U.S. farm tractor unit sales extend their growth streak to 11 straight months, while Canada also extends its own streak with a strong month of March, according to the latest data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM).

It’s the time of year that the hay market focus turns to anticipation of new crops. Here’s a look at some of the conditions affecting domestic and export hay markets during the second week of April.

Brown midrib (BMR) or low-lignin varieties of sorghum, sudan, millet and hybrid crosses have been commercially available since the 1990s. However, I still receive questions (and opinions) from livestock producers regarding claims that BMR varieties improve animal performance relative to their non-BMR counterparts. Some buy in wholeheartedly, attesting to improved intake and body condition; others say they have not seen the benefits.

Myths surrounding cover crops typically fall into one of two camps. The first camp is that of detriment, with concerns about available moisture being sucked up in a drought-prone area or fear that cash crop yields will be hurt. The second is misplaced expectations – placing cover crops on a pedestal as the Holy Grail to simultaneously fix every production woe.

The USDA’s 2021 Prospective Plantings report was released March 31, providing a first glimpse of how acreage will be distributed among major crops this growing season.

I’ve been reading books lately that promise to share the secrets Fortune 500 companies use to be and stay successful.