Weekly Ag Update By ned birkey msu EXTENSION EDUCATOR EMERITUS SPARTAN AG The National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center’s outlook to Sept. 1 is calling for near normal temperatures and precipitation. The U.S. Drought Monitor, updated Aug. 11, shows very slight abnormally dry areas of mid-Michigan and western Illinois. Eric Snodgrass, of Nutrien Ag Solutions, on his Aug. 19 weather podcast, shows a corridor of most of Ohio, Indiana and middle Illinois having the wettest August (so far) on record for the past 134 years. He thinks the odds are for a wetter September than in previous forecast models, even though the Climate Prediction Center outlook has been leaning to below normal precipitation. 2027 planning has already started with seed company field days showcasing new varieties and agronomic products. Sept. 1-3, 2026, Farm Progress Show at the Central Iowa Expo site in Boone, Iowa, and Ohio’s Sept. 22-24, 2026, Farm Science Review at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center, London, Ohio, are just two of the upcoming events, in addition to numerous regional field days that farmers can attend. Cash rents and farmland values are always topics of interest to farmers, landowners and lenders. The Chicago Federal Reserve Bank’s latest second quarter report says commodity price volatility and elevated production expenses are factors weighing most heavily on farm finances. This may influence 2027 cash rent and farmland values. There are several ways to negotiate cash rents, including price and/or yield variable contracts, multi-year contracts, crop-share rents to landowners willing to share in the risk and potential of higher yields and prices. For good or bad, the USDA has average cash rents for every county, borough and parish in the U.S. For example, Monroe County, Mich., average cash rent in 2025 was $164 per acre, up $10 from 2025, with irrigated rent at $260 per acre. However, there are perhaps 50 reasons why rents could be higher than the average and 50 reasons why rents could be lower than the average. I always start with looking at the soils from the USDA soil survey book and a current soil test as a guide. Always use a written lease so everyone knows the terms and often overlooked is an ending date to the lease so both parties know exactly when the lease ends. There are several sources of free sample leases available on the web, running from one to 12 pages, or simply use a local attorney. Hover flies have become increasingly common and can be a real nuisance at picnics or outdoor gatherings. They are harmless but annoying, do not have stingers and cannot bite. They mimic bees and wasps with their yellow/orange and black striping. People refer to them as “sweat bees,” which is not correct as sweat bees are small bees with two pairs of wings (hoverflies have only a single pair) and they do have stingers. Sweat bees are smaller and are typically dark or metallic in color. Both hover flies and sweat bees can be a minor nuisance because both are attracted to people by moisture and salt. |
