Field Posts

Episode 286: Boots on the Ground in Brazil

We’ve been keeping up with weather and crop conditions in Latin America from afar this winter, but any farmer will tell you that the national data doesn’t tell you as much as seeing a crop with your own eyes. That’s one of the key reasons that DTN Progressive Farmer Editor in Chief Greg Horstmeier journeyed down to Brazil earlier this month, eager to put boots on the ground and bring us the latest updates on the Brazilian crop as it’s being harvested. Today, we’ll hear about Greg’s trip down South, including what he saw of a large soybean crop and an equally promising corn harvest. He’ll offer insight on the infrastructure situation as the crop goes from field to bin to port, and give us an update on what he heard from farmers there as far as critical issues they’re facing, both this year and into the future. On his way back home, Greg also stopped in Washington, D.C. to celebrate the 2026 National Ag Day on Tuesday, March 24th. He’ll tell us about the announcements he heard from U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, and about the bigger conversations happening around the event about livestock, food, and the challenging state of affairs in the ag economy.Finally, we’ll hear what Greg is working on next, flag stories he thinks are currently flying under the radar, and pay tribute to the ag communications great Orion Samuelson. 

Episode 286: Fertilizer, War, and the Farm Bill: A U.S. Farm Policy Update

As compared to the outbreak of war between Russia and Ukraine years ago, the earliest days of the war between the U.S., Israel, and Iran did not seem likely to affect U.S. ag markets. Then the Iranian regime announced its intent to close the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint in global fertilizer supply chains through which as much as 80% of the world’s nitrogen fertilizer travels. Concerns set in immediately about fertilizer availability, and already high input prices began to rise just as farmers are finalizing their plans for the 2026 season. And this is just one of nearly a dozen key agricultural news stories that are being driven right now not by weather or conditions in the field, but by decisions coming from the White House and Capitol Hill. To help us stay on top of all the latest updates, we’re joined today by DTN Ag Policy Editor Chris Clayton. Our conversation starts with fertilizer news, and what ag groups and Trump Administration officials are doing to calm concerns. Then, we’ll hear news about the Farm Bill, which has passed out of the House Ag Committee though, despite needs throughout the countryside, looks like it will have a long road to the President’s desk. We’ll also talk about the year-round E15 debate, which farmers and their advocates increasingly see as a way to relieve some of the worst economic pressure in farm country in the short term, and hear insight on President Trump’s executive order on glyphosate. Finally, we’ll learn the latest on the trade front as the USMCA continues to be reviewed by its North American signatories, and hear about growing action in the antitrust space, where meatpackers, chemical manufacturers, and even railroads may be in the crosshairs.

Episode 285: The War in Iran Meets the March WASDE

The March WASDE dropped Tuesday, March 10th, though its arrival was in part overshadowed by market concerns about an evolving conflict in the Middle East which has snarled energy and fertilizer supply chains that pass through the Strait of Hormuz. As farmers, market analysts, and the USDA itself struggle to parse what the latest outbreak of fighting might mean for planting decisions and global supplies, the crop in Latin America is already being brought in. As we work to parse this torrent of information, we’re joined once again by DTN Lead Markets Analyst Rhett Montgomery, who takes us beat-by-beat through the latest numbers and helps us keep market fundamentals in perspective even as many traders seem to ignore them. He guides us through the pressures that are weighing on prices today, including the basis for all three major grains, and what news he’s on the lookout for right now.Then, he walks us down the balance sheets, noting USDA updates, especially on the world balance sheets, that might point to shifting conditions that could weigh on farmer decisions later this season. Finally, we’ll hear what Rhett thinks will be driving the news in the days to come, from a planned trip for President Trump to China to weather conditions south of the border. 

Episode 284: Tractors Rule at 2026 Commodity Classic

The 2026 Commodity Classic event attracted more than 12,000 farmers to sunny San Antonio for multiple days of trade shows, marketing workshops and big announcements from across the industry. Even U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins was in attendance, outlining the department’s key priorities for the year, including trade progress, and elevating their new “One farmer, one file” initiative.Farmers, and DTN Progressive Farmer’s Senior Editor Dan Miller, were eager to see the latest updates on technology, which were on full display around the show. And despite challenging commodity market conditions going into the new year, there was still plenty of excitement around equipment– especially when it comes to new and improved lines of tractors.Today, we’ll hear all about this “year of the tractor” from Dan, and about Deere’s effort to bring an E95 tractor — one that runs on 95% ethanol fuel — to market. Then we’ll hear about the other big splashes made at the show, from the likes of CASE IH and New Holland, and learn about some award-winning innovations in the tillage and grain bin management space.We’ll also dive into questions around economic strain, for equipment manufacturers themselves around tariffs, and for their customers. Then, we’ll talk about the latest updates on the AI and autonomy fronts, including announcements made at Commodity Classic and at other recent events.

Episode 283: First Look at Spring Weather Forecast

With at least one major winter storm in the rearview, temperatures are ticking up and the countdown to planting is on. But with soil moisture deficits remaining across much of the U.S., key growing regions, and warm, dry temperatures causing early season fire risks in some parts of the Southern Plains, farmers are hoping that there will be more rain in the forecast before things dry out for spring field work.  Luckily, DTN Ag Meteorologist John Baranick joins us with some good news for farmers hoping for some drought relief in the coming weeks. Today, John shares his latest spring forecast, with a somewhat chaotic outlook for the next month providing a good chance for storm systems that are likely to bring some widespread precipitation, and potential for flooding and other severe weather events. Then, we’ll talk about temperature as we look further ahead to likely conditions during the key planting periods and into the heart of the summer, when conditions associated with the coming El Niño will likely be in place. We’ll also talk about snow pack and pasture conditions in the Western United States as the winter storm season draws to a close, before we turn our attention to the southern hemisphere, where Argentina and Brazil are struggling with relatively low levels of rainfall as their season draws to a close.