Kent Thiesse

USDA is projecting that close to 30 percent of the 2026 average net farm income for U.S. farmers will come from government farm program payments, which followed an estimated 20

The USDA report on May 4 indicated excellent soybean planting progress, with 33% of the U.S. soybeans planted, compared to the five-year average of 23% planted by that date.

From a grain marketing standpoint, the initial reaction to the WASDE report was positive for corn, soybeans, and wheat, before markets declined by the end of the week.

The USDA World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) Report released on May 12 was the first official USDA projected corn and soybean

Very often, farmers are encouraged to improve their grain marketing skills to enhance their financial outcome from their annual crop production.

Based on the May 26 USDA Crop Progress Report, 38% of the primary crop production area in the U.S. reported “short” or “very short” top soil moisture levels.

Eligible landowners will have the opportunity to increase their crop base acres for potential Ag Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) farm program payments in future years.

Eligible landowners now have the opportunity to increase their crop base acres for potential Ag Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) farm program payments in future years.

Total rainfall amounts across the primary crop production regions of the U.S. during the month of May were quite variable.

The USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) recently announced the final RMA county average yields for corn and soybeans. The RMA yields are used to determine payment eligibility for producers that caried either 95 percent or 90 percent Enhanced Coverage Option (ECO), or Supplemental Crop Option (SCO) area-based crop insurance coverage for the 2025 crop year. ECO and SCO insurance coverage utilize the same Spring projected price and the same harvest price as the typical individual crop insurance policies; however, ECO and SCO insurance indemnity payments are based on county average expected yields and final harvest yields, rather than individual farm yields. Final county RMA yields corn and soybeans are usually not released until June in the year following harvest, which is why any potential ECO and SCO payments are not finalized until that time, as compared to indemnity payments for individual insurance policies, which are usually paid shortly after harvest.