New research from Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., and Kansas State University shows corn growers can safely delay the first irrigation without having a negative impact on yield.

5/09/2008, 2:18 PM CDT

Across much of the Corn Belt this spring, the progress of corn planting is considerably behind the five-year average, and we've received inquiries about the potential effects of the significant delays on insect pests.

5/09/2008, 2:13 PM CDT

Calling Congress' new farm bill too expensive, trade distorting and lacking any real reform, Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer repeated his prediction that President George W. Bush will veto the farm bill when it arrives on his desk, a remark that brought strong response from farm bill negotiators in the Senate.

5/09/2008, 1:45 PM CDT

Farm-state lawmakers in the House and Senate stepped up their defense of the ethanol industry on Thursday, pointing to data that show the biofuel is responsible for only a small fraction of current food price increases.

5/09/2008, 11:23 AM CDT

A controversial 2 1/2-year study recommends significant changes in the U.S. industrial livestock production system. The recently-released National Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production focused on four areas: Public health, the environment, animal welfare and rural communities.

5/09/2008, 10:46 AM CDT

On Friday, USDA released numbers that indicate wheat held its own in the acreage fight. Winter wheat production is pegged at 1.78 billion bushels, up 17% from last year, according to Friday's USDA Crop Production report.

5/09/2008, 9:06 AM CDT

A tour of the Kansas wheat crop conducted this week by the Wheat Quality Council (WQC) found good news: The crop looks good, with yields projected a few bushels higher than last year's crop. That's not a cue to let out a sigh of relief and start counting the bushels rolling in just yet, however.

5/09/2008, 8:41 AM CDT

Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer told reporters Thursday that President George W. Bush will veto the farm bill, which drew an immediate reaction from some of the farm group leaders who had just announced the bill's completion.

5/08/2008, 6:19 PM CDT

Members of a conference committee from the Senate and House of Representatives on Thursday announced they've reached an agreement on the new farm bill. Now, the bill moves to the Senate and House floors before going on to the Oval Office for the president's signature.

5/08/2008, 2:01 PM CDT

If you've ever looked in the obituary and found your own name staring back at you, it can be startling. "Yesterday, in the local paper, I saw my name in the obituaries. No way around it. One day each of us is going to pass on. Shouldn't we, therefore, focus on making each and every day count?" asks Machinery Pete. Find out how he's made every day count by doing what he loves best. . . gathering auction sale price data.

5/08/2008, 2:00 PM CDT