Pivotal Issues Blog

In many parts of the country, the common wisdom about weather is: “Just wait a minute; it will change.” Unfortunately, for the nation’s farmers, that philosophy doesn’t help when trying to plan schedules, take advantage of seasons, develop budgets or hire help for harvests. It does, however, pretty well reflect what has been happening in […]

It may not be your father’s vo-ag classroom, but today’s agriculture education programs are enjoying a boost in popularity among students eager to learn about the many career opportunities the industry has to offer. Student Numbers Growing In Nebraska, 13 schools boasted new agriculture education programs as classes resumed this fall, the most impressive jump since the 1950s, according to State […]

For years, farmers and growers have known drought was a problem. Now it turns out the land is sinking… and that’s a problem too. Potentially a much more serious one. This drought has already caused significant amounts of grief. Farm worker jobs are shrinking at a rapid pace in response to the lack of produce. […]

August has brought plenty of unsolved issues. From more drought news coupled with questions about U.S. supremacy in the ag export market, to soil health and agriculture education, we’ll explore some major happenings from the last month. California Well Water Use Leads to Sinking Land Drought may cause more than dried-out crops or parched lands. Now it […]

No pesticides. No herbicides. No chemical fertilizers. No harmful growth hormones or needless antibiotics. What’s not to like about organic food? Well, maybe the price tag.  While estimates can vary depending on the season and area of the country, the USDA estimates that organic food can cost anywhere from 10 to 30 percent more than […]

By now we’ve all heard of the serious drought underway in the Western United States. Actually, a lot of the country is abnormally dry, according to the United States Drought Monitor, but only California and Nevada have so far hit the “exceptional drought” levels that top the charts. Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Peurto Rico and […]

When it comes to agricultural colleges and universities, the United States boasts an abundance of highly acclaimed educational institutions. Below, we highlight some of the country’s best agricultural schools from entrepreneurial programs to agribusiness training centers. College of the Ozarks The College of the Ozarks relies on student labor across its agricultural work spaces. These […]

July has been a busy month for farming. From Midwestern flooding and California drought to robotic tree-tapping and new EPA ozone rules, we’ll take a look at everything happening in our industry and how it affects our market and bottom line. Chicken Recall – On top of the record number of deaths from bird flu, […]

While much of the nation’s Corn Belt continues to suffer from an overabundance of rain, it’s a different story on the West Coast where California agriculture continues to fall victim to the state’s worst ongoing drought in over four decades. Hyped-up drama over Hollywood celebrities caught hoarding water may be capturing headlines, but the most sobering story coming out […]

Storing grain is not a new concept; arguably it is the idea on which civilization was built. However, it takes on new significance in our modern age as farmers and agricultural economists work to determine whether new grain storage is really a necessity or simply a glittery fad that will prove unnecessary after costing untold […]