Haymaking was difficult this year in many regions of the country. Now is the time to analyze what happened and think about what could be done differently for next year.

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) announced the newest inductee to the AEM Hall of Fame: Mary Andringa of Vermeer Corp.

A new federal database listing drug and alcohol violations by long-haul truck drivers won’t likely impact most individual farmers moving hay to market, but producers and owner-operators transporting larger volumes of hay and other ag commodities longer distances could be affected.

Agritourism helps U.S. farmers and ranchers generate revenue from recreational or educational activities, such as tours of a working farm or “pick-your-own fruits and vegetables” programs. Beginning, small and midsize farms are increasingly exploring agritourism as a strategy to remain competitive.

Winter arrived early in some parts of the country, and combined with the resurgence of China in the export market, the demand side of the forage market appears to be heating up. While forage quantity might not be the pressure point, quality almost certainly will be.

In Mississippi, a coordinated research and demonstration/extension effort has substantially increased alfalfa acreage since 2014. As some of the targeted producers in the region have a negative view of alfalfa and its management challenges, many of these efforts have been under a pretext of demonstrating cutting and fertility management techniques.

What is the issue?

Recent economic conditions have raised concerns about the financial health of the U.S. farm sector. After peaking around 2012, farm sector income declined while farm debt continued to rise. Farm real estate is no longer rapidly appreciating in value, and land prices have declined in some regions.

To manage input costs, many producers take advantage of early pay and other discounts offered by suppliers, including discounts on seeds for next year’s crops. Knowing the payoffs of different input purchase arrangements can help farms manage through tight profit margins.

September was a fairly solid month overall for retail sales of tractors and combines in the U.S. but to a lesser degree in Canada, according to the latest data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM).