Growing Harvest Ag Network

USDA's latest quarterly agricultural trade forecast shows another forecasted reduction in our nation's ag trade deficit. Rod Bain with USDA has the story. USDA Radio Newsline

USDA's latest State Stories report includes a look at lambing and calving activity in reporting states. Rod Bain with USDA has the story. USDA Radio Newsline

This NDSU Ag Minute features Janet Knodel, NDSU Extension Entomologist. Knodel discusses the results of the recent wheat midge survey. 

Delegates to National Famers Union’s (NFU) 124th Anniversary Convention today cast their ballots to unanimously re-elect Rob Larew and Jeff Kippley as the organization’s President and Vice President, respectively. Source: National Farmers Union 

Kent Bacus, the executive director of governmental affairs for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, talks more about the current trade environment.  NAFB News Service

The House Agriculture Committee approved Chair Glenn Thompson’s Farm Bill 2.0 by a 34-17 bipartisan vote. NAFB News Service

Over 12,000 farmers, exhibitors, industry stakeholders, and media gathered in San Antonio, Texas, in late February for the 2026 Commodity Classic, marking the second consecutive year of record-setting attendance. NAFB News Service

North Dakota State University Extension has released projected crop budgets for 2026. These budget projections serve as guides for farmers in the state and are organized by multicounty region.

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

Karl Hoppe, Livestock Specialist at the NDSU Carrington Research Extension Center, warns producers to be on the lookout for any problems early on. This National Ag Month story is brought to you by the North Dakota Corn Utilization Council.

As spring planting gears up across the country, the Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency has determined crop insurance prices for 2026. Faith Parum, an economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation, has details on three major crops. NAFB News Service

The recent Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer had an interesting split between the Index of Current Expectations compared to the Future Expectations Index. NAFB News Service

Dr. Mark Welch, a grain marketing analyst from Texas A & M University, said it’s past time for more certainty in overseas trade policy. NAFB News Service

Farm Commons is a nonprofit organization that helps farmers with legal challenges and questions through education, workshops and resources. Rachel Armstrong, founder and Executive Director of Farm Commons says they get many questions surrounding the H-2A Visa Program. This National Ag Month story is brought to you by the North Dakota Corn Utilization Council. 

The latest edition of USDA's Agricultural Prices Report featured how prices received by crop growers impacted the total price index. Rod Bain with USDA has the story. USDA Radio Newsline

Farm Commons is a nonprofit organization that helps farmers with legal challenges and questions through education, workshops and resources. Rachel Armstrong, founder and Executive Director of Farm Commons talks more about the work they do.

Sam Taylor, farm input analyst with Rabobank, on current fertilizer availability and what it means for producers. NAFB News Service

Building U.S. ag trade opportunities includes securing new and expanding current global markets for biofuels, according to the Deputy Agriculture Secretary. USDA Radio Newsline

The National Pork Board has a comprehensive business intelligence team analyzing data throughout the supply chain, including consumer preference, volume, value, and purchase trends. NAFB News Service

Ryan Yates, American Farm Bureau Managing Director of Government Affairs, says ag has waited long enough. NAFB News Service

This NDSU Ag Minute features Ron Haugen, NDSU Extension Farm Management Specialist. Haugen discusses the projected crop budgets for 2026.

Karl Hoppe, NDSU Extension Livestock Specialist at the Carrington Research Extension Center, offers some advice to producers for a successful calving season. This National Ag Month story is brought to you by the North Dakota Corn Utilization Council. 

Many ranchers are preparing for calving and some have already begun. Karl Hoppe, NDSU Extension Livestock Specialist at the Carrington Research Extension Center, offers some advice to producers for a successful calving season. This National Ag Month story is brought to you by the North Dakota Corn Utilization Council. 

The overall Rural Mainstreet Index dropped below a growth-neutral level of 50 for February. That’s according to the most recent monthly survey of bank CEOs in rural areas of a ten-state region dependent on agriculture or energy. The region’s overall reading for February fell to 47.9 from 52 in January. NAFB News Service

Tiffany Hoeft owns Minds Matter in Aberdeen, South Dakota. She says many people don’t realize some damage caused by dementia is preventable, if you start early enough. NAFB News Service

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

Jimmy Cheatham, a barge captain, said despite the challenges of winter, goods are still moving. NAFB News Service

USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey notes some exceptions to nationwide near to above temperatures and precipitation for the period of March 3 - 9. USDA Radio Newsline

There’s still a lot of old crop grain in storage to market, even while farmers prepare for the upcoming 2026 growing season. John Heinberg, the market advisor for Total Farm Marketing, said clearing out old crop grain supplies is a big concern. NAFB News Service

As crop farmers prepare to plant their corn, soybeans, or wheat in 2026, many are making decisions with the current farm economy in mind. NAFB News Service  

U.S. meat exporters are facing increased pressure overseas as global production rises and price-sensitive buyers look for lower-cost supplies. NAFB News Service

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is asking farmers and ranchers to help improve how federal crop and livestock data are collected, saying accurate reports are essential to fair and orderly markets.  NAFB News Service

Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins said the enrollment period is open for the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program, which provides $11 billion in one-time bridge payments to row crop producers and $1 billion for specialty crops. NAFB News Service

New statistical reports from the Renewable Fuels Association show the value of the U.S. ethanol industry’s exports rose to a record $7.6 billion in 2025.  NAFB News Service

This NDSU Ag Minute features Victor Gomes, Extension Cropping Systems Specialist at the Dickinson Research Extension Center. Gomes discusses the increase in acidic acres in western North Dakota. 

After setting records in 2024, exports of U.S. pork finished strong in 2025. U.S. Meat Export Federation President and CEO Dan Halstrom, has the details. Source: USMEF

Kam Quarles, CEO at the National Potato Council and Co-Chair of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance, says the Farm, Food, and National Security Act is a great move. NAFB News Service

The Supreme Court turned the U.S. trade landscape upside down with a decision on Friday striking down the centerpiece of President Donald Trump’s tariff program. NAFB News Service

USDA economist Bryn Swearingen provides the initial marketing year outlook for planted acreage for our country's corn, soybean, and wheat crops. USDA Radio Newsline

World Agricultural Outlook Board Chair Mark Jekanowski explains how high steer prices in USDA's February meat outlook are influencing hog price forecasts for this month. USDA Radio Newsline

USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says near to above normal temperatures and precipitation are expected for much of the nation for the period of February 24 - March 2. USDA Radio Newsline

The number of farms in the United States fell by 15,000 in 2025, continuing a long-term decline in the nation’s agricultural landscape, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported. NAFB News Service

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

Various offerings with USDA's Conservation Reserve Program have acreage enrollment periods currently underway or will soon begin sign-ups.  USDA Radio Newsline

The number of Americans with estate planning documents has declined since 2022. More than 50 percent of respondents in a 2025 Caring.com study said they don’t have a will at all. Sean Voskuhl, Oklahoma State AARP Director, said as the world becomes more digital, it’s important to protect yourself there too. NAFB News Service

Producer involvement is key to helping ag organizations thrive. 

The Office of U.S. Trade Representative recently announced the completion of an agreement on reciprocal trade between the United States and Taiwan. U.S. Meat Export Federation President and CEO Dan Halstrom says the trade deal is good news for U.S. red meat exports, starting with beef, where Taiwan is the fifth largest export market. Source: USMEF

How do USDA projections for various farm household income categories for this year compare to totals from the prior year? Rod Bain with USDA has the story. USDA Radio Newsline

NASCAR is the first major U.S. motorsports series to utilize zero-carbon bioethanol, thanks to a new partnership with POET, the nation’s largest biofuel producer. POET is now the Official Biofuel Partner of NASCAR. NAFB News Service

Despite high beef prices, the U.S. cattle herd remains at record low numbers. Nate Kauffman, the senior vice president and Omaha branch executive for the Kansas City Fed, said the numbers show there should be some rebuilding underway. NAFB News Service