Bayer

There has been another proposed merger in the food industry. Kroger and Albertsons recently announced their potential partnership. Kroger’s family of stores in Illinois includes Mariano’s, Food 4 Less, Pay-Less Super Markets and Pick ‘n Save. Albertsons includes Jewel-Osco.

As farmers make plans for 2023, planting soybeans early is one of their priorities. “One of the big things growers are talking about on soybeans is maturity. With growers planting earlier, they are starting to look into earlier-maturing beans,” said Josh Tooley, agronomist.

The Illinois Soybean Association has moved to its new headquarters at 1108 Trinity Lane, Bloomington. The construction project, which began in December 2021, was part of an effort to reposition the organization “to get back to our roots,” said John Lumpe, ISA CEO.

Better than expected — and not so much. As farmers complete the harvest of corn and soybeans in DeKalb County and throughout northern Illinois, the corn crop overall has met or exceeded expectations for yield. Soybeans, on the other hand, haven’t quite lived up to farmers’ hopes.

Even at first glance, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s recently announced $3 billion “Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities” sounds like doublespeak, an Orwellian invention that reverses the meaning of words.

Matias Habib, 17, of Sandwich, was named a winner of the 2023 4-H Youth in Action Award for Agriculture sponsored by Bayer. Habib will be recognized nationally for developing his own patent-pending bio-pesticide and startup business through a 4-H entomology project.

Weeds were the talk of the town — and the soybean fields — this year in Indiana. “Weed control is a conversation this year, especially since it was so dry in June,” said Jason Harmon, DEKALB Asgrow technical agronomist for northern Indiana.

The DEKALB and Asgrow seed brands are offering farmers an expanded product portfolio for 2023 with exclusive genetics and strong agronomic traits to maximize yield potential and return on investment.

In a year when expectations, demand and price for soybeans are all high, the Illinois soybean crop may not meet those great expectations everywhere.

A good — not great — corn crop in central and southern Indiana should finish strong, but concerns about late-season disease pressure are top of mind for some producers.

Farmers, gardeners and anyone with interest in helping monarchs thrive can get involved with resources provided by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

Bayer, Bunge and Chevron U.S.A., a Chevron Corporation subsidiary, have signed a shareholders’ agreement in connection with Bayer’s acquisition of a 65% majority ownership of the winter oilseed producer CoverCress Inc.

Crow’s Seed is being relaunched in the eastern Corn Belt by Outward Ag LLC. Driven by a team of agricultural entrepreneurs, this follows the reestablishment of Midwest Seed Genetics in the central and northern Corn Belt and NC+ in the West.

This year’s U.S. Department of Agriculture planting intention surveys indicate that many farmers are swapping corn acres for soybean acres to take advantage of the lower costs of soybean production.

Bayer announced it is renewing its multi-year partnership with five-time entertainer of the year Luke Bryan, joining his 2022 Farm Tour as presenting sponsor and continuing their Here’s to the Farmer campaign celebrating America’s farmers and fighting hunger.