Steve Cubbage
- Writer, AgWeb
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Articles by Steve Cubbage
2 Keys for Ag-Tech Adoption: Why Good Innovations Fail at the Farm Gate
Sometime in 2025, a company called FarmWise quietly turned off the lights. Its robot weeder was the real deal — a machine that could run a row and kill weeds with a laser and a blade (no chemical, no hoe crew), exactly what a superweed-plagued, herbicide-litigated industry has been begging for. It made Time magazine’s list of best inventions. It won awards at the World Ag Expo. It raised something north of $65 million. And it’s gone. FarmWise didn’t fail because the technology didn’t work.
2 Keys for Ag-Tech Adoption: Why Good Innovations Fail at the Farm Gate
Sometime in 2025, a company called FarmWise quietly turned off the lights. Its robot weeder was the real deal — a machine that could run a row and kill weeds with a laser and a blade (no chemical, no hoe crew), exactly what a superweed-plagued, herbicide-litigated industry has been begging for. It made Time magazine’s list of best inventions. It won awards at the World Ag Expo. It raised something north of $65 million. And it’s gone. FarmWise didn’t fail because the technology didn’t work.
The Wait Is Over: Ag’s New Disruption Will Reward Those Who Embrace It Now
Each agriculture revolution arrived faster than the last one; now here comes AI, and no technology in ag’s history has promised to rewire the economics of farming this fast. • August 14, 2026 08:36 AM On the evening of June 12, 2026, the most capable artificial intelligence (AI) model available to the public simply vanished.
The Wait Is Over: Ag’s New Disruption Will Reward Those Who Embrace It Now Original
On the evening of June 12, 2026, the most capable artificial intelligence (AI) model available to the public simply vanished. The U.S. Commerce Department, citing national security authorities, ordered Anthropic to suspend access to its newest Claude models — Fable 5 and Mythos 5 — by any foreign national, including the company’s own noncitizen employees.
Ditch the Playbook: Agriculture’s New Rules for Who Gets to Farm — And How They Win Original
In 2013, John Deere’s marketing team released a seminal video that planted the seeds of the company’s vision for agriculture’s future. Titled “Farm Forward,” it had all the bells and whistles — autonomous tractors, holographic displays, remote sensing and the internet of things — on full display. Central to the story was a young farmer stepping confidently into the operation his family had built. Fast forward to today: Most of the technology it envisioned has arrived.
From Pharma to the Farm: Tightening Belts at Both Ends
Walk into any small-town coffee shop or cafe in the Corn Belt right now and the mood is about as black as the coffee. Input costs are still stubbornly high, commodity prices are still soft and USDA says crop profit margins are running at their worst since the 2016 to 2020 stretch. Producers are once again tightening their belts. Ironically, so are a lot of their customers — literally.
How to Bridge the Gap From AI to ROI
Conversations around whether artificial intelligence (AI) could genuinely transform farming are beginning to feel familiar: another technology elevated to savior status before the hard realities set in. The point isn’t to dismiss AI, but to put it to work in the right way. In ag retail, the biggest gains will come from disciplined execution: clean data, clear workflows and people who trust the tools they’re being asked to use.
Seeds of Tomorrow: The 5-to-10-Year Path to Self-Fertilizing Crops
What plant scientists at the University of California, Davis recently achieved with CRISPR-edited wheat borders on revolutionary: creating fertilizer from thin air. In August 2025, the UC Davis team led by plant scientist Eduardo Blumwald announced they had developed wheat plants that recruit bacteria from soil to capture nitrogen directly from the air, effectively fertilizing themselves.
The Tech Advantage Fades: Can U.S. Agriculture Reclaim Its Innovation Edge?
Looking for inspiration for this column, I asked ChatGPT to rank the top 10 ag technology news stories from the past two months. I was hoping to find cutting-edge U.S. tech startups on the verge of changing the world. Instead, I found that the world has seemingly changed overnight; nine out of 10 stories originated in India. What if the AI wasn’t wrong? What if the best agricultural technology is no longer being developed in the U.S. or Canada?
Outrage Builds as City Attempts to Turn Historic 21-Acre Farm into Government Housing
One tiny farm, standing alone against the power of eminent domain, has caught the attention of the nation. Bureaucrats aim to seize the ground for government housing. For decades, brothers Andy Henry and Chris Henry, owners of a 175-year-old, 21-acre livestock operation in Middlesex County, N.J., declined $25 million development offers, preserving the farm for the sake of family legacy and county history. Their reward?
Texas Poachers Busted in Historic Kansas Sting After Slaughter of 119 Monster Bucks
Hack off a head of magnificent antlers. Slice away a scrotum of trophy semen. Roll the carcass onto its snowy belly to conceal the crime. High-five. Make bank. Fly away in a jet. Do it again. One of the most astounding illegal hunting cases in U.S. history unfolded in the pastureland and crop rows of southwest Kansas with the poaching of at least 119 giant bucks, representing a minimum of 16,600” of horn, a mind-boggling quarter-mile stretch. Who was killing the monsters of Kansas?
High Interest Rates Could Reshape Agriculture’s Future
“Yeah, you can buy dirt... And thank the good Lord for it... ‘Cause he ain’t makin’ any more of it.” The lyrics above are from the 2021 hit country song “Buy Dirt,” which voices a mantra that lives within every farmer, because those who farm view land as more than a commodity; it’s their livelihood and legacy. Those generational legacies are at the greatest risk of extinction since the 1980s farm crisis. Persistently high interest rates are a key reason.
Could This Be Roundup’s Last Roundup?
On June 7, 2018, German pharmaceutical giant Bayer completed its $63 billion acquisition of St. Louis-based Monsanto Co. The deal promised to create an agricultural powerhouse by combining Monsanto’s vast seed genetic base with Bayer’s strong portfolio of crop protection products. But that dream lasted exactly two months. On Aug. 10, 2018, a California jury delivered a verdict that would haunt Bayer.
RFK Jr. and Zeldin Comment on How They Would Implement Trump Policy
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s confirmation hearing for Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Wednesday (Jan. 29) before the Senate Finance Committee lasted over three hours, revealing key points: Vaccine stance: Kennedy attempted to soften his past anti-vaccine rhetoric, stating support for vaccines but struggling to explain previous controversial statements.
California Doesn't Get to Tell Iowa How to Raise Hogs in Iowa, Attorney Bird Says
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird led 23 states in a brief supporting Iowa pork producers against California’s strict-hog-housing regulations — Proposition 12, the Office of the Attorney General reported in an article on Jan. 29. As the nation’s top pork-consuming state, California has major influence over the whole market.
4 Things We Learned In 2024 to Be Better Pig Farmers in 2025
In a competitive industry like the U.S. pork business, it’s important to reflect and learn from your experiences. The experts featured each quarter in the State of the Pork Industry Report share four ways they grew from experiences they went through in 2024. 1. We’re in the people business. One thing that Adam Annegers, sow production manager at JBS, is taking with him from lessons learned in 2024 is how to relate to people in the barn. “We all have protocol books. Every company has them.
Milk Production Declines in December as Per-Cow Output Slips
Milk production in the 24 major states continued its downward trend in December, totaling 18.0 billion lbs., a 0.4% decline from the previous year. This marks a continuation of the slight contraction seen in November, where revised production figures showed a 0.3% year-over-year decrease. Slight Contraction Continues Despite these declines, the overall number of milk cows in the 24 major states increased by 17,000 head compared to December 2023 yet decreased by 8,000 head from November 2024.
Calving and Cow Nutrition in Extreme Cold
Calving during the winter months can present some unique challenges. Cold and/or wet weather, higher birth weights, fewer hours of daylight and in most herds this is the time of year when we, as producers, are the primary source of nutrition provided in the form of harvested forage and supplemental feeds. What can we do to make calving in the late winter months as problem-free as possible?
Iowa Secretary of Ag Weighs In on The H5N1 Battle, Vaccine Potential And Trade Sensitivities
Eggs continue to be a hot topic in the news as supplies are down, prices are up – and expected to go even higher – and consumers are understandably concerned. At the center of the issue, fanning the on-going problem for poultry and dairy producers as well, is the Highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza A virus (HPAI H5N1). AgriTalk Host Chip Flory broached the topic with Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig on Tuesday.
Dairy Report: Global Milk Production Costs, New Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act
Global Milk Production Costs A new report says milk producers around the world are seeing an increase in production costs. The report comes from Rabo Research. It says dairy farmers across eight regions including Argentina, Australia, California, China and the Netherlands, have seen total production costs surge by 14% from 2019 to last year. with over 70% of the increases happening since 2021.
Meat Institute Provides President Trump with Strategies to Reduce Costly Regulations and Address Meat Prices
“The U.S. meat and poultry industry is the economic engine powering the agriculture sector,” says Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts, in a letter addressed to President Trump. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, meat and poultry processing is a $227.9 billion industry. Meat and poultry packers and processors employ more than 532,000 workers, with beef packers paying average hourly wages of $22.
Milk Price Futures Finish Strong
Class III milk futures continued their strong momentum today, with blocks and barrels both posting gains with no offers appearing during the cheese session. This back-to-back strength bodes well for producers, as Q1 futures currently sit at $20.27 per hundredweight, with January contracts set to expire next week. Butter turned out to be the biggest mover and Q1 Class IV futures saw a slight decline, settling at $20.46.
Iowa Secretary of Ag Weighs In on The H5N1 Battle, Vaccine Potential And Trade Sensitivities
Eggs continue to be a hot topic in the news as supplies are down, prices are up – and expected to go even higher – and consumers are understandably concerned. At the center of the issue, fanning the on-going problem for poultry and dairy producers as well, is the Highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza A virus (HPAI H5N1) virus infection. AgriTalk Host Chip Flory broached the topic with Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig on Tuesday.
How To Budget For Your Farm's Transition
In 2023, I said the most important thing for your farm business is build your transition plan. Recently, we’ve focused on knowing your numbers, and now it’s time for cost of living and budgeting for retirement. When I work on transition planning with family farms and businesses, I often start by asking whether or not the senior or junior partners have met with a certified financial planner. Usually, but not always, the answer is no.
5 Reasons Consumer Distrust In Our Food Supply Is Rising
Bread, check. Blueberries, check. As I wheel my grocery cart alongside the deli case, I’m taken aback at what I see. Rather, it is what I don’t see that has me wondering, “What in the world?” This section of my favorite grocery store is now almost completely empty, except for a couple of ham loaves and a renegade block of cheese.
Unlock New Markets: Overcoming Challenges in U.S. Dairy Exports
The U.S. dairy industry faces a pivotal moment as it contends with both gripping challenges and promising prospects amidst fluctuating global market dynamics. Krysta Harden, president of the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC), provides insights into the factors shaping the current landscape and future outlook for the industry.
Up Next: Friday's USDA Report
It’s possible, if you keep crop nutrient requirements front and center. If your soil tests show fertility is adequate to meet nutrient needs for total uptake, it’s feasible to make a plan that will maintain yield even though it also will decrease nutrient values in the field, says Ken Ferrie, Farm Journal Field Agronomist.
FOMC Minutes: Fed Officials Note Caution Amid New Inflation Risks
One thing my dad taught me at an early age was that if I didn’t keep myself busy, he would. When you live on a farm, there is always something to do. Here’s a look at that lesson in life through my lens now.
Tariffs Aren't Going To Be Our Largest Trade Issue
The most overused word in the English language since November has to be the word “tariff” as speculation runs rampant on how much a Trump 2.0 presidency will use this controversial trade negotiation tool. Here’s a sampling, so you get the idea: “Think About Making These Purchases Before the Trump Tariffs are Enacted”, U.S. News; “U.S. Carmakers Face Rough Ride Under Trump Tariffs”, Bloomberg.com; and “Bourbon Industry Concerned About Looming Tariffs”, LEX18.
South America Weather Update Forecast
The South American Agriculture Report is now available. Changes to forecast expectations have been limited over the last 24 hours. The forecast is guided by the following weather highlights: A wet weather pattern will persist across Central Brazil including much of Mato Grosso over the next several days. A few rounds of storms are likely, with temperatures also averaging below normal as a result.
What Triggered Wednesday's Selloff in Grain and Livestock Markets?
Grain and livestock markets ended mostly lower on Wednesday. Mark Schultz, Northstar Commodity, says corn and soybeans saw pressure from some rain added to the 11-15 day weather forecast in Argentina and Southern Brazil and USDA report positioning. However, he says South America would have to have a more pronounced drought and cut production over 15 MMT to have a major impact on the market. Friday’s USDA reports aren’t calling for big changes in yield, production of U.S. ending stocks.
Hands in the Soil, Voices in the Halls: GFN's Unique Approach to Advocacy
By Reg Clause: Jefferson, Iowa USA When he was on his deathbed in 2009, Norman Borlaug delivered his final words of wisdom: “Take it to the farmer.” We’re all about helping farmers at the Global Farmer Network—but now, as we celebrate our 25th anniversary, it occurs to me that our organization seeks to turn Borlaug’s admonition upside down. We’re taking the farmers to you. We strongly support the vision of Borlaug.
December 2024: A Month to Remember
I hit the road the first three weeks of December 2024 covering seven old-fashioned live auctions in Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota and Missouri. In 18 of the past 22 Decembers, used equipment prices have gone up — only holding flat three times and dipping once in 2015. Beyond the sale data, I wanted to use this trip to gauge how folks were viewing 2025. Here are a few observations: President Donald Trump’s November election elevated spirits across ag.
Steve Cubbage
When ag equipment manufacturers start shedding union line workers, shuttering plants and shifting factories to Mexico, and there’s a glut of used equipment covering dealer lots, you know the tide is quickly turning. When deciding what technology serves your goals, and to get the most bang for your buck, determine if you need to grow business revenue, increase productivity, reduce costs and/or stabilize daily operation. Being in control of your data means having full access.
Winter Storm Wallops the U.S. With Heaviest Snowfall in a Decade, Southern States Brace for Round 2
A powerful winter storm swept through the central United States earlier this week and unleashed snow, ice and high winds. It also left behind dangerously cold temperatures across a wide swath of the U.S. The National Weather Service (NWS) warned some areas experienced the “heaviest snowfall in at least a decade,” and those forecasts held true, with more than a foot of snow falling north of Interstate 70.
Grassley Criticizes EPA’s UCO Import Verification Process
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) intensified his criticism of EPA over its method for verifying used cooking oil (UCO) imports. With a record 3.2 billion pounds of UCO imported through August 2024 — enough to displace 270 million bu. of soybeans — concerns are mounting about the impact on American farmers, the renewable fuel industry, and broader trade and environmental issues.
Drone Wars: Agriculture Caught In The Middle Of Global Tension
If you are in agriculture and the latest high-tech drone is on your Christmas list, then you might want to ask Santa for something else before it’s too late. One of the largest consumer drone manufacturers is on the naughty list. No, it is not Santa’s naughty list, but instead, it’s the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD) naughty list. The company in question is Chinese drone maker DJI. In 2022, the DoD added DJI to its list of Chinese military companies (CMCs).
Deer Wreak $152M Havoc, Leap Pigweed As Top Yield Robber In Cotton
Appetite for destruction. Deer are wreaking havoc on Georgia farmland with a massive $152-million annual cotton bite. Whitetails are now the No. 1 economic pest of cotton, passing yield losses and control costs for Palmer amaranth, root-knot nematode, and stinkbugs, according to University of Georgia Extension data.
A New Era: The Ag Equipment Industry's Sugar High Is Over
One of my first story assignments as an agricultural journalist was covering a liquidation auction of repossessed farm machinery in Columbia, Missouri. It was late summer 1985, and the 1980s farm crisis was at its zenith. I can still envision the endless row of used corn heads across the length of the fairgrounds. In total, 174 pieces of agricultural equipment hit the auction block that day.
Government Price Controls Didn't Work The First Time, And They Won't Now Either
Do you ever get the feeling that you may be living in a time warp? I mean, doesn’t it seem just a little weird that bell-bottom pants and Marcia Brady hairstyles are the latest rage? I don’t know about you, but one trip through the 1970s was good enough for me. Unfortunately, bad fashion sense and bad hairdos are not the only bad idea that has been resurrected from this tumultuous decade.
Government Price Controls Didn't Work The First Time, And They Won't Now Either
Do you ever get the feeling that you may be living in a time warp? I mean, doesn’t it seem just a little weird that bell-bottom pants and Marcia Brady hairstyles are the latest rage? I don’t know about you, but one trip through the 1970s was good enough for me. Unfortunately, bad fashion sense and bad hairdos are not the only bad idea that has been resurrected from this tumultuous decade.
Ag’s Big Break With Fishermen’s Win at Supreme Court
Fish stories are hard enough to believe, but even harder when their origin hails from the capital of tall tales and broken promises — aka Washington D.C. But this time, this fish story is true. These fishermen didn’t just tell their story down at the local pubs, coffee shops or Sunday school class, they told it in front of the nine justices at the highest court in the land — the Supreme Court.
Ag’s Big Break With Fishermen’s Win at Supreme Court
Fish stories are hard enough to believe, but even harder when their origin hails from the capital of tall tales and broken promises — aka Washington D.C. But this time, this fish story is true. These fishermen didn’t just tell their story down at the local pubs, coffee shops or Sunday school class, they told it in front of the nine justices at the highest court in the land — the Supreme Court.
Infrastructure Woes To Watch: Potholes Plague Global Ag Trade
It seems like the world trade routes are riddled with more potholes than a Minnesota highway come springtime. Getting goods and materials from point A to point B has been anything but smooth sailing, and it continues to be a serious thorn in the side of the U.S. agricultural economy. Recently, at Farm Journal’s Top Producer Summit, attendees were briefed on one of the larger logistical potholes to appear.
Infrastructure Woes To Watch: Potholes Plague Global Ag Trade
It seems like the world trade routes are riddled with more potholes than a Minnesota highway come springtime. Getting goods and materials from point A to point B has been anything but smooth sailing, and it continues to be a serious thorn in the side of the U.S. agricultural economy. Recently, at Farm Journal’s Top Producer Summit, attendees were briefed on one of the larger logistical potholes to appear.
4 Point Checklist To Bridge The Data Gap With Farmers
Being prepared will further instill you as a trusted advisor and someone ready to outfit a customer's farm for the future with its complete digital dataset. (istock) There continues to be an assumption by those outside of production agriculture’s inner circle that the farmer has complete possession and control over their farm’s digital data history.
Starbucks Faces $5 Million Lawsuit Over Alleged Discriminatory Charges for Non-Dairy Milk
Filed in the District Court in Eastern California, the lawsuit seeks class-action status and alleges that Starbucks' practice of charging additional fees for non-dairy alternatives unfairly targets customers with lactose intolerance and milk allergies.
Сargill shares outcome of the world’s first wind-powered ocean vessel’s maiden voyage
Cargill today revealed exciting results of the six-month test period of the Pyxis Ocean, underscoring the potential for the wind assisted propulsion technology in moving the shipping industry toward renewable energy use. The MC Shipping Kamsarmax vessel retrofitted with two WindWings® -large solid wind sails developed by BAR Technologies - - has achieved performance consistent with what was predicted which is equivalent to an average of 3 tonnes of fuel per day.
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