A pinch in global demand for the resource has led researchers in Ohio to explore the possibility of creating a domestic source. In the early growing, the crop shows promise.

The Obama administration on Monday moved ahead with the EPA’s sweeping WOTUS measure to control the nation’s waterways and every imaginable point of connection to those waterways. The initiative has drawn strong opposition from almost every agriculture interest in the nation.

Vernon Schmidt, the Association’s Executive Vice President, called the proposal an “unlawful power grab by the EPA to assert federal jurisdiction over local water and land use.”

Today Schmidt added, “This decision by the administration shows a continued pattern of disregard for business, industry, and farm and ranch families. Given the opportunity to reach a reasonable solution, EPA has chosen to ignore millions of Americans, extending its control over private land. The EPA should not be in the business of regulating irrigation ditches, isolated ponds and other ‘non-navigable’ waters as waters of the United States.”

After 73 years in the farm equipment manufacturing industry, Soo Tractor is closing its doors.

Soo Tractor, a 54-year member of the Association, began in 1942 as Soo Tractor Sweeprake, a name which referred to

Agriculture in America accounts for 3.75 million jobs—farm jobs, of course, manufacturing, transportation, research, and more. That total compares to about 4.3 million jobs in the tech sector, according to Joel Kotkin, who explores demographic, social, and economic trends, and who recently contributed an article to Forbes on “The Uncelebrated Places Where America’s Farm Economy is Thriving.”

Data from dealers surveyed by Ag Equipment Intelligence and Cleveland Research Co. showed that average sales in March were down 8% compared to March 2014. The encouraging news: That represents a 4% improvement over February’s average sales decline.

The U.S. government has approved the use of an additional $330 million in emergency funds to help contain the avian flu outbreak—the worst in U.S. history—and governors of two farming states have issued orders that mobilize state resources and streamline . . .

The USDA estimates that the number of farmers engaged in production agriculture has declined from 6.8 million in 1935 to 2.1 million today.

In 1960, a single farmer fed about 26 people. Today, a single farmer feeds nearly 144 people in the U.S. and abroad.

Read the complete story in the May issue of Ag Innovator, in the mail and online at Farm.Equip.org/AGI.

Congress soon will consider renewing the Livestock Mandatory Reporting Act adopted in 1999. In a column by Stephanie Mercier, Senior Policy and Advocacy Adviser at Farm Journal Foundation, there is consensus in the industry that price reporting has worked.

New Wisconsin law regulating the weight of agriculture-related vehicles on public roads is “unrealistic and unattainable and, consequently, unenforceable.. . . Significant portions of Act 377 are unconstitutional.” Clark County Sheriff Greg Herrick

A nationwide survey recently conducted on behalf of the Renewable Fuel Association indicated less enthusiasm for renewable fuel among respondents living in rural areas compared to their urban and suburban counterparts.

The poll found that among registered voters, 62% of respondents said they agreed with the federal government’s renewable fuel standard (RFS). Nearly one-fifth (18%) said they

A Missouri woman has used the right-to-farm amendment to the Missouri constitution to argue it is her right to grow marijuana in her basement. . .

The Michigan House Agriculture Committee recently passed a bill that would provide an additional $1 million for the Michigan Agriculture and Environmental Assurance Program. The bill, HB-4391, regulates pesticide and fertilizer fees, which provide revenue for MAEAP.

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Topcon Positioning Group announced last week it will expand its TopNETlive network service for global navigation satellite systems to Latin America. In conjunction with hosting partners, new service will be provided in Mexico, Peru, the Dominican Republic, Bolivia, Guatemala, Colombia and Panama.

Estimates from the U.S. Grains Council suggest a tenfold increase in exports of sorghum this year compared to 2012. China leads demand for the grain.

In 2012, the Council, in cooperation with the U.S. Sorghum Checkoff Program, offered seminars to raise awareness in China about the value of U.S. sorghum, which is also known as milo. Since then, said Alvaro Cordero, Manager of Global Trade for the Council, “China’s demand for sorghum has grown to unprecedented levels.”

Ag Growth International Inc. this week announced its financial results for the three-month period ended March 31. The grain-handling and storage equipment maker posted revenue of $94.4 million CA$ for the quarter, compared with $86.2 million during the same quarter last year.

In addition to supporting our efforts on behalf of the shortline equipment industry, members of the Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association enjoy many benefits, including access to free legal advice on human-resource issues from two of the top HR attorneys in the country.

While reviewing invoices is not normally something one enjoys, the bill we receive from our attorneys is an exception. Each line of the invoice represents a member who gained insight into an important issue on personnel or a dealer or distributor contract. We do not learn which companies use the service, but we know many of you appreciate the expert legal advice and value this benefit of membership.

These members represent a collective 150 years of participation in Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association. We mark these milestone anniversaries by thanking them—and each of you—for your commitment to the farm equipment manufacturing industry and the Association that supports it.

The Federal Aviation Administration granted permission for use of the Yamaha Motor Co.’s RMax unmanned helicopter in agriculture operations. The exemption represents the country’s first for a drone capable of hauling and spraying significant amounts of pesticides.

The drone is already in use in Japan, where rice farmers use it to sow seeds directly into paddy fields rather than growing seedlings and transferring them.

Blount International released numbers for the quarter ending March 31. The company’s Farm, Ranch and Agriculture (FRAG) segment reported first quarter sales of $55.9 million, a decrease of $4 million from the first quarter of 2014. The company said the reduction in sales was driven mainly by lower volumes of agriculture attachments and agriculture cutting blades resulting from weaker market conditions.

The National Agricultural Statistics Service recently took a look at the family farm. Here’s what it found:

When an Indiana farmer in 2007 paired a Salford I-1100 with a Valmar 2455 to plant rye grass, it began a partnership that reached a new level last week when Salford Group acquired Valmar Airflo, Inc.

USDA says farmers have planted 87% of their spring wheat crop, which is a 36% increase compared to what was planted by May 10, on average, in the previous four years. States most ahead of schedule are Minnesota, which is 98% planted, compared to a 49% four-year average; and North Dakota, which reports 82% in the ground compared to its 37% average.

Corn in the U.S. is 75% planted, which reflects an 18% increase over its four-year average of 57%. Minnesota shows the greatest percentage increase, reporting 95% planted compared to a 50% four-year average. Wisconsin is also significantly ahead of its average with 75% planted compared to 57% in previous years.

Soybeans are 11% ahead of the four-year average with 31% of plants in the ground. Minnesota again reports the most dramatic gain, with 70% planted by May 10 compared to the four-year average of 17%.

Rice is ahead too with 83% planted this year compared to a 72% average. California is most significantly ahead of its average, reporting 75% in the ground compared to 36% from previous years.

Net sales for the first quarter of 2015 for the Alamo Group were $207.8 million, which is a 20% increase over sales for the same quarter last year. Net income for the quarter was $7.4 million. Both numbers set record highs for the manufacturer’s first quarter.

Sid Miller is the newly appointed Agriculture Commissioner in Texas. He announced in April he wants to overturn current state regulations that ban deep-fat frying and certain carbonated beverage sales in schools. He believes current school-nutrition regulations are too burdensome.

The Italian company reported a 23.9% decline in net sales compared to the first quarter of 2014. That number reflects a constant currency analysis and would increase to 30.5% on a reported basis. Among sharpest declines in the North American markets were a 44% drop in combine sales and a 26% decline in sales of tractors over 140 horsepower. Sales of smaller tractors increased by 2%.

An announcement last week that Chipotle Mexican Grill will no longer use ingredients containing GMOs was regarded largely as a move to charm consumers rather than offer genuine health benefits.

Cheesemakers in Wisconsin produced a record-setting 2.9 million pounds of cheese in 2014. More than one in every four pounds of cheese produced in the U.S. came from the state, says the National Ag Statistics Service. Data is supported by our friends at Sentry…

An agriculture economist from Texas A&M University projects trade with Cuba could generate $1.2 billion a year, but success depends upon more than lifting trade barriers.

The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers has begun a project to adopt a standard for testing positioning and guidance systems in agriculture and satellite-based auto-guidance systems during straight, level travel.

Members receive 30 minutes of free legal advise from labor attorneys for every question. Call Elaina at (314) 878-2304 for details.

Purdue University reported recently that 38 people became trapped in grain bins in 2014; 17 of them did not survive. That is compared to 33 entrapments and 13 deaths in 2013

Kinze Manufacturing and its founder Jon Kinzenbaw received the 2015 Hero in American Agriculture award in April at the 11th Annual Golden Silo Awards. The awards were hosted by the Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area, which represents 37 counties in northeast Iowa.

The Farm & Industrial Machinery segment increased by 5.4% from the prior year to ¥1,215 billion, and accounted for 76.6% of consolidated revenues.

Dealers Association, has seen circumstances recently in which a bank asked an equipment dealer to pay a lien for a piece of equipment a farmer had traded.

Rocky Mountain Dealerships Inc. announced gains in its first quarter of 2015.

Mazergroup, a New Holland dealership complex based in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada, soon will finalize the purchase of Southeastern Farm Equipment

AgriVision Inc., of Glenwood, Iowa, is cutting 28 people from its full-time workforce of 350 because of lagging sales,

The American Farm Bureau Federation reports that if Congress passes a nationally mandated E-Verify program, it would reduce the farm workforce and decrease production.

The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments last week in a case brought by farmers from California challenging a decades-old law that requires they surrender to the government a portion of their raisin crop.

Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr., challenged that argument: “Could the government say to a manufacturer of cellphones, ‘You can sell cellphones; however, every fifth one you have to give to us.’ Or a manufacturer of cars, ‘You can sell cars in the United States, but every third car you have to give to the United States.’?”

A farm supply business in Renfrew, Ontario, Canada, is changing ownership after more than 50 years. John A. Burnett, Ltd., described as “an area institution” by Ottawa Community News, has sold the business to Reis Equipment of Carp.

U.S. Congressman Tim Walberg (R-MI) introduced last week the Flexibility to Farm Act to correct what he characterizes as overreach by the Environmental Protection Agency through the Clean Water Act.

“When the EPA wants to regulate mud muddles,” he said, “it’s clear the agency is wading into territory that goes beyond reasonable environmental protection and only adds more red tape for Michigan farmers.”

The Minnesota-based WASP Inc., has signed a letter of intent to buy Fast Manufacturing, a manufacturer also based in Minnesota that produces sprayer and liquid fertilizer applicator equipment.

An Australian farmer tending to his daily tasks recently discovered the gigantic fossilized jaw of a 100-million-year-old sea creature.

Numbers released by Titan Machinery in April showed revenues down for the fourth quarter of FY 2015 compared to the same quarter last year. Overall revenue was 31% lower than the same quarter last year. In breakout categories, the company reported about a 34% decline in equipment sales, a 17% decline in parts, a nearly 19% decline in services, and an 8% decline in rentals.

I can’t help but think that what ultimately happens in California regarding ownership of groundwater—whether municipality or privately owned—will migrate eastward to the Midwest, serving as a template for law,” wrote Jerry Gulke in Forbes. “Colorado, Nebraska, and Kansas have had an ongoing controversy over agriculture water rights with regulations of water usage already in place to some degree. One would think it prudent for agricultural residents of those states to keep a watchful eye on the evolution of water rights emanating out of California.”

Agco has lowered its sales expectations for the year and cut its factory hours by 21%.

Agrimoney reported Tuesday that the maker of Massey Ferguson and Fendt machinery told investors its initial sales forecast of a 15 to 17% decline has been revised to a 19 to 21% drop in sales.

Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts (R) plans to visit Europe in June with the state’s leaders in agriculture and economic development, Brownfield Ag News recently reported.

The North American Equipment Dealers Association (NAEDA) announced last week recipients of its 2015 Dealer’s Choice and Gold Level service awards for 2015. The annual awards honor manufacturers who receive exemplary ratings in twelve categories addressed in NAEDA’s Dealer-Manufacturer Relations Survey.

More than 700 farmers responded to questions from Farm Journal Media earlier this spring. Here’s what they said about how they will reduce expenses.

Nearly 68% will reduce farm equipment purchases. About 44% will postpone non-equipment capital purchases.

The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) has developed a standard for designing and testing drawbar pins on agricultural equipment.

ANSI/ASABE S625, Drawbar Pin Dimensions and Requirements for Towed Equipment, establishes the dimensional and minimum strength requirements for agricultural drawbar hitch pins used in the

A lawsuit has been filed by public utility Des Moines Water Works against three Iowa counties, alleging that tile systems, or underground tubes that route water runoff from fields, channel nitrates into the Raccoon River and pollute a source of drinking water for Central Iowans.

The move so frustrated a lawmaker that he called for constituents to boycott Des Moines. Sen. Randy Feenstra (R) wrote an online commentary saying “I firmly believe that the power of our agricultural community needs to stand up against Des Moines.”

The U.S. House Energy and Commerce subcommittee approved a bill last week that would crack down on abusive patent demand letters. The Hill reports the bill was sent to the full committee on a party-line vote of 10-7, but is still far from being enacted.

The bill would provide more disclosure requirements in patent demand letters and allow the Federal Trade Commission to fine companies that send abusive letters, which advocates say are a major tool of so-called “patent trolls.”

The Farm CPA Paul Neiffer raised a question recently in the Top Producer about the merits of a dynasty trust—a perpetual trust that could serve as a vehicle to keep farm ownership in families for several generations.

Professor responds, “I can think of no other event or series of events that would be as devastating, long-term, to our economic system, particularly in agriculture, as widespread use of such a trust.”