At present, substantial demand growth for soybeans remains dependent on an economic recovery that appears slower than many would like. The uncertainty around growth prospects appears set to stay in place for some time and soybean prices will reflect this reality.

There is a low rumble in the countryside calling for a change in farm policy because corn and soybean stocks are piling up. Some, as Todd Gleason reports, are wondering if the United States should return to the set-aside programs of the past.

This morning Farm Credit, which is the overarching institution for 72 different financial cooperatives across all 50 states and Puerto Rico, hosted a webinar to highlight the problems livestock producers in the nation are seeing from COVID–19. It included a poultry farmer from Louisiana, a beef producer from Kansas, and pork producer from Minnesota.

It's been all over the news, there is a new hornet in the United States. Todd Gleason reports the murderous nickname isn't that big a deal, but it could be for agriculture.

Up next, ILLINOIS Extension Farm Broadcaster Todd Gleason talks with a University of Illinois agronomist about last weekend's freezing temperatures and how farmers can assess potential damage in their corn and soybean fields.

Researchers at the University of Illinois were in the field this week counting insects in cereal rye used as a cover crop ahead of corn. Todd Gleason has more on why.

It sure looks like COVID-19 is going to do some serious damage to the nation's corn and soybean farmers. As Todd Gleason reports, a new study from the University of Illinois estimates the damage at about eight billion dollars. This was the case, at least as you'll hear, on May the 5th.

Recent soybean price weakness reflects the new tariff threats against China that emerged as an option for retaliation against Chinese behavior regarding the coronavirus. A collapse of the phase one trade deal looks politically feasible this year. If the U.S. and China rekindle the trade war, lower export totals, growth in ending stocks, and limits on soybean price potential face producers.

The Trump Administration has been working to reconfigure U.S. trade policies, particularly with China. Former USDA Chief Economist and current Senior Fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute Joe Glauber made a webinar presentation on the subject for the University of Illinois farmdoc Daily Live series. This is an excerpt from the question and answer session.

There are two places all that corn raised by U.S. farmers mostly goes. It either feeds animals or fuels cars. The coronavirus pandemic has played havoc with both.