm Journal noted cold weather can shift feed energy toward heat production rather than weight gain Farm Journal.
• Hog fencing pitfalls (small-scale): A homesteading discussion warned that if an electric “hot line” is too low, hogs may stack dirt and ground it out; too high and they can get under it r/homestead.

Input Markets

Crop insurance support levels (U.S.)

Successful Farming reported that subsidy levels for federal crop insurance products SCO and ECO increased from 65% to 80%, prompting many farmers to consider these options @SuccessfulFarm.

Trait technology (U.S., 2027 season)

Syngenta’s DuraStack Trait Technology was promoted as a triple-Bt protein stack with three modes of action for corn rootworm control; rootworm was cited as costing farmers up to $1B/year, with product availability for the 2027 seasonFarm Journal.

Biofuels policy uncertainty and diesel volumes (U.S.)

Biofuels groups asked the administration to prioritize and expedite rules on 45Z and the renewable volume obligations; one segment reported U.S. biomass-based diesel production was down substantially in 2025 due to policy delays, with Iowa volumes down about 30%Farm Journal.

Forward Outlook

• Biofuels timing: Multiple sources point to March / first half of March as the window for more clarity on RVOs and related biofuels policy—key for soybean oil and broader oilseed sentiment Farm Journal +1.

• South America weather: Watch Argentina’s ongoing hot/dry pattern and the potential for downward revisions to crop estimates Grain Markets and Other Stuff.

• Cattle direction: Near-term focus remains on the cattle inventory report and how cash trade develops amid storm-related logistics Farm Journal.

Market Movers

Soybeans: China shifts purchases to Brazil; U.S. charts watching $10.70

• China demand shift: Multiple sources reported that after meeting an initial 12M metric ton U.S. soybean purchase target, China has been ramping up orders for Brazilian cargoes@SuccessfulFarm +1. One market segment also cited reports of “20+ cargo loads” bought in Brazil, supported by the view that Brazilian soybeans were $0.50–$0.70/bushel cheaper than U.S. supplies Farm Journal.
• Technical focus: Soybeans have repeatedly failed near $10.70; one chart-focused post framed $10.70 as a critical breakout level after ~10 failures, with a potential move to the next level ~20 cents higher if it clears @MarketMinuteLLC.
• Pricing snapshots: March soybeans were quoted at $10.63½Grain Markets and Other Stuff. Another Brazil-focused segment cited Chicago soybeans at $1,061.75/bushel, down 0.6%, tied to the start of the Brazilian harvest and weaker cumulative U.S. demand vs. last year Canal Rural.

Corn: range trade vs. export strength and biofuels headlines

• Range-bound U.S. corn: Analysts described a sideways market in a lower range (support around 415¢, resistance 430–435¢) as traders wait for clarity on biofuels demand and South American weather, especially Brazil’s second-crop corn (safrinha) Farm Journal.
• Exports and sales headlines: U.S. export inspections for the week ending Jan 22 were reported at 59M bushels corn (+21% YoY) Grain Markets and Other Stuff, and one summary noted marketing-year-to-date corn shipments/inspections up 53% YoYGrain Markets and Other Stuff. Private exporters also reported 110,000 MT corn and 306,000 MT sorghum sold to unknown destinations for MY 2025/2026 @USDAForeignAg.
• Biofuels (U.S.): One market note said soybeans/soy oil “bounced” on hopes of a biofuels-related announcement (including blending rates) Farm Journal. Separately, Trump was quoted saying approvals for E15 were “very close to getting it done” @bsims1977, and USDA posted that Sec. Rollins issued a statement applauding support for nationwide year-round E-15 sales @USDA.

Wheat, dairy, and livestock

• Wheat: March Chicago wheat was quoted at $5.23Grain Markets and Other Stuff, with another segment describing snow cover insulating parts of the U.S. High Plains crop even as localized damage was reported in Nebraska, northeast Colorado, and far northwest Kansas Grain Markets and Other Stuff.
• Dairy: Class III milk futures saw a sharp rally (including limit up on Monday) attributed to stronger butter and cheese demand alongside short-covering/technical buying, despite a bearish report citing milk production up 4%Farm Journal.
• Cattle and hogs: Markets were described as waiting on a cattle inventory report for herd-rebuild signals, while winter weather slowed cash sales Farm Journal. Hogs were described as resilient, closing higher for ~10 consecutive weeksFarm Journal.

Innovation Spotlight

Regenerative systems with measured outcomes: soil, water, and profitability

• Gabe Brown (Brown’s Ranch): Brown described a transition to 100% no-tillEverybody Wants To Be A Farmer and multi-species cover crop integration Everybody Wants To Be A Farmer. Reported outcomes included soil organic matter moving from 1.7% to >8%Everybody Wants To Be A Farmer, water infiltration increasing from 0.5 inch/hr to >30 inches/hrEverybody Wants To Be A Farmer, and water-holding capacity rising from ~35,000 to >160,000 gallons/acreEverybody Wants To Be A Farmer.
• Verification and price premiums: Brown said Regenefied was founded as a verification company using 90+ tests/observations across soil, water, and biodiversity Everybody Wants To Be A Farmer, and noted that verified regenerative products can garner a substantial premiumEverybody Wants To Be A Farmer.

Corporate programs and on-farm economics (Brazil): regenerative practice adoption in dairy supply

• A Nestlé-led case (150 dairy producers) cited comparisons between conventional vs. regenerative practice adoption (including no-till, keeping soil covered, cover crops, and using treated dairy waste as an organic fertilizer substitute). Reported results: +8% corn silage productivity, -13% chemical fertilizer use, and +4% dairy profitabilityCanal Rural.

Digital monitoring at scale (China): rice production decision support

• One segment described a 30,000 mu rice operation using digital monitoring and dashboards to support timing of pesticide/fertilizer applications, including drone operations 农业致富经 Agriculture And Farming.

Regional Developments

Brazil: record crop pressure meets farm cash-flow constraints

• Soybean commercialization lag: During what was described as the largest soybean harvest in history, Brazilian commercialization was cited at roughly 30%, below historical averages Canal Rural. Prices below R$100/sack in some regions were associated with negative margins for some growers unless productivity is high Canal Rural.
• Holding inventory is costly: Analysts highlighted storage/carry costs plus opportunity cost with interest around 15%/year, arguing prolonged holding can be financially damaging Canal Rural.

Brazil: safrinha corn faces tighter planting window and higher costs

• Mato Grosso cost pressure: Second-crop corn costs were estimated at R$3,319/ha (+2.56% YoY), driven mainly by fertilizers rising nearly 6% to about R$1,421/haCanal Rural +1.
• Planting window risk: With delayed soybean harvest, one report estimated 70% still within the window and 30% outside in Querência (MT) Canal Rural. It also described the “good window” as up to Feb 20, late February as risky, and March as essentially unworkable for planting safrinha corn Canal Rural.
• Operational workaround: One producer described using center pivots as operational “allies” to plant 20–30 days earlier than the typical dryland schedule (without needing irrigation), improving output Canal Rural.

Paraguay: improved 2025/26 soy prospects after drought years

• In northern Paraguay (San Pedro), a cooperative reported the 2025/26 season as favorable after four drought-impacted harvests, with early plantings (about 20% of area) yielding 4,000–4,500 kg/haABC Rural. Reduced pest/disease pressure was associated with fewer agrochemical applications (1–2 vs. 5–7 previously) ABC Rural.

Trade and policy signals (EU–Mercosur)

• EU–Brazil data and privacy recognition: Brazil and the EU signed a mutual recognition agreement on data protection and privacy. Coverage framed it as facilitating shipments of products such as meat, soy, and coffee and strengthening the broader Mercosur–EU trade agreement Canal Rural. A separate note cited expected benefits including more legal security, lower costs, and potential 7–9% growth in digital trade Canal Rural.
• Mercosur–EU political friction: Another segment described strong French rural-producer opposition and said the deal was stalled by a judicial decision Canal Rural.

Weather: Brazil’s central rains vs. southern dryness

• Forecasts tied Amazon humidity to instability and heavier rain over parts of central Brazil (including Mato Grosso, São Paulo, and Minas Gerais) Canal Rural.
• Dom Pedrito (Rio Grande do Sul), an area noted for rice and soy, was described as facing minimal rain into early February (about 82mm over 30 days) and highs near 34°CCanal Rural.

Best Practices

Grains and soils

• Precision fertilizer efficiency (Brazil): A fertilizer segment emphasized that reduced fertilizer imports don’t necessarily mean reduced technology, pointing to variable-rate application and precision agriculture to apply nutrients “where needed” Canal Rural.
• Target “good and bad yield spots”: A short agronomy post stressed that understanding bad and good yield spots is essential @AgPhDMedia.
• Salt stress awareness: One agronomy note warned that excess soil salt can hurt roots and early growth @AgPhDMedia.

Nutrient strategies for resilience

• Advanced plant nutrition: A Brazilian segment said climate stress accounted for nearly 40% of productivity losses over the last 20 years Canal Rural, and cited results where advanced nutrition in stress years reduced losses by up to 21%Canal Rural.
• Mycorrhiza mechanism (India): A segment explained mycorrhiza as a symbiotic fungus that trades plant sugars for making “fixed” soil nutrients (e.g., phosphorus) available to plants Krishi Jagran.

Livestock and farm operations

• Predator control for pasture poultry: A practical demo described using electric netting to redirect habitual predators Farm Like A Lunatic with Joel S… and emphasized camouflage and local materials when setting a trap (e.g., local soil and vegetation) Farm Like A Lunatic with Joel S….
• Dairy calf housing hygiene (UK): One dairy operator described increasing calf pen cleanouts to roughly monthly (noting when a month was skipped, two months of manure accumulated) Tom Pemberton Farm Life and using sawdust bedding as “cheapish” and easy to apply Tom Pemberton Farm Life.

Input Markets

Fertilizers: Brazil import record, higher prices, and “specials” growth

• Brazil fertilizer imports hit a record: Imports totaled 45.5M tons in 2025, up from 44.2M in 2024, with Mato Grosso, Paraná, and São Paulo leading consumption Canal Rural.
• Growth rate slowed as prices rose: Another analysis said import growth in 2025 slowed to 3% as prices rose from $306/ton (2024) to $340/ton (above 10% increase) Canal Rural.
• 2026 outlook (Brazil): One speaker expected imports to be flat to down despite area gains, citing January preliminary imports around 2.8–2.9M tons vs. 3M prior year Canal Rural.
• Special fertilizers market: A Brazilian segment said the “special fertilizers” sector reached nearly R$27B in 2024 (+19% YoY) while the conventional market was largely stagnant Canal Rural.

Energy-linked processing risk (U.S.)

• Natural gas prices were reported above $7 amid winter storms, with disruption to roughly 10% of U.S. natural gas production Grain Markets and Other Stuff. Separately, a market segment said high natural gas prices led some ethanol and soy processing plants to slow or shut down, as some plants could profit more by selling gas back into the market Farm Journal.

Crop protection / trait technology

• Corn rootworm trait (2027 season): Syngenta’s DuraStack was described as featuring three modes of action for corn rootworm control Farm Journal, with rootworm costs cited at up to $1B/yearFarm Journal.

Forward Outlook

• Biofuels policy watch (U.S.): Market commentary continues to link soybean oil and corn demand sensitivity to biofuels policy developments Farm Journal. Public statements suggest movement toward nationwide year-round E-15 sales remains a key near-term policy signal @USDA +1.
• Brazil: near-term marketing and cash-flow pressure: With commercialization around 30% mid-harvest and high carry/opportunity costs, analysts stressed the financial downside of holding soybeans for months under high interest rates Canal Rural.
• South America corn weather window: A U.S. market outlook emphasized late March to early April as a key period for monitoring Brazil safrinha corn weather, given the crop’s importance to Brazilian production Farm Journal.
• Input planning: Brazil’s fertilizer narrative points to a split between (1) overall import growth slowing as prices rise Canal Rural and (2) continued growth in higher-efficiency “special” fertilizer segments Canal Rural—suggesting nutrient ROI scrutiny will stay central in 2026 budgets.

Market Movers

Grains: export demand vs. weather and positioning (U.S. + global)

• U.S. morning indications (Jan 26): March corn 429.5 (down 1), soybeans 1071.75 (up 4¢), Chicago wheat 530.75 (up 1.25¢), KC wheat 541 (up 0.25¢), spring wheat 576.5 (up 1.5¢) Grain Markets and Other Stuff.
• Corn strength tied to exports: March corn previously rose nearly 7 cents to settle near 431, with gains attributed to export sales that significantly exceeded expectations Grain Markets and Other Stuff.
• Marketing-year highs in export sales (week ending Jan 15):
  • Corn: 158M bushelsGrain Markets and Other Stuff
  • Soybeans: 90M bushels (marketing-year high; up 19% vs. prior week and up 92% vs. prior 4-week average) Grain Markets and Other Stuff
  • Wheat: 23M bushels (sales surpassed expectations) Grain Markets and Other Stuff
  • Commentary noted “unknown destinations” buying included 1.3M metric tons of corn, with market talk about whether that could be China Grain Markets and Other Stuff.
• Positioning (CFTC, as of Jan 20): funds were net sellers of 5,000 corn contracts on the week; net short 96,000 corn contracts (largest since late October). Funds were also net sellers of 5,000 soybean and 5,000 SRW wheat contracts Grain Markets and Other Stuff.
• Overnight fade / technical watch: grains were “higher overnight but faded” Market Minute LLC, with soybeans “fail[ing] at key resistance for the 4th day” Market Minute LLC.

Livestock: cash strength, cold stress, and hog overbought signals (U.S.)

• Cattle: cash trade strengthened Friday to roughly $236+ in the South and $235 in the NorthFarm Journal, and this cash strength was cited as outweighing a disappointing cattle-on-feed report Farm Journal.
• Cattle on feed (Jan 1): total 11.45M head (3% below year-ago levels, but marginally above pre-report expectations) Grain Markets and Other Stuff. December placements were 1.55M head (higher than expected; 5% below last year) Grain Markets and Other Stuff.
• Hogs: one analyst described hogs as statistically “overbought” since Dec 3 (stochastics above 80), citing tighter supply because of disease as a key driver and warning to be sensitive after a large move Farm Journal.

Biofuels and energy-linked demand: uncertainty still a market factor (U.S.)

• E15: year-round nationwide E15 sales were left out of a government funding package; an “E15 rural domestic energy Council” is set to be formed to study year-round sales, prompting backlash from corn and ethanol groups Grain Markets and Other Stuff.

• EPA biomass-based diesel volumes (proposed): one policy discussion said EPA proposed 5.61B gallons for 2026 (vs. 3.3B set for 2025), framing it as potentially significant for soybean oil demand and crushing economics Brownfield Ag News.

Innovation Spotlight

Early disease detection in soybeans (U.S.)

• InnerPlant CropVoice: described as detecting soybean disease weeks before symptoms appear, helping optimize fungicide timing and avoid missed or unnecessary applications @SuccessfulFarm.

Precision ag + decision support (Italy / EU)

• CropsBoard (Italy): solar-powered IoT sensors measuring soil moisture, temperature, electrical conductivity, and weather feed a cloud dashboard where AI provides recommendations on irrigation timing, disease risk, and fertilizer optimization r/AgriTech.
  • Reported user outcomes (as stated by the poster): ~30% savings on water and fertilizers and ~15% yield improvement across multiple crop types r/AgriTech.
  • Website listed: http://cropsboard.eur/AgriTech.

Pest and trait tech (U.S.)

• Syngenta DuraStack (2027 season): described as a corn rootworm trait technology with three modes of action / “first triple BT protein stack” for corn rootworm control Farm Journal.

Regional Developments

U.S.: winter storm and polar vortex effects on logistics and production

• A “record breaking” winter storm across 28 states was reported to slow grain transport, ethanol production (to conserve natural gas), and soy plant operations Farm Journal.
• Cold-related livestock impacts included wind chills to -55°F in Wisconsin and broader impacts on livestock performance and health Farm Journal.
• Winter wheat: winter kill risk in Kansas was noted where a deep freeze followed above-average temperatures, while snow cover was cited as a potential protective factor; damage may not be clear until April Farm Journal.
• Drought backdrop: one market discussion put the Corn Belt drought area at roughly 30% and said the next 75–90 days are “really, really important” for snowfall/spring rains to avoid an “uphill battle” into April Farm Journal.

Brazil: harvest weather and export headlines

• Mato Grosso soy harvest: soy harvest reached 13.8% of area in the 25/26 season, faster than the prior year, with intense rains narrowing harvest windows and pushing producers to use dryers and harvest at higher moisture to keep pace Canal Rural. Continued rains were forecast for soybean-producing areas of Mato Grosso Canal Rural.
• Cocoa (Bahia): producers protested by blocking roads over a price crash to around R$300/arroba (down from roughly R$1,000/arroba) and rising imports of African cocoa; the report also referenced concerns about sanitary risks and possible cartel behavior Canal Rural.
• Beef exports (Brazil, 2025): described as a record year with shipments over 3.8M tons (+20%) and US$18.3B revenue (+40%) Canal Rural.

Australia: drought-driven emergency feed response

• Remote cattle stations in Western Australia’s Midwest, Murchison, and Gascoyne were described as receiving barely half their average annual rainfall in recent years; 34 properties called for help and 7 road trains delivered emergency feed to Gascoyne Junction r/farming.

Best Practices

Corn disease pressure: crown rot risk reduction (U.S.)

Ag PhD outlined a three-part approach to reducing crown rot in corn:

1. Drainage: increase soil air to improve root health and make disease establishment more difficult @AgPhDMedia.
2. Fertility: target high potassium (over 4% and over 250 ppm) plus adequate phosphorus, sulfur, and micronutrients (including copper) @AgPhDMedia.
3. Fungicides: layered seed treatments plus an in-furrow fungicide package (example mentioned: Xyway foaming system) to reduce crown rot and help control early-season diseases and tar spot later in the year @AgPhDMedia.

Budgeting and placement discipline under lower grain prices (U.S.)

• A producer discussion emphasized cost cutting without yield loss after a USDA report added bushels/acres, with markets dropping 20–30¢/buFarm Journal.
• Practical examples mentioned:
  • Phosphate decisions: reduce phosphate when soil test is “medium,” and prefer banding over broadcast for maintenance amounts Farm Journal.
  • Nitrogen adjustments: use chicken litter on some acres and pull back commercial nitrogen while keeping sulfur Farm Journal.
  • Planter focus for “free bushels”: prioritize singulation, uniform emergence, and depth control; early soybean planting was described as a way to maximize days for podfill Farm Journal.

Storage and handling: winter readiness for grain systems (U.S.)

• Successful Farming highlighted the need to keep grain bins in ideal condition with maintenance “checkup” tips @SuccessfulFarm.
• Ag PhD also noted corn is sometimes piled outside rather than put in bins (video explainer referenced) @AgPhDMedia.

Input Markets

Fertilizer and nutrient oversight (U.S.)

• The U.S. Deputy Ag Secretary accused Nutrien and Mosaic of colluding to limit fertilizer supply and raise prices, signaling potential antitrust action to protect U.S. farmers @SuccessfulFarm.
• In Iowa, advocacy groups called for greater enforcement of manure management plans, an online database of plans, and avoiding nutrient over-application @SuccessfulFarm.

Biofuels policy timing and plant economics (U.S.)

• One report said biodiesel production in Iowa was sharply down in 2025, with plants sitting idle and estimated overhead around $800,000/month even when not running Brownfield Ag News.
• The same source emphasized the need for final 45Z rules and timely RFS blending levels (RVOs) to enable transactions and feedstock purchases; RVOs were described as expected “by the end of February” Brownfield Ag News.

Forward Outlook

• Near-term weather risk (U.S.): multiple sources point to continued cold (including a prolonged polar vortex expectation) and lingering drought as key variables that can influence logistics, livestock performance, and spring planting readiness Farm Journal +1.
• Farm payment timing risk (U.S.): one market commentator said FBA payments are slated for end of February, but warned a government shutdown could delay them, potentially altering planning for some operations Grain Markets and Other Stuff.

• Crop insurance rulemaking (U.S.): Senate Agriculture Committee leaders urged USDA to reverse a crop insurance rule that would remove buy-up prevented planting coverage starting in 2026; comments were due Tuesday @SuccessfulFarm.
• Mato Grosso harvest management (Brazil): continued rain in soybean regions is expected over the coming weeks, keeping harvest-window risk elevated Canal Rural.
• Biofuels policy clock (U.S.): market participants remain focused on when 45Z guidance and RVOs are finalized, given the implications for plant run rates and feedstock demand Brownfield Ag News.

Market Movers

• U.S. corn & soybeans (market chatter): In a discussion about commodity pricing, one commenter said current corn and soybean prices are higher than they were in December 2024, and argued USAID funding cuts have had negligible impact on commodity prices r/farming.

• U.S. farm economics (cost pressure): Another commenter said crop production costs have “ballooned to unsustainable levels,” attributing this to corporations raising input prices and pointing to financial stress on farms r/farming.

• Surplus / policy sentiment (U.S., community view): A separate remark suggested a need for an organization (implied: government-funded) to buy surplus crops and distribute them to those in needr/farming.

Innovation Spotlight

North Dakota: scaling a direct-to-consumer livestock business model

A YouTube interview detailed how Paul Brown’s family built a direct-marketed meat-and-egg business connected to Brown’s Ranch near Bismarck, North Dakota.

• Business formation & purpose: Paul Brown said he started Nourished by Nature in 2014, emphasizing connecting consumers with food grown in a way he believes is correct, with a focus on soil health and nutrient densityOpen Range. He also described that moving into direct marketing made them a “price maker” (able to set their own price) Open Range.

• Operational scale (selected metrics):

  • Ranch context: the operation referenced a nearly 6,000-acre ranch operated “pretty much on a cash basis” Open Range.
  • Beef throughput: “last year we did around 100 head of beef” through the business Open Range.
  • Layers: they run “just over a thousand laying hens,” sometimes “up to 1500” seasonally Open Range.
  • Eggs: Paul Brown said eggs were $3/dozen when they started and are now $7/dozen, with cost about $5.88Open Range.

• Standardization as a scaling lever (SKU + cut specs): The business standardized cuts and bundles after finding customization created too many options. Examples given: 6 oz sirloins and 12 oz ribeye (1.25" thick)Open Range. They also referenced having 150+ items Open Range.

• Cold-chain fulfillment (timeframes + packaging): They described an online shipping cadence where orders are due Sunday evening, packed Monday, and arrive Tuesday or Wednesday (if everything goes right). Shipping is via “Speedy delivery” or UPS 2-day air outside the “Speedy Zone” Open Range. For temperature control, they described 1.5-inch thick liners, a foil liner, and about 5 lb of gel packs, stating the container keeps items cool 72 hours; they have not used dry ice due to cost in Bismarck Open Range.

• Regulatory workaround for poultry scale: They said a state law limited them to 999 meat chickens, and since they surpassed that, they partnered with a farmer friend in Missouri who raises chickens on pasture with daily moves and non-GMO grainsOpen Range.

Decision-support and controlled-environment systems (tools highlighted)

• NDVI (AgriTech): A post framed NDVI as “the farmer’s early warning system” and “an important tool” r/AgriTech.

• Recirculating hydroponics (controlled environment): A shared article focuses on recirculating hydroponic systems, describing how they work and why growers use them r/Agriculture.

Regional Developments

• China (Jiangxi, Ganzhou / Anyuan County): under-forest medicinal planting and harvest timing

  • A segment described Anyuan County (Jiangxi Province) leveraging forest space—freed by forest storage and sustainable management efforts—to expand under-forest planting, including “wild” under-forest golden ginger that requires manual harvesting农业致富经 Agriculture And Farming.

• China (Jiangxi, Ganzhou / Qicheng): citrus harvest and pack-out considerations

  • A segment said Qicheng oranges are harvested around Dahan, with growers needing to complete harvest before Spring Festival农业致富经 Agriculture And Farming. It also noted a preference for medium/smaller fruit for shipping because large fruit can dry out more easily 农业致富经 Agriculture And Farming.

Best Practices

Grains & soils

• Soil pH correction with lime (yield-oriented): A post pointed to “managing soil pH with lime” as a way to “increase yields” @SuccessfulFarm.

• High pH soils (tactical guidance): An Ag PhD post shared “Brian’s advice for fixing high pH soils” (video format) @AgPhDMedia.

Pasture & grazing

• Pasture evaluation checklist: Successful Farming shared a pasture “tuneup” checklist to evaluate pasture grasses and “get the most out of your fields” @SuccessfulFarm.

• Row-crop to grazing conversion (peer discussion + risk flag):

  • Commenters advocated converting row crop land into grazing ground for cattle r/farming and described using cover crops / stockpile as a “third rotation” for winter grazing on acres still in crop production r/farming.
  • Another commenter cautioned that overgrazing can “destroy the soil quick as anything else” r/farming.
  • A separate caution was that conversion could coincide with a cattle market drop, returning cattlemen to thinner margins r/farming +1.

Livestock (practical management)

• Goats (containment reality):

  • One rule-of-thumb: don’t get goats unless you have fence that can “hold water” r/homestead; another said a fenced area is good enough for goats if it can contain a catr/homestead.
  • Another recommendation was a low and high wire electric fence “with some gusto,” describing goats as persistent escapers r/homestead.

• Sheep (low-maintenance traits + timing):

  • Katahdin sheep were recommended as a lower-maintenance alternative in one thread r/homestead +1. Noted traits included hair sheep (no coat trimming) and “decently worm resistant” r/homestead, plus grazing weeds (“organic grass cutters”) and not climbing/escaping as much as goats r/homestead.
  • One breeder timing example: introduce a ram around Halloween for lambs around Easter, and selling was described at about $2.50/lb live weight before Christmas r/homestead.
  • Breed selection guidance: ask local farmers what does well; an example said Florida cracker sheep do well in Florida humidity/heat and Navajo churro would be better in desert conditions r/homestead.

• Poultry & small birds (losses + predators):

  • One homesteader advised planning for losses (e.g., 3–5 birds/year, especially chicks) and not cutting corners on predator protection r/homestead.
  • Quail were described as messy with high mortality risk, able to fly 8+ feet when startled; advice included ensuring enclosures are secure and rat-proofr/homestead +1.
  • Livestock guardian dogs were described as valuable for larger livestock but not guaranteed to be bird-safe without training r/homestead.

Farm business execution

• Know your cost of production: A key operating principle emphasized was to “know your cost of production,” “push a pencil,” and become a better marketer to earn higher profit Open Range.

Input Markets

• Input cost inflation (U.S., producer sentiment): Commenters described input costs rising to levels they view as unsustainable for crop production r/farming.

• Volatile fertilizer/feed rates + capital barrier (homestead perspective): A separate comment highlighted high upfront capital costs and “mercurial” market rates for fertilizer/feed as a major barrier to getting started without inheriting land/equipment r/homestead.

Forward Outlook

• Plan around seasonal harvest windows (China): The China segments emphasize that Dahan is treated as a key timing window for manual harvest activities, including finishing citrus harvest before Spring Festival农业致富经 Agriculture And Farming and harvesting under-forest golden ginger when conditions align with the crop’s cycle 农业致富经 Agriculture And Farming.

• Direct-to-consumer logistics as a weekly rhythm (U.S., livestock): For farms shipping perishable products, the described cadence—orders by Sunday, packing Monday, delivery Tuesday/Wednesday—highlights the importance of aligning labor, cold storage, and carrier pickup to a fixed weekly timeline Open Range.

• Grazing expansion with market risk in mind (U.S., cattle): If converting acres from row crops to grazing, one thread explicitly warns that today’s economics may not persist and that cattle margins could revert toward historical levels r/farming +1.

• Entry pathway (U.S., succession opportunities): For new entrants facing capital constraints, one comment suggested gaining experience as a farm/ranch hand or tenant farmer, and noted potential opportunities as older farmers retire without children taking over operations r/homestead.

Market Movers

Wheat: Southern Plains cold risk + crowded positioning (U.S.)

• A wheat trader flagged weather uncertainty as a near-term bullish risk, especially with managed money heavily short (described as the 4th-largest short position in several years based on COT) r/Commodities.
• The same thread estimated roughly 8 million acres of wheat in Oklahoma and Texas could be at risk if the cold persists, with the caveat it’s a personal estimate based on forecast and crop maps r/Commodities.
• Current snow cover was described as insulating, with soil temperatures not yet below 10°F for multiple days—a condition referenced as important for meaningful winter wheat damage r/Commodities. The poster noted risk could rise if cold persists into early February and a melt–refreeze pattern develops r/Commodities.

Policy watch: proposed farm aid and trade/SNAP provisions (U.S.)

• The proposed Farm and Family Relief Act would provide $17B in new aid for farmers and also address tariffs and SNAP cost changes@SuccessfulFarm.

Biofuels debate: ethanol energy balance, subsidies, and engine optimization (U.S.)

• A discussion on corn ethanol included conflicting claims: one commenter argued ethanol is net energy negative and that E15 mainly benefits subsidized corn farmers r/farming, while another countered that ethanol is a net energy gain with an average 1:3 figure r/farming.
• Another participant argued that ethanol studies can emphasize “potential” vs. “actual” energy and suggested shifting support toward research to optimize ethanol-fueled engines (to reduce waste heat), citing personal experience that E85 costs more per mile than gasoline due to lower energy yield r/farming. A separate comment argued that as long as oil is subsidized, alternatives need a level playing fieldr/farming.

Innovation Spotlight

Offshore net-cage aquaculture: scaling output with monitoring and labor efficiency (China — Guangdong/Hainan)

A Chinese aquaculture operation described a shift from nearshore systems toward deep-sea net cages, with each cage/batch described as capable of producing 100,000+ jin of golden pomfret (金鲳鱼), with examples of harvests around 70,000 jin农业致富经 Agriculture And Farming.

• Operational leverage via monitoring: The operator described installing cameras on cages for remote monitoring; with above-/under-water monitoring, 20+ deep-sea cages were managed by 4 workers农业致富经 Agriculture And Farming.

• Risk management lessons: An early deployment reportedly suffered major typhoon losses—cages failed and 600,000 jin of fish were lost—followed by improved site selection to reduce exposure 农业致富经 Agriculture And Farming.
• Hatchery timing advantage: A hatchery base in Sanya, Hainan cited average seawater around 25°C, enabling earlier egg listing by ~1 month and prices around 40,000–50,000 yuan/kg, versus “a few thousand” yuan/kg if later/elsewhere 农业致富经 Agriculture And Farming. The hatchery reportedly supplies 30M+ fry/year across species 农业致富经 Agriculture And Farming.
• Market channels and pricing:
  • Finished fish prices were described at ~20 yuan/jin in a scarcity period 农业致富经 Agriculture And Farming.
  • A segment highlighted that 7–8 liang fish are preferred in the Hong Kong market, with one boat’s value described as ~1.4M yuan农业致富经 Agriculture And Farming.
  • A buyer/processor described buying at favorable prices and selling ~30 yuan/jin after processing, and experimenting with livestream sales, reaching 20+ tons/year via combined online/offline channels 农业致富经 Agriculture And Farming.
• Feeding approach: Pelleted feed was supplemented with shrimp for nutrition; shrimp was described as costing “3+ yuan/jin”农业致富经 Agriculture And Farming.
• Biosecurity/maintenance: “Sucker fish” (旗虾鱼) and other intrusions were described as difficult to fully prevent; the response emphasized frequent checking and treating injured fish 农业致富经 Agriculture And Farming.

Small regenerative livestock operation: output metrics on 3 acres (U.S. — Central Washington)

A small regenerative operation in Central WA reported performance and throughput across multiple species on a 3-acre farming area (including 1.5 acres irrigated cow pasture and 0.75 acres sheep pasture/silvopasture) r/homestead.

• Cattle (Hereford): Reported 1086 cow-days/acre, grazing Apr 20–Nov 21, hay in winter, and no supplemental feed; processed beef averaged ~1000 lb live weight (noted as only 2 animals processed so far) r/homestead.
• Pigs (AGH/Kune cross): Processed 33 pigs at 18+ months, averaging 106 lb in finished cuts; feed use was described as ~1 ton of GMO/corn/soy-free feed every 5–6 weeks, plus grazing/weed control and use of garden/orchard leftovers and spent brewery grains r/homestead.
• Sheep (Dorper/Katahdin): Pasture grazing Mar 28–Dec 2, hay in winter; 7 lambs averaged ~60 lb carcass weightr/homestead.
• Chickens (Black Australorp): Processed ~150 birds in 2025 and produced roughly 20 dozen eggs/week, with minimal supplemental feed r/homestead.
• The producer stated all meat was USDA processed into retail cutsr/homestead.

Biochar as an “engineered delivery substrate” (early-stage; field trials ongoing)

• A soil-focused post argued that post-loading biochar with nutrients or mixing with fertilizer can create variability in nutrient availability and root-zone behaviorr/Soil.
• The proposed alternative is to treat biochar as an engineered delivery substrate, co-designing nutrient chemistry with the carbon structure for root-zone performance r/Soil. The author described this as early-stage research with field trials ongoing and requested grower/agronomist feedback r/Soil.
• A key practicality lens raised by a commenter: evaluate per-acre cost (time, labor, materials) against whether it increases profit by at least that amount r/Soil—a point the developer said they’re factoring in, alongside manufacturability and regulations r/Soil.

More detail shared by the author: https://earthrevive-ef7gbffw.manus.spacer/Soil

Regional Developments

Brazil: Mato Grosso cattle economics, China exposure, and 2026 expectations

• A segment on Mato Grosso cattle described concern that 2025 export records didn’t translate into producer returns (“didn’t reach the pocket of the rancher”), implying margin capture by intermediaries Canal Rural.
• The same discussion flagged concern over recent Chinese taxes/quotasCanal Rural and emphasized that heavy dependence on one buyer can amplify shocks Canal Rural.
• Juara (MT) was described as heavily cattle-dependent, with a herd around 920,000 head, including large feedlots (one described as 18,000+ head) and a JBS unit in the municipality Canal Rural.
• Cycle outlook: The speaker expected a recovery in cria (calf production) and pointed to a strong move in the bezerro price, from R$8/kg to about R$14/kg on average, with an argument that intense female slaughter in 2025 will tighten future supply Canal Rural.

Turkey/Italy: value capture through branding in pasta and olive oil trade

• A Turkish agribusiness interview argued that Turkey is the world’s second-largest pasta producer but has “no brands,” while Italy buys and sells under its own brands Sencer Solakoglu.
• On olive oil, the same source claimed Italy consumes ~600,000 tons domestically and exports ~600,000 tons, totaling ~1.2M tons handled, with ~200,000 tons produced domestically and ~1M tons imported and then packaged/exported Sencer Solakoglu.
• The interview also stated Turkey exports around 450,000 tons of olive oil largely in bulk/no-name format Sencer Solakoglu.
• Proposed capability-building: international exchange programs for young farmers and ag graduates to observe cooperative models, technology, and production systems abroad, then apply them at home Sencer Solakoglu.

U.S.: Iowa land values discussion (limited detail)

• Farm Credit Services of America SVP Jim Knuth shared his perspective on Iowa land values at the 2026 Land Investment Expo with farmers, investors, and agribusiness professionals @SuccessfulFarm.
• Related link shared: https://www.agriculture.com/who-is-buying-iowa-farmland-a-pie-chart-and-ag-industry-expert-break-it-down-11891814?taid=69745ff4b3e1050001876f36&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter@SuccessfulFarm

Best Practices

Winter poultry management: prioritize insulation, water, and feed—avoid unnecessary heat

• Multiple keepers emphasized that cold-hardy birds that have acclimated are generally fine without added heat, and that supplemental heating can introduce risk (e.g., coop fires or power failures) r/homestead.
• Practical steps that were repeatedly highlighted:
  • Keep birds dry and hydrated, and prefer insulation over heatersr/homestead.
  • Use deep bedding (example: ~8 inches of straw/shavings) and allow composting bedding to contribute warmth r/homestead.
  • Reduce drafts and retain heat (close doors/windows where appropriate) and keep birds roosting off the ground and groupedr/homestead +1.
  • Support energy needs with extra feed/protein (examples included extra protein, sunflower seeds, dried larvae, and other high-energy foods) r/homestead +2.
  • The most common winter pain point cited: keeping water from freezing and refilling/defrosting daily r/homestead.
• One keeper reported using two heat lamps secured with chain through C-clamps to prevent falls, stating it prevented comb frostbiter/homestead.

Poultry processing: workflow designs and time/throughput benchmarks

• Division of labor can reduce stress and time: one person dispatches, the next guts, the third plucks, then pack r/homestead.
• Equipment and throughput examples:
  • A solo processor reported doing 8–10 birds/day, using a kill cone, loppers, a low simmer scald pot, two ice-water coolers, and cut-proof gloves r/homestead.
  • A shared-work model reported 4 people doing ~15 birds in a couple hours with a shared plucker r/homestead.
  • A first-timer warning suggested budgeting ~30 minutes per chicken without good equipment (e.g., no automatic plucker) r/homestead.
• Technique notes:
  • Cone method: part feathers to make the cut; don’t slice over feathers r/homestead.
  • A step-by-step “batch” approach described alternating draining/scalding/plucking, then evisceration and chilling in ice water r/homestead.
  • One suggested “most humane simple thing” was stabbing upward through the roof of the mouth first to destroy the brain r/homestead.

Deer protection: low-cost physical barriers

• For saplings/new plants: place cone-shaped tomato cages over each plant r/Permaculture.
• For larger trees: set 3 fence T-posts in a triangle and run thin electric fence wire (or baling wire) at top/middle/bottom r/Permaculture.
• Another low-effort method: place tall stakes next to plants and move them every couple weeks; the commenter reported some success (mechanism unknown) r/Permaculture.

Roadside garden buffers: particulate trapping and runoff awareness (U.S. — Great Lakes/Northeast)

• A West Michigan recommendation emphasized dense, layered vegetative buffers (trees/shrubs closer to the road, grasses/forbs closer to the garden) to help trap dust/particulates and support wildlife, while noting plants don’t “magically erase” pollution r/Permaculture.
  • Example species mentioned: eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana), holly, roughleaf dogwood (Cornus drummondii), big bluestem, switchgrass, and a range of native wildflowers; avoid invasives like buckthorn r/Permaculture.
  • A follow-on comment added a vote for tall grasses such as sorghum and miscanthusr/Permaculture.
• A contrasting experience from upstate NY: a gardener planted yarrow and borage as a 10' buffer for road-salt runoff concerns but reported no noticeable improvement, attributing it to heavy rain/lake effect conditions r/Permaculture.
• A separate idea proposed a sunflower living fence, noting dried stalks can be used as raised-bed filler and flower pith as compost material r/Permaculture.

Input Markets

Feed use and supplementation: on-farm benchmarks

• A small regenerative operation reported pig feed demand of ~1 ton of GMO/corn/soy-free feed every 5–6 weeks, plus use of grazing, orchard/garden leftovers, and spent brewery grains r/homestead.
• In offshore aquaculture, shrimp was used as a feed supplement; shrimp was described as costing 3+ yuan/jin农业致富经 Agriculture And Farming.

Fertilizer placement question (no data provided)

• Ag PhD posed a question on whether dry fertilizer in strips breaks down faster than broadcast dry fertilizer—the post provided no answer or findings in the excerpt @AgPhDMedia.

Forward Outlook

• Wheat (U.S. Southern Plains): Monitor how long cold persists and whether snow cover remains insulating; risk conditions were framed around soil temperatures dropping below 10°F for multiple days and possible melt–refreeze cycles r/Commodities. With managed money described as heavily short, any weather-driven uncertainty could raise the odds of sharp positioning-driven moves r/Commodities.
• Cattle (Brazil — Mato Grosso): Watch signals around price transmission from export demand to farmgate returns, and any further developments around China-linked trade constraints (taxes/quotas) as the sector pushes for diversified market access Canal Rural. The cited expectation for cria recovery and higher bezerro pricing was explicitly tied to 2025’s heavy female slaughter Canal Rural.
• Commercialization reality check (soil tech): For emerging inputs like engineered biochar systems, growers in the discussion emphasized grounding decisions in per-acre cost vs. measurable profit lift—especially when field trials are still ongoing r/Soil +1.