Unit sales of agricultural tractors and self-propelled combines in March 2020 fell across the board in the U.S. and Canada, according to the latest data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM).

A number of organizations have been warning that COVID-19 infections could not only be more common but also impact rural areas more than large metropolitan centers.

From a disastrous downturn for dairy to the impact on the availability of livestock feed byproducts derived from ethanol manufacturing, COVID-19 is touching the hay market on several fronts. Here’s a look at conditions during the first week of April.

There’s still plenty of time and weather to impact 2020 cropping plans, but U.S. producers intend to increase acreage devoted to hay this year, according to the USDA’s Prospective Plantings report, released March 31.

Many contracts include a provision called “force majeure” (fancy term for superior force). Force majeure means unforeseeable circumstances that prevent a party from fulfilling its contractual obligations.

According to the Department of Homeland Security announcement, agriculture is included as one of 16 essential businesses in the U.S.

February 2020 saw mixed results in overall U.S. sales of tractors and self-propelled combines. The bright spot was four-wheel-drive and 100-plus-horsepower tractors, which showed healthy gains year over year, however, overall tractor and combine sales fell for February, according to the latest data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM).

Spring always has a way of delivering a mixture of optimism and uncertainty. This year, the impact of all things “coronavirus” is resulting in seaport disruptions and creating volatile waves in trade and financial markets, increasing the level of unpredictability.

Farmers and ranchers may apply to enroll grasslands in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Grasslands sign-up beginning March 16. The sign-up runs through May 15.

Weather patterns in central and northern Wisconsin were especially challenging to alfalfa stands during the winter and spring of 2018-19. Several winter rain events on already-saturated soils, lack of snow cover during the coldest part of winter and ice conditions in much of the Upper Midwest produced difficult conditions for alfalfa survival.