Agriculture
As the mid-April sun typically signals the start of the heavy planting season across the American heartland, the 2026 season is proving to be a frustrating exercise in patience. Farmers across the Corn Belt and Ohio River Valley are currently facing a "hurry up and wait" scenario as
USDA
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) sent shockwaves through the agricultural sector this morning with the release of the April 2026 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report. In a surprising pivot, the agency hiked its season-average farm gate price forecasts for both corn and soybeans, citing a
Fertilizer
As the 2026 spring planting season arrives in the United States, American farmers are facing a "perfect storm" of geopolitical instability and supply chain paralysis that has sent fertilizer prices soaring to levels not seen in years. A military conflict in the Middle East involving Iran and a
Manufacturing
The American manufacturing sector remains mired in a stubborn downturn, as the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) reported today that its Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) remained in contraction territory for the 12th consecutive month. The February reading of 48.2%—released in early March 2026—underscores a persistent
Deere & Co
On the eve of its first-quarter earnings report, scheduled for February 19, 2026, Deere & Co. (NYSE: DE) finds itself at a pivotal crossroads. After years of record-breaking profitability fueled by post-pandemic demand, the world’s largest farm equipment manufacturer is now staring down the barrel of a significant cyclical