“Whiskey is for drinking; water is for fighting!” A quote often attributed to Mark Twain has rung true in California, a state famous for its “water wars,” for more than a century. Today, when reading about the water situation in California, you are likely to see the Westlands Water District mentioned. This is no surprise [...]

A wet spring in the Midwest in 2019 has made drainage a focal point for many farmland owners. Water is vital to agricultural production. When a crop receives too little or too much of this resource, its productivity is negatively impacted. Water management solutions promote soil health and provide plants with optimal growing conditions. The [...]

The American Farm Bureau Federation reported in October that farm bankruptcies (Chapter 12) were up 24 percent in the 12-month period ending September 2019 from the previous period. This statistic made a number of headlines, usually in tandem with a mention of the trade war and tariffs on grains. This may have made many readers [...]

MWA Auctions and Real Estate had an active December, auctioning farms in four different Illinois counties, that all varied in terms of soil quality.  On December 3rd, 100 acres was auctioned in Gifford, IL with Class “B/C” soils (121 weighted average PI) bringing $9,150/Acre. This is a strong price for a mid-tier farm and this [...]

By Dr. Scott Irwin The story of grain prices in 2019 largely revolved around demand weakness and weather problems here in the U.S. Corn Belt. The most prominent negative demand factor weighing on the markets was the trade war with China. There was some optimism through the winter and spring that a trade deal could [...]

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Jan. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — The premier Fort George Island Marina in Jacksonville, FL will be offered at auction on February 26, 2020. The marina facility, considered hurricane-safe, is strategically located at the mouth of the St. John’s River and is Jacksonville’s closest commercial marina to the Atlantic Ocean. The marina also offers quick [...]

By Murray Wise Typically, at the end of the year, I write a “wrap-up” of the growing season for the Midwestern states. However, this year, a notable guest writer, Scott Irwin from the University of Illinois, will assume that task and allow me to focus on a different subject. It took me very little time [...]

The Murray Wise Associates Foundation provides an annually renewable cash stipend to selected students demonstrating scholarship, community involvement, and a commitment to agriculture. We will begin accepting applications for the 2020 Murray Wise Associates Foundation Scholarship on JANUARY 1, 2020. Applications are due MARCH 20. HS seniors and undergraduate students pursuing a degree in agriculture [...]

In accordance with California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), groundwater basins were required to form Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) by June of 2017 and submit a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) by Jan. 31, 2022, while “critical overdraft” basins must submit their GSPs by Jan. 31, 2020. Most of these “critical overdraft” basins intended to publish [...]