Agrosphere
Camelina Finds Footing as Biofuel Crop
Bayer and BP announced a collaboration in 2026 to develop camelina seed varieties and build an oilseed value chain for biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel. Industry leaders say the move targets growing demand for low-carbon feedstocks in large transport sectors where electri...
Winter wheat tour shows bleak crop outlook
Scouts on the hard red winter wheat tour reported a discouraging start to the fieldwork, with widespread drought stress and visible damage from recent freezes. “It's not a great picture. It's a very drought-stressed crop,” Aaron Harries of the Kansas Wheat Commission told Brownfield after the fir...
U.S. planting: 57% corn, 49% soybeans
The USDA’s most recent weekly crop progress report shows planting and early emergence moving ahead of normal in many areas. 57% corn planted nationwide, above the five-year average of 52%, and 23% of the corn crop has emerged, up from 13% the prior week. The report covers plantin...
BASF, Nutrien expand farmer access to low-CI biofuels
BASF and Nutrien announced a strategic collaboration to help U.S. growers capture more value from sustainable farming practices and participate in low-carbon biofuel markets. The partnership pairs Nutrien agronomy teams with BASF digital tools to document and verify crop carbon intensity for mark...
Whalens see gains from cover crops
When Jay Whalen started testing seed and cover-crop products on his own acres, the trials changed how the family farms in Livingston and La Salle counties. Today the Whalens run a 50/50 corn-soybean rotation with cover crops across their operation, and Jay says the practice has transformed field ...
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Building resilient, profitable farms
In the hills near St. Louis, Big River Grain and Cattle has shifted practices to protect soil and stabilize production after both heavy rains and dry spells challenged the operation. Owner Daniel Bonacker uses no-till and cereal rye cover crops to hold soil, suppress weeds and maintain moisture b... -
Alfalfa weevils hatch early in Wisconsin
Alfalfa weevil development is running ahead of the crop this spring in Wisconsin, and state entomologists are urging producers to begin scouting. Krista Hamilton of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection told Brownfield that egg hatch has just started in parts of s... -
Mississippi growers cut water, raise rice yields
Mississippi State University researchers and growers are changing how rice is irrigated to save groundwater and hold or improve yields. Under traditional flood systems, rice requires about 30–36 inches water annually, and in the Midsouth rice acres use a disproportionate share of... -
New Fight Against Citrus Greening Starts at the Root
Researchers in Florida are shifting the fight against citrus greening toward stronger rootstocks and more resilient trees. Scientists say breeding work now focuses on trees that can survive the full nursery-to-grove cycle and tolerate field pressures from pests, stress and disease. rootst... -
Soybean Growers Find Profit in Sustainable Practices
Cover crops nearly fell off Laurie and Jim Isley’s checklist a few years back when added costs pushed their budget to the limit on their Michigan farm. Cost-share help from the Farmers for Soil Health initiative has changed that calculation, offering technical assistance and up to $35 per... -
High-quality U.S. farmland stays strong
Planting across parts of the Midwest is running behind typical timelines as farmers wait for fields to dry, with reports from Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois showing slower starts compared with this time last year. Several managers say planting progress in Iowa and Illinois is roughly 30% behind whe... -
Prepare before adding livestock to vineyards
Adding livestock to a vineyard can deliver soil-health and weed-control benefits, but growers need to plan infrastructure and labor before they bring animals into vines. Panelists at the 2026 Organically Grown Wine Conference in Salem warned that good intentions alone are not enough; handling, wa... -
Nebraska farmer reports fast planting, improved moisture
A northeast Nebraska grower says this spring's planting has moved quickly, and recent rains have eased moisture concerns. Greg Anderson, who raises corn and soybeans near Newman Grove, told Brownfield his operation has about 75 to 80% planted back home. He described the season so... -
Don't Let Heat Stress Your Swine Herd
As spring turns to warmer weather, swine producers should verify that barn ventilation and cooling systems are ready to protect animals from heat stress. Automation and environmental controllers help manage conditions, but mechanical equipment needs a hands-on inspection: clean fans and inlets, c... -
Ranchers: Front Lines of Grassland Conservation
As Kansas rancher Bill Sproul puts it, ranching is more than a job: it’s a promise to protect the land and the community that depends on it. Ranchers across the country manage pasture and native prairie to support livestock, wildlife and long-term soil health, often using practices passed down th... -
Indiana Corn Planting Surges — Pimentel & Quinn
According to Purdue agronomists Jeferson Pimentel and Daniel Quinn, corn planting in Indiana made a rapid jump last week, reaching 30% planted as of April 26, 2026, up from 14% the prior week. That sudden move reflects a widespread window of field-fit conditions that allowed many... -
Michigan Vegetable Crop Report — April 29, 2026
Wet, warm conditions in Michigan through April pushed some crop development ahead of schedule before a cooler trough in the jet stream arrived this week, slowing growth in many regions. MSU is pointing growers to current forecasts from Jeff Andresen and has Enviroweather app launched
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