The annual USDA Diverse Family Farms report says most U.S. farms are owned by families. “Ninety-eight percent of farms are family farms, and they account for 87 percent of farm production,” said Chris Burns, economic researcher at the USDA. Small farms make up 89...

Merck says it’s acquiring Antelliq Group, a company that does digital animal identification, traceability and monitoring. Merck is paying almost $2.4 billion for Antelliq’s outstanding shares and will assume Antelliq’s debt of about $1.3 billion. Antelliq is formerly...

A Cornell-led study shows that Midwestern agriculture is especially vulnerable to climate change. Ariel Ortiz-Bobea says the region’s reliance on corn and soybeans could cause challenges in the future. “In a way it’s like putting all the eggs in the crop basket and...

At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, cattle futures closed mostly lower on technical pressure and disappointment in the cash trade.  Seasonal demand concerns are also limiting any price movement.  February live cattle closed $.45 lower at $122.40 and April live cattle...

Soybeans were modestly lower on fund and technical selling, cementing the week to week losses. China and unknown destinations both bought U.S. soybeans Friday morning, but the announced sales of around 1.5 million tons so far have fallen short of the 5 million to 8...

Traders are disappointed China hasn’t been more aggressive since announcing it would resume purchases of U.S. soybeans. Al Kluis with Kluis Commodities in Wayzata, Minnesota says the Chinese have bought about 55 million bushels since the trade war truce began. “I was...