Economics - Articles

Better Outlook for the Future Pushes Farmer Sentiment Higher

December 4, 2025 | Posted in Economics

The improvement in farmer sentiment was attributable to producers’ more optimistic outlook for the future, as the November Future Expectations Index reading of 144 was 15 points higher than in October.

News Release

Traction Ag Acquires PcMars

November 20, 2025 | Posted in Economics

The move brings together two of the most respected names in ag-specific financial software and marks a major step forward in serving the full spectrum of farm accounting needs.

Research Brief

Economics of Crop and Livestock Integration

November 18, 2025 | Posted in Economics, Grazing, Soil Health

Source: UW-Madison

Crop and livestock integration is a farm management strategy that combines production of livestock and annual crops on the same acres.

International No-Till, Strip-Till and Cover Crops Research Journal - November 2025

Each month, the conservation ag group at Cornell University offers an analysis of the latest scientific papers dealing with conservation agriculture research from around the world. For this on-going web series, our editors will be selecting several research papers from the Cornell list that will be of special interest to North American no-tillers, strip-tillers and cover croppers.

By Frank Lessiter posted on November 18, 2025 | Posted in Economics, Investing in Regenerative Ag, Seeding Practices, Soil Health

In this edition:

No-Tillage System: A genuine Brazilian technology that meets current global demands
Nature’s laws of declining soil productivity and Conservation Agriculture.
Soil carbon storage or sustainable conservation agriculture practices—Which should be our goal?

Cover Crop Adoption Trends: Insights from Five Years of U.S. Farm Surveys

November 13, 2025 | Posted in Economics, Seeding Practices, Soil Health

Source: Farmdoc Daily

New survey data shows how U.S. farmers are integrating cover crops to boost soil health.

NDSU Study Finds Livestock Grazing Pays Off in Cover Crop Systems

Mixing crops and animals on the farm is anything but new.

October 24, 2025 | Posted in Economics, Grazing, Soil Health

Source: NDSU

Using crop residues for grazing and manure as fertilizer is a common practice, historically, but agriculture has shifted toward more specialized cropping and livestock systems. However, the two systems are finding their way back together again.

PCM Dives into Conservation Economics

By Noah Newman posted on October 21, 2025 | Posted in Economics

Let’s kick things off with some new economic data from the Precision Conservation Management program in Illinois. They’re comparing all the field passes in no-till, strip-till and multi-pass systems to see which one gives farmers the most bang for their buck.

Many Iowa Farmers Stop Using No-Till, Cover Crops, Study Finds

October 20, 2025 | Posted in Economics, Soil Health

Source: Iowa State University

A new study from Iowa State University sheds light on the evolving landscape of agricultural conservation in Iowa.

National No-Tillage Conference Program Jam-Packed with Practical, Profit-Building Ideas

From planter performance to precision farming to regenerative agriculture, learn from the brightest minds in agriculture during the 34th annual event in St. Louis in January.

By Cover Crop Strategies Staff posted on October 9, 2025 | Posted in Economics, Grazing, Investing in Regenerative Ag, Product Innovations & Introductions, Seeding Practices, Soil Health, Termination

Whether growers are just looking to tweak their no-till operation or planning for big changes, there will be something for nearly everyone at the 33^rd annual National No-Tillage Conference that kicks off in January. The full program has been released for the 2025 conference, which is scheduled for Jan. 7-10 in at the Marriott Downtown in Louisville, Ky.