Normally, farmers use propane as fuel for grain dryers to reduce moisture levels in corn crops to ready for sale or to safely store the grain. But the extraordinarily wet spring delayed planting, and a waterlogged fall delayed harvesting and produced wet crops. That caused a surge in propane demand among crop farmers, even as livestock producers are buying to keep their barns warm and rural homeowners try to heat their homes – all of which is straining aging infrastructure used to deliver that fuel. (Reuters)

Farmers focused on soybean harvest for at least three very good reasons again this week. Soybeans tended to dry down quicker than corn at many locations this season, many wheat growers cut beans to plant wheat in a timely manner and many farmers wanted to get soybeans out ahead of threatening weather. Farmers cut 69% of the soybean crop as of the first of the week, just 13 points behind average. (FarmWeekNow)

Congress took a rare dive into the nexus of climate change and agriculture this week as House Democrats’ climate panel explored what role farming practices can play in tackling the “climate crisis.” Lawmakers were interested in quantifying how big farming practices like cover crops, no-till and crop rotation could be, in terms of making a dent in carbon emissions, for example. (Politico)

Agricultural companies are sustaining more damage from the U.S.-China trade war. (The Wall Street Journal)

Today kicks off Open Enrollment for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Health Insurance Marketplace which runs from November 1 through December 15, 2019. The Illinois Department of Insurance (IDOI) recommends that consumers start shopping now to find the best insurance plan for their health care needs. (Illinois.gov)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) held a public hearing Wednesday regarding the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program. Five individuals representing Illinois Farm Bureau and one representing Illinois Corn Growers Association testified at the hearing. Throughout the nearly five-hour hearing, more than 70 individuals testified. (FarmWeekNow)