Morning Ag Clips

09/26/2025

Each fall, farmers face the tricky decision of when to begin harvesting corn. Wait too long, and you risk stalk quality issues, ear drop, and yield loss. Pull it too early, and drying costs could eat into your profits. 🤔

In his latest breakdown, AgriGold agronomist Kevin Gale explains why harvesting at 20–22% moisture often hits the sweet spot, and how earlier harvests can free up time for crucial fall fieldwork.

👉 He also emphasizes the importance of scouting stalk integrity, husk condition, and field variability to protect yield potential.

Why this matters to you:
-Field-drying in the open can cause kernel loss and ear drop.
-Early harvests reduce disease risks and volunteer corn problems for next season.
-Diversifying hybrids can help spread risk and manage harvest windows.

👉Read more about it here: https://hubs.la/Q03L2NYl0
☀️Don't forget to follow for more Ag news!

🌱

09/25/2025

A confirmed case of New World Screwworm (NWS) has been detected in Sabinas Hidalgo, Nuevo León, just ~70 miles from the the U.S. Mexico border, marking the northernmost point of this outbreak yet.

This development raises urgent concerns for the U.S. cattle industry. The affected animal reportedly moved from a region with known NWS cases, reinforcing the high risk posed by animal movement.

🛡 What It Means & What You Can Do:
- U.S. ports remain closed to cattle, bison, and horse imports from Mexico.

-The USDA is deploying an aggressive response: enhanced surveillance, sterile-fly releases, new detection technologies, and border protections.

-Ranchers and livestock owners along the southern border should monitor animals closely for signs of screwworm: draining or enlarging wounds, larvae, or unusual discomfort.

-Suspected cases should be reported immediately to state animal health officials or USDA veterinarians.

👉Read more about it here: https://hubs.la/Q03L2DYQ0
☀️Don't forget to follow for more Ag news!

🌱

WASHINGTON — Hours ago, Mexico’s National Service of Agro-Alimentary Health, Safety, and Quality (SENASICA) confirmed a new case of New World screwworm (NWS) in Sabinas...

09/23/2025

Farmers, researchers, and manufacturers are putting electric tractors through their paces—testing prototypes, gathering feedback, and exploring whether these machines could be more than just green novelty. A pilot event at Michigan State showed real promise, but also raised some big questions.

Here’s what’s turning heads:
-Farmers love the quiet, smooth power and instant torque.
-Concerns? Battery life, cost, and things like ground clearance under battery packs.
-Best fit so far: small farms, specialty crops, orchards, places where you don’t need a giant diesel monster, but precision, silence, and sustainability matter.
-Infrastructure: charging stations, durable designs, more “hours per charge” all need to improve before electrics go mainstream.

⚠️ Bottom line: Electric tractors might not replace big diesels just yet, but they could become key tools for farms where quieter, cleaner, and more sustainable operations pay off.

👉 Curious how this might change your farm? Read Will Electric Tractors Gain Traction? Read More Here: https://hubs.la/Q03K6p0b0

09/22/2025

Beef prices are rising, not by accident, but due to decades of policy, consolidation, and an imbalance between U.S. production and demand. A new op‑ed from R‑CALF USA argues that a few multinational packing firms now hold too much power, domestic herd numbers have shrunk, and imports have stepped in without offering any real relief.

Here’s a snapshot:
-Since 1980, more than half of U.S. cattle farms and ranches have disappeared.
-Imports now supply over 22% of U.S. beef consumption, more than double what they were decades ago.
-Beef produced from U.S.-born cattle last year was ~3.2 Billion pounds below domestic consumption. Meanwhile, about 3 billion pounds of beef were exported, forcing more imports.

What the op‑ed urges:
-Stronger competition enforcement
-Tighter import oversight
-Rebuilding the domestic herd so U.S. ranchers can meet demand

If you buy beef, raise cattle, or are interested in food policy, this is one to read. Tag someone who needs to see this.

👉 Read more: Beef Prices Keep Climbing- https://hubs.la/Q03K5Xn00

09/20/2025

🌾 Start your mornings with the news that grows with you. 🌅

From market reports to ag policy, weather updates to rural life stories — the Morning Ag Clips Daily Newsletter delivers the top agricultural headlines right to your inbox.

Whether you're a farmer, agribusiness pro, educator, student, or just ag-curious — this newsletter keeps you informed, inspired, and connected to the land.

✅ Quick to read
✅ Free to subscribe
✅ Packed with the news that matters to your operation

📨 Don’t miss a beat — sign up today and join thousands of ag readers across the country.
👉 https://hubs.ly/Q03K5DXZ0

Your day starts better with a clip.

09/19/2025

What if farms could generate clean energy and grow crops without sacrificing either? That’s what a new agrivoltaic pilot in Denmark is showing us. Researchers at Aarhus University found that vertical, bifacial solar panels installed in crop fields let wheat and grass‑clover mixtures grow just as well as in open fields, while producing electricity in a pattern that lines up better with morning and evening demand.

Here’s what stood out:
-The solar panels only take up about 10% of the field, meaning far more land is still available for farming.
-Even under partial shade, crops didn’t lose yield and actually benefited from some wind protection.
-Vertical panels (east-west orientation) produce slightly less energy annually than south‑facing tilted ones, but their power peaks align with when people use electricity most, early morning and late afternoon.

Public perception matters: the vertical setup was found to be much more positively rated than standard solar parks. People saw them as more innovative and environmentally friendly — especially because the land between panels is still farmed.

Agriculture and renewable energy don’t have to be at odds. If we can combine them wisely, it’s a win for food, energy, land use, and sustainability. 🌍

🔗 Dive deeper: Vertical Solar Panels and Crops Thrive Side‑by‑Side -https://hubs.la/Q03K5sZD0

🌱

09/18/2025

👀 When the science is too advanced to ignore...
🌽 “You've never seen corn like this before” — and neither have the farmers!

Cold Spring Harbor scientists just cracked open how maize grows at the single-cell level — and found new genes that could reshape the future of farming.
🔗 Read more: https://hubs.la/Q03K0XyV0

🌱

09/16/2025

Step right up! State fairs are more than funnel cakes, livestock, and Ferris wheels, they are living histories of American innovation, agriculture, and culture. The article The State of A Fair: History of State Fairs walks us through that journey.

Here are a few highlights:
The first official U.S. state fair was held in Syracuse, NY in 1841. It was all about celebrating farmers, inventors, and community.

Organizations like 4‑H (1902) and FFA (1928) helped shape fairs into educational platforms, giving young people a chance to learn, showcase, and lead.

Over time, fairs have embraced more entertainment (“midway” rides, concerts, bold food trends), making them not only showcases of agriculture, but of culture and creativity.

If you love the smell of hay, the thrill of the carnival, or the stories behind our community traditions, this one’s for you. Read more → https://hubs.la/Q03Jq5Vr0

09/15/2025

Have you ever wondered how scarecrows became more than just scare‑tactics in the fields? They go way back, ancient Egypt built reed figures along the Nile, Greece and Rome used divine statues to protect crops, and in Japan kakashi were dressed, honored, and even believed sacred.

Through medieval Europe, early Americas, all the way to modern fall festivals, scarecrows have stood at the intersection of utility, culture, and creativity. From gong‑clapping kids chasing birds, to pumpkin‑headed figures lighting up Halloween, each era added its own twist.

👉 Dive into the full article to follow their journey from humble field guardians to folk legends rich with meaning. Let’s remember the stories woven into straw!

🔗https://hubs.la/Q03JpYp90

🌱

09/12/2025

Hot off the press—experts, public health officials, policymakers, and industry leaders have gathered in Brazil for the first-ever global dialogue on high-pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), aiming to defend animal and human health against this escalating threat.

Key Highlights:
-HPAI has spread rapidly since 2020, affecting wildlife, dairy cattle, and even humans across continents.
-Beth Bechdol, FAO Deputy Director-General, warns: “Avian influenza is no longer a sporadic threat, it’s a global challenge.”
-Around 500 experts from public, private, and scientific sectors are collaborating to build early warning systems, ramp up surveillance and diagnostics, and strengthen response through a One Health approach.

Why it matters:
This event marks a critical shift, from reactive response to proactive, coordinated action. Ensuring food security, maintaining healthy agrifood systems, and safeguarding livelihoods all depend on it.

Read the full article to learn how global collaboration could help safeguard your farm, community, and livestock.
[https://hubs.la/Q03HQwZF0]

☀️Don't forget to follow for more Ag news!

🌱

09/11/2025

A new study reveals a surprising challenge in broccoli production: commercial broccoli seeds may harbor the fungal pathogen Alternaria brassicicola, and worse, some strains are cross‑resistant to multiple fungicides growers rely on. This includes resistance to boscalid and penthiopyrad (SDHIs), and even to azoxystrobin, a different class altogether.

Researchers also developed a PCR-based assay to detect these resistant strains early, giving growers and seed producers a head start in managing disease threats.

Why it matters:
-Seed-borne resistance limits your fungicide options.
-It could spread resistant pathogens to new regions, even where fungicides haven’t been used.
-Proactive seed testing and smarter disease management are now more critical than ever.

Stay informed. Know the risks in your seed supply. Read the full report to start protecting your broccoli crop today.
[https://hubs.la/Q03HB-W80]

☀️Don't forget to follow for more Ag news!

🌱

09/10/2025

Stop hunting for farm news in 10 different places.
Start your morning the easy way — with the Morning Ag Clips daily e-newsletter. ☕🌾
👉 https://hubs.la/Q03HzLR10