Joe Dales's Blog (72)

War in Middle East causes further stress on U.S. farmers

Corn farmers in the U.S. are bracing for even higher fertilizer prices as conflict in the Middle East impacts the globally traded commodity, according to leaders with the National Corn Growers Association. Corn farmers are approaching a fourth year of negative yields, due to low corn prices and high input costs, including fertilizers. The growers association renewed its call on Congress to legalize year-round, nationwide E-15, a higher blend of ethanol fuel, and for the removal of duties on fertilizers from Morocco. Lesly McNitt, vice president of public policy for National Corn Growers Association, said there is not enough domestically produced fertilizer to meet demand, which means imported fertilizer is vital to farmers. McNitt, speaking during a press conference Wednesday, said duties on phosphate from Morocco and Russia that were put in place in 2020, have “kept phosphate prices high” and caused “availability issues and lack of competitive options for farmers.” A study from th

EMILI and BASF Agricultural Solutions Canada collaborate to advance digital crop optimization solutions

EMILI and BASF Agricultural Solutions Canada (BASF) have announced a strategic collaboration to advance the development and adoption of digital farming solutions that increase on-farm productivity and sustainability.  Collaborating with BASF increases EMILI’s ability to advance innovation and foster engagement in agtech solutions and production practices that enable farmer-centric, sustainable technologies and techniques, a focal point at EMILI’s Innovation Farms powered by AgExpert and its annual Agriculture Enlightened conference.  During the 2026 growing season, EMILI will demonstrate and gather feedback on BASF’s xarvio® FIELD MANAGER to showcase its ability to provide precise, field-specific crop management advice on a full-scale Manitoba farm. Insights from these demonstrations will be shared with growers, researchers, and ag-tech stakeholders during field tours and events on EMILI’s Innovation Farms. xarvio® FIELD MANAGER is a digital software platform that combines growth st

EPA Emergency Waiver Clears Path for Nationwide E15 Sales Ahead of Summer

A new EPA emergency fuel waiver will allow nationwide E15 sales this summer, expanding fuel choices, supporting corn growers, and helping stabilize gasoline prices.

Canada's Outstanding Young Farmers New Program Manager begins April 1, 2026

The Board of Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers Program is pleased to announce that Katrina Finke will be joining the organization as Program Manager effective April 1, 2026. Katrina is a strategic operations executive with more than 20 years of experience and a strong track record of driving excellence and governance across local, provincial, and national organizations. She brings extensive expertise in operational leadership, financial stewardship, and organizational alignment. Katrina’s focus is simple: ensuring organizational accountability, unifying brand identity, and delivering high-stakes results through expert financial and operational management. The Board is confident that Katrina’s experience and leadership will support the continued strength and growth of the Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers Program and help us build on the strong foundation established over many years. Katrina’s interest in expanding national sponsorship is a key priority moving forward. Katrina join

Smart Sensors Drive PEI Farm Productivity

PEI farmers will use AgIntel to collect and analyse farm data, improve sustainability, reduce emissions, and increase profitability through advanced digital tools and sensors.