A key factor influencing the downshift is a decrease in European natural gas values. Economist Mike Rahm said while more stable markets are in play this year, demand is expected to increase by about 3% for nitrogen and 10% for phosphates. READ MORE

New soybean crush plants have started to spread across the countryside like a prairie fire during the past couple of years, as companies have seized on demand for soybean oil to produce biomass-based diesel and renewable diesel. Then came EPA’s proposed multiyear Renewable Fuel Standard volumes for 2023 to 2025, acting like a cold splash of water on a burning-hot industry. “The proposed RFS volumes could have a chilling effect on major plants such as this one,” said Garrett Riekhof, a Missouri farmer. READ MORE

Cost-cutting strategies and best practices for Illinois dairy producers will be highlighted at this year’s Illinois Dairy Summit, hosted by Illinois Milk Producers Association (IMPA) and University of Illinois Dairy Extension. Registration is due Jan. 25 for the Feb. 1 event. READ MORE

Illinois public universities saw 5% freshmen enrollment growth, bucking a national 2.4% downward trend, the Illinois Board of Higher Education recently reported. The recent report also highlights trends in dual credit/dual enrollment, new full-time transfer students, and fall-to-fall retention by race/ethnicity for Illinois’ public universities. READ MORE

USDA will issue a crop production report, a WASDE report, a grain stocks report for Dec. 1 and its annual report of Winter Wheat Seedings today. Find out what analysts have to say ahead of the release. READ MORE

It’s been five months since some farmers made their seed commitments. But not all hybrids are the same and not all fields are the same. Now is a good time to be thinking about which bags will be dedicated to which fields. RFD’s DeLoss Jahnke and Asgrow-DeKalb’s Lance Tarchione discuss the importance of seed selections in this edition of Profit Watch. READ MORE