Episodes

China is cutting tariffs on a broad range of U.S. agricultural products — but American soybeans are being left out. On today’s Farm Tales Unplugged — Daily Farm Brief, Rick Portanova breaks down what the latest U.S.-China agriculture trade developments could mean for farmers and soybean growers.


We also look at labor concerns affecting Kansas beef processing and the U.S. cattle supply chain, plus the latest USDA crop progress numbers for corn harvest, soybean harvest and winter wheat planting...

Start your Monday with the latest from American agriculture on Farm Tales Unplugged — Daily Farm Brief.


Rick Portanova breaks down the fresh farm stories worth knowing, what’s happening across the fields as harvest season moves forward, and the latest technology changing the way farmers work. We’ll also hit the Old Farmer’s Almanac, an unusual story from the weird side of agriculture, and a little history and humor to get Farm Nation moving.


Fast, lively and useful — farm news without the ...

Artificial intelligence is learning to listen for crop pests, cattle are being managed by fences you can’t see, and America’s Christmas-tree growers are heading toward the 2026 holiday season with relatively stable wholesale prices.

Rick Portanova also covers the Old Farmer’s Almanac word “cornscateous,” a 3,699-pound world-record pumpkin pie, and the Montana mountain goat that wandered into Bozeman and ended up at a church.

Fast, funny agriculture news for **Farm Nation and Truck City** — del...

On the Thursday, September 24 edition of Farm Tales Unplugged — Daily Farm Brief, Rick Portanova looks at New Zealand farmland being converted to forests for carbon credits and what that means for sheep country and rural communities.

We also look at a strengthening El Niño and what drought in Southeast Asia could mean for global rice and palm-oil supplies.

Then things get interesting: scientists are developing deeper-rooted soybeans designed to handle drought and potentially store more carbon ...

Railroad Mega-Merger, ARC/PLC Enrollment, California Wine Crisis & Autonomous Tractors | Daily Farm Brief

Corn and soybean harvest are running ahead of the five-year average, winter wheat planting is lagging, and cattle futures surged after a surprisingly tight Cattle on Feed report.


On today’s Farm Tales Unplugged — Daily Farm Brief, Rick Portanova breaks down the latest grain and livestock markets, updated USDA harvest and planting progress, and what falling crude oil prices could mean for farmers and truckers still paying record-high diesel prices.


We also look at California wine grape grow...

It’s Monday, and we’re kicking off the week with the stories that matter to America’s farmers, ranchers, truckers, and everyone who keeps food moving.


In this episode of the Farm Tales Unplugged – Daily Farm Brief, we cover the latest agriculture news from the weekend, what’s happening with corn and ethanol, current commodity markets and futures, harvest progress, wheat planting, and the pressures still affecting diesel prices and transportation.


We’ll also look at what’s happening in ag t...

Corn and grain markets show some life, the 2026 Farm Bill remains in focus, North Dakota farmers face labor challenges, and Husker Harvest Days highlights the newest ag technology. We also look at no-till, cover crops, winter wheat, agricultural history, trucking, NASA, T. rex weather, the Farmer’s Almanac, today’s market watch, Farm Fact of the Day, and our Farmer and Trucker jokes.


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South Dakota weather takes a bite out of corn production, USDA changes the rules to help keep diesel moving, and soybean futures are back on our market radar.


We also meet a popcorn farmer with an unexpected story and make our daily visit to the Farmer’s Almanac.


It’s another fast mix of crop news, commodity markets, fuel and transportation issues, farming stories and the lighter side of agriculture.


Farm Tales Unplugged — Daily Farm Brief gives farmers, ranchers, truckers and rural Ame...

Farmers meet artificial intelligence — and this time it has lasers. Today we check corn, soybean and wheat markets, talk about fuel prices and the transportation side of agriculture, and officially welcome the trucking community to the Farm Tales Unplugged audience. Then agriculture technology takes over: drones are directing robots, computer cameras are identifying weeds, and AI-powered systems are using lasers to eliminate them. And because agriculture is never boring, we also have the stra...

Technology is changing what we mean by “farm.” Today we look at World TradeX connecting farmers directly with buyers around the world, Farm Scout and local food sourcing on Long Island, and one very different kind of farm — a hidden cryptocurrency operation discovered inside a Mexican cave. We also check in on agriculture news and make our regular visit to the Farmer’s Almanac. Farm Tales Unplugged continues expanding into a fast-moving mix of farming, food, agricultural technology, rural bus...

China makes a major move in soybeans, agricultural futures are moving, and transportation costs are climbing — all issues that can quickly affect the farmer’s bottom line.


We break down the latest developments in grain and soybean markets, take a look at rising transportation costs, find another unusual ostrich story from rural America, and make our daily stop at the Farmer’s Almanac.


It’s a quick mix of agriculture, markets and the unusual side of farm life.


Farm Tales Unplugged — Dail...

Screwworm turns up in horses, USDA numbers put farm expenses in focus, and one farmer decides ordinary livestock just isn’t enough — so he raises giant birds.


In this first Farm Tales Unplugged Daily Farm Brief, we take a fast, entertaining look at agriculture news affecting farmers and rural America, along with our visit to the Farmer’s Almanac.


Short, informative and easy to listen to — farm news without making it feel like homework.


Farm Tales Unplugged — Daily Farm Brief brings farm...