Field Posts

DTN/Progressive Farmer
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Learn about and discuss the cutting edge of the ag industry and explore new perspectives on farming’s old adages. Field Posts is a weekly podcast by DTN/The Progressive Farmer that dives deeper into the most important trends in technology, policy, management, and business to explore the ag industry’s cutting edge.

  1. 4D AGO

    Episode 284: Tractors Rule at 2026 Commodity Classic

    The 2026 Commodity Classic event attracted more than 12,000 farmers to sunny San Antonio for multiple days of trade shows, marketing workshops and big announcements from across the industry.  Even U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins was in attendance, outlining the department’s key priorities for the year, including trade progress, and elevating their new “One farmer, one file” initiative. Farmers, and DTN Progressive Farmer’s Senior Editor Dan Miller, were eager to see the latest updates on technology, which were on full display around the show. And despite challenging commodity market conditions going into the new year, there was still plenty of excitement around equipment– especially when it comes to new and improved lines of tractors. Today, we’ll hear all about this “year of the tractor” from Dan, and about Deere’s effort to bring an E95 tractor — one that runs on 95% ethanol fuel — to market. Then we’ll hear about the other big splashes made at the show, from the likes of CASE IH and New Holland, and learn about some award-winning innovations in the tillage and grain bin management space. We’ll also dive into questions around economic strain, for equipment manufacturers themselves around tariffs, and for their customers. Then, we’ll talk about the latest updates on the AI and autonomy fronts, including announcements made at Commodity Classic and at other recent events.

    29 min

  2. MAR 3

    Episode 283: First Look at Spring Weather Forecast

    With at least one major winter storm in the rearview, temperatures are ticking up and the countdown to planting is on.  But with soil moisture deficits remaining across much of the U.S., key growing regions, and warm, dry temperatures causing early season fire risks in some parts of the Southern Plains, farmers are hoping that there will be more rain in the forecast before things dry out for spring field work.   Luckily, DTN Ag Meteorologist John Baranick joins us with some good news for farmers hoping for some drought relief in the coming weeks. Today, John shares his latest spring forecast, with a somewhat chaotic outlook for the next month providing a good chance for storm systems that are likely to bring some widespread precipitation, and potential for flooding and other severe weather events.  Then, we’ll talk about temperature as we look further ahead to likely conditions during the key planting periods and into the heart of the summer, when conditions associated with the coming El Niño will likely be in place.  We’ll also talk about snow pack and pasture conditions in the Western United States as the winter storm season draws to a close, before we turn our attention to the southern hemisphere, where Argentina and Brazil are struggling with relatively low levels of rainfall as their season draws to a close.

    31 min

  3. FEB 20

    Episode 282: New World Screwworm, Plant Closures and Beef in the Food Pyramid

    Despite the fact that she’s in the middle of calving season herself, DTN’s Senior Livestock Editor Jennifer Carrico has been simultaneously staying on top of an avalanche of stories affecting U.S. cattle markets here in 2026.  Today, she joins us with an update on all the latest, from cattle health to consumer demand and weather.  We kick off the conversation with news on ongoing efforts to prevent the New World Screwworm from re-entering the U.S. This pesky pest hasn’t been a problem for producers since the 1960s, but with a specimen found just miles from the U.S. border, USDA officials are beefing up prevention efforts with new facilities, and ranchers along the border remain on edge. We’ll also talk about the growing pressure of a tick-borne disease in the U.S. herd, and hear about how to identify symptoms that are often mis-diagnosed.  Then we’ll switch gears to hear about a recent Cargill plant closure, and the USDA’s newly announced “beef on top” food pyramid, and what kinds of impacts both of these events might have on cattle markets. We’ll also hear about the potential impacts of the recent winter storms, especially on more southern cattle producers, and get introduced to the 2026 View from the Range ranchers from Montana and Alberta, Canada.  Finally, we’ll hear what Jenn is going to be watching as the season continues– especially evolving drought and wildfire conditions. The Maudes and the U.S. Forest Service: How a Fenceline Dispute Almost Tore a Family Apart

    29 min

  4. FEB 4

    Episode 281: E15, Farm Aid and Immigration

    Though employees and services from the U.S. Department of Agriculture have not been disrupted by the recently ended partial government shutdown, plenty of uncertainty remains when it comes to ag policy in the new year.  As challenging market conditions continue, farmers and their advocates are increasingly looking to Washington for help opening markets, increasing demand, and bridging the gap until relief arrives.  As farm groups across the country set their agendas and head to the Capitol to make their arguments, DTN Ag Policy Editor Chris Clayton has been following along, and he joins us this week to share what he’s learned. We’ll talk about the latest news coming out of the USDA, including updates on possible new trade deals and on the Department’s plans to purchase a significant mass of U.S. commodities as part of the newly re-established Food for Peace program.  Then, we’ll talk about the ongoing E15 situation, and how recent wins might come with challenges for the Renewable Fuel Standard overall. We’ll also talk about the prospects for a 2026 Farm Bill package, or at least additional farm aid allocations, and about the farmers and farm groups who are speaking out on labor issues in light of the administration’s immigration crackdowns.  Finally, we’ll hear what stories Chris will be watching most carefully over the coming months, from the 45z tax credits to trade news to MAHA announcements.

    30 min

  5. JAN 28

    Episode 280: Winter Storm Redux and What’s Ahead for Ag Weather

    A highly unusual winter storm swept across the United States on Jan. 24-25, plunging parts of the midwest into long stretches of below zero temperatures while dumping feet of snow from Kansas and Missouri all the way into the Northeast. Sleet and ice clogged up conditions from Texas to the Carolinas, and despite the extreme conditions, the precipitation was welcome as drought conditions have continued to spread across the middle of the country. To bring us up to speed on the winter storm and its impacts, we’re joined by DTN’s Team Lead for Ag Weather John Baranick. He’ll walk us through winter conditions thus far for key farming regions across the U.S. and offer insight into the forecasting of the latest winter storm. Then he’ll take us beat by beat through the impacts in different regions, from rain, sleet, and snowfall totals and the likely effect on drought conditions to temperature variations and how overwintering crops might be affected. We’ll get an updated forecast for the half of winter that remains, and hear what wildcards John thinks might still be at play. Finally, we’ll take a look at conditions in South America and get a clearer picture of how crops in Argentina and Brazil are shaping up as farmers move towards harvest time.

    30 min

  6. JAN 22

    Episode 279: Ag Equipment Leads with Autonomy and AI at Electronics Show

    CES, the former Consumer Electronics Show, is hosted every year in Las Vegas, Nevada, attracting the latest and greatest in futuristic tech for consumers, businesses, and everyone in between.  It was just a few years ago, in 2019, when John Deere became one of the first major ag companies to exhibit at the show, and since then agricultural equipment and tech companies have become a mainstay. DTN Progressive Farmer’s Senior Editor Dan Miller has been attending CES for years now, and fresh off the latest event, he brings us updates from the showroom floor. We’ll learn more about what he saw and heard there — from upcoming equipment announcements to thoughts and feedback from farmers and consumers alike. He’ll tell us about updates to John Deere’s X9 Combine, the latest in AI and autonomy from Kubota and Bobcat, and guide us through the current state of the drone market with the latest from Hylio.  We’ll talk about productivity gains, price tags, and how shows like this create opportunities for farmers and agriculturalists to engage with the public. Finally, we’ll hear what other stories Dan is expecting in the coming months as we head towards planting.

    26 min

  7. JAN 16

    Episode 278: January WASDE Stuns Markets

    The January WASDE dropped Monday, January 12th, shocking market watchers with an updated U.S. corn crop that’s now a record by an even wider margin. Almost no one expected USDA to add 1.3 million harvested corn acres to the mix on top of a half bushel boost to the national average corn yield, bringing the estimated 2025 U.S. corn crop to over 17 billion bushels.  To help us put this, and all the other updates, into perspective, we’re joined once again by DTN Lead Markets Analyst Rhett Montgomery. He’ll guide us through expectations going into the report to help us understand why markets reacted to the updates the way they did, and to offer insight into where they might go from here.  He’ll also take us beat-by-beat down the national and global balance sheets for the major grains as he tracks the shifting trade picture, updated wheat seeding numbers, and how the latest updates are affecting the basis right now.  Finally, he’ll share what he’s expecting to move the markets between now and the February WASDE.

    42 min

  8. JAN 16

    Episode 277: 2026 Fertilizer Forecast with Russ Quinn

    With a long year of uncertainty in the rearview — farmers are coming into 2026 with hope for more stability in terms of global trade, prices, and growing conditions. While the outlook for some of these factors remains unclear, global fertilizer markets, for one, show signs of stability going into the new year.  To help us understand the fertilizer forecast, we’re joined this week by DTN Fertilizer Editor Russ Quinn. He’ll help us understand the trends that ruled in 2025, from the shifting landscape of fertilizer production infrastructure to the Russia-Ukraine War.  Then he’ll help us look ahead to what we might expect to see in 2026 for major Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potash products, taking into account ongoing geopolitical disruptions, potential planting acreage adjustments, and even spring weather. Then, we’ll dig into potential wildcards that still might throw a wrench in global supply and demand, and he’ll offer insights on how that might impact prices going forward.  Finally, we’ll talk about how tariffs, countervailing duties, and how the $12 billion dollar farmer aid package might impact fertilizer markets later in the year. Read more of Russ’s reporting on the fertilizer markets here.

    33 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.3
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Learn about and discuss the cutting edge of the ag industry and explore new perspectives on farming’s old adages. Field Posts is a weekly podcast by DTN/The Progressive Farmer that dives deeper into the most important trends in technology, policy, management, and business to explore the ag industry’s cutting edge.

Information

  • Creator
    DTN/Progressive Farmer
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    284
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Field Posts
  • Show Website
    Field Posts

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