Growing Harvest Ag Network

Rusty Halvorson and Sarah Heinrich share the week's top stories in agriculture.

A new poll from Amato Advisors finds that farmers are overwhelmingly sending Washington, D.C., a clear distress signal on the economic challenges they face on a number of fronts. NAFB News Service

This Farm Talk segment is brought to you by North Dakota Corn. The Feeding and Fueling the World Workshop is taking place Jun 17-18 in Casselton. Carie Marshall-Moore is a past participant and now helping facilitate the event.

USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey notes above normal temperatures and precipitation for the period of May 26 to June 1. USDA Radio Newsline

March trade data helped show that consumers continue to buy beef despite high prices. Tyler Cozzens, director of the Livestock Market Information Center, said the Beef Demand Index jumped significantly in early 2026. NAFB News Service

We visit with farmer Ben Bakko of Richland County about the recent win for U.S. agriculture with the House passage of the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act. 

This Farm Talk segment is brought to you by North Dakota Corn. Ben Bakko of Richland County is a board member of the North Dakota Corn Growers Association. We visit with Bakko about the cold start to the planting season, as well as the recent win for U.S. agriculture with the House passage of the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act. 

World Agricultural Outlook Board Chair Mark Jekanowski provides this month's USDA forecasts for both beef production and steer prices. USDA Radio Newsline

The first quarter of 2026 was not a good one for farmers and ranchers at the farm gate. The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis conducts a survey of ag lenders in the region each quarter. NAFB News Service  

According to new data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, U.S. sales of combines increased 3.4 percent in April 2026 compared to the year before. Canadian sales of combines were also up, ending the month 42.7 percent higher than April 2025. NAFB News Service

Farm Rescue is proud to announce the completion of its 1,300th family assistance case, marking a major milestone in the organization’s mission to support farm and ranch families facing unexpected crises across rural America.

2026 is the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists. North Dakota State University Extension and the Society for Range Management will host Prairie Palooza on June 16 at NDSU’s Central Grassland Research Extension Center near Streeter. Miranda Meehan, NDSU Extension Livestock Environmental Stewardship Specialist has the details.  

One of the announcements from last week’s U.S.-China Summit was that major strides were made toward ending China’s yearlong lockout of U.S. beef. U.S. Meat Export Federation President and CEO Dan Halstrom has more details. Source: USMEF 

Gen Z and millennial consumers are leading in both purchase frequency and annual spending. Neal Hull, director of state and regional marketing with the National Pork Board, said they are working with retailers to ensure ground pork is prominently placed and easy for shoppers to find in the meat case. NAFB News Service

U.S. retail meat sales climbed to a record $112 billion in 2025 as consumers continued prioritizing protein and fresh meat purchases despite higher grocery prices, according to the 2026 Power of Meat report released by the Meat Institute and FMI-The Food Industry Association. NAFB News Service

Strong demand for renewable diesel is continuing to drive soybean processing growth across the United States, boosting demand for soy oil used in biofuel production. NAFB News Service

Rising diesel fuel and fertilizer prices are increasing financial pressure on U.S. farmers during the peak of spring planting season, according to analysts and farm groups. NAFB News Service

Forecasters say conditions are pointing to a “Super El Nino” in North America this summer. AccuWeather senior meteorologist Chad Merrill says it all begins in the Pacific. NAFB News Service

Rusty Halvorson and Sarah Heinrich share the week's top stories in agriculture.

Bryon Parman, North Dakota State University Extension agricultural finance specialist, has the details on the current trends of cropland values in North Dakota.  Source: NDSU Extension

American farmers are feeling the pressure of high fertilizer costs, and the National Farmers Union is bringing that message to Capitol Hill. Layla Soberanis is NFU senior government relations representative. NAFB News Service

Over the next several weeks, USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service will conduct the June Agricultural Survey by contacting over 90,000 producers across the nation to determine crop acreage and stock levels as of June 1, 2026. Source: National Agricultural Statistics Service

John Shutske, Agricultural Safety and Health Specialist with University of Wisconsin Extension, says tractor rollovers remain the leading cause of death in tractor accidents. NAFB News Service

This NDSU Ag Minute features Bryon Parman, North Dakota State University Extension Agriculture Finance Specialist. Parmon discusses the current trends in cropland and pastureland values in North Dakota.  Source: NDSU Extension

Transport Quality Assurance®, or TQA, focuses on practical, real-world skills that help handlers and drivers move pigs humanely and efficiently.  NAFB News Service

SDSU is set to host the Siouxland Feedlot Forum this June in Sioux City, Nebraska. NAFB News Service

The latest trade numbers for exports of U.S. red meats are out, and U.S. Meat Export Federation President and CEO Dan Halstrom, says March was another big month for pork exports. Source: U.S. Meat Export Federation

More than three-quarters of USDA researchers affected by planned agency relocations say they do not intend to move, according to a survey conducted by a federal employee union, raising concerns about staffing losses and disruptions to agricultural research programs. NAFB News Service

USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey gives the U.S. spring wheat crop planting and emergence numbers for the period ending May 10. USDA Radio Newsline

As May is Mental Health Awareness Month, farm organizations are emphasizing the importance of mental health support for farmers and ranchers facing growing stress across rural America. NAFB News Service

Darin Anderson serves as President of the board of directors for Northern Plains Nitrogen. He highlights the importance of having access to locally produced fertilizer.

April’s Cattle on Feed Report provided a breakdown of steers and heifers on feed.  NAFB News Service

What should interested states and parties know about applying for the latest round of USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant awards? Rod Bain with USDA has the story. USDA Radio Newsline

Months of dry weather have some Kansas farmers abandoning their hard red winter wheat acres. Kansas State University Extension's Dan O'Brien travels the state regularly and has this assessment. NAFB News Service

This Farm Talk segment is brought to you by North Dakota Corn. Darin Anderson serves as President of the board of directors for Northern Plains Nitrogen. He explains more about our reliance on fertilizer imports and the importance of farmers having access to locally produced fertilizer.

March exports of U.S. pork were among the largest on record, concluding a very strong first quarter, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation. Source: US Meat Export Federation

Rusty Halvorson and Sarah Heinrich share some of the week's top stories in agriculture.

The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer saw farmer sentiment drop in April. Michael Langemeier, director of the Purdue Center for Commercial Agriculture, said uncertainty is taking a toll on farmers’ optimism. NAFB News Service

USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey reveals the temperature and precipitation outlooks for the country for the period of May 12 - 18. USDA Radio Newsline

Rob Larew, president of the National Farmers Union, discusses some of the current challenges in farm country. NAFB News Service

Jodi Bruns, NDSU Extension Leadership and Civic Engagement Specialist, highlights the National Rural Grocery Summit that is taking place in Fargo. 

Farmer sentiment weakened in April as the Ag Economy Barometer declined to 121, down from 127 in March, reflecting growing concern across U.S. agriculture.  NAFB News Service

As farmers continue with spring planting work, there’s some strength showing in recent grain markets. Ed Usset, an agricultural economist with the University of Minnesota, talked about the markets. NAFB News Service

Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride breaks down the export numbers for corn and soybeans.  NAFB News Service

This NDSU Ag Minute features Jodi Bruns, NDSU Extension Leadership and Civic Engagement Specialist. Bruns highlights the National Rural Grocery Summit that is taking place in Fargo for the very first time. 

The U.S. Meat Export Federation celebrated the return of duty-free access for U.S. beef in the United Kingdom with two launch events in London and a tour of key retail outlets. USMEF Chair Jay Theiler of Agri Beef sees new opportunities, not only in restaurants, but also the British retail sector. Source: USMEF

Mike Wenkel, the chief operating officer of the National Potato Council, said some of the industry’s biggest concerns mirror other segments of agriculture. NAFB News Service

U.S. export demand for key crops showed mixed signals in the latest weekly report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, with shipments of corn, soybeans, and wheat all dropping more than 20 percent week-over-week, even as some sales improved. NAFB News Service

A late-season cold snap is expected to sweep across much of the eastern U.S., raising concerns for farmers and ranchers as crops enter a critical growth period. NAFB News Service

A new USDA dashboard is available for those in the stocker and feeder cattle segments of the cattle industry to obtain data to make both immediate and long-term decisions. Rod Bain with USDA has the story. USDA Radio Newsline