1) Iowa sets 2022 record farmland sale price
In March, 38 acres of farmland in Sioux County sold as a single tract of land for US$23,000 per acre.
This means purchasing the whole farm cost the buyer about $874,000.
2) Bill Gates approved for large North Dakota farmland purchase
In July, Drew Wrigley, North Dakota’s attorney general, approved Bill Gates’s purchase of 2,100 acres of farmland for $13.5 million, saying the sale was lawful.
Residents previously opposed the sale, citing exploitation concerns and a 1932 anti-corporate farm ownership law.
3) John Deere grants Make-A-Wish for young boy
In July, a young boy from Pine, Ariz., visited John Deere facilities in Illinois as part of a Make-A-Wish experience.
Westyn Wilson, who was diagnosed with a form of kidney cancer in 2019, got to start up a new laser system, had a party at the John Deere Store and was named the company’s first junior CEO by John Deere Chairman and CEO, John May.
4) AGCO experiences cyberattack
In May, AGCO announced that some of its production facilities experienced ransomware attacks.
It’s unclear which locations the hackers targeted, but AGCO has multiple manufacturing, assembly and distribution sites across the United States.
5) John Deere moving tractor cab production to Mexico
In June, John Deere revealed it is moving tractor cab manufacturing from Waterloo, Iowa to its components plant in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico during the 2024 fiscal year.
The manufacturer cited two reasons for the move: balancing workforce needs and helping the Waterloo facility open space to manufacture new products. About 250 jobs could be affected by the move.
6) Indiana Senate passes cropland bill
In February, Indiana lawmakers passed a bill designed to cap foreign ownership of farmland in the state.
Under Bill 388 and beginning July 1, 2022, a foreign business entity may only own up to 320 acres of land in Indiana. Groups that have purchased land before the July 1 deadline will be able to keep their acres.
7) Plymouth County farm sells for $2.6 million
In May, an Iowa farm sold for more than double the per-acre price of the local county the farm is in.
The farm in Plymouth County, located at 38625 200th St., in Le Mars, includes 96.33 acres of farmland with a 92.7 CSRII rating, and another 3.67 acres of land including a home, barn and other buildings.
The farm sold for $25,000 per acre on May 27, or $2.6 million when factoring in the total package. The average price per acre in Plymouth County in 2021 was $12,416.
8) American Farm Bureau names Young Farmers and Ranchers Achievement Award winners
In January, a farming couple from LaPorte County, Ind., took home national honors at the American Farm Bureau Federation Convention.
Cash crop and livestock producers Jacob and Jill Smoker won the Young Farmers and Ranchers Achievement Award, which recognizes young producers excelling in farming and showing leadership abilities.
9) U.S. farmers file complaint against Deere & Co. about right to fix own vehicles
In March, the National Farmers Union, the U.S. Public Interest Research Group and other organizations filed a complaint with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission arguing that Deere & Co. is preventing farmers from repairing their own equipment.
10) EPA announces further dicamba restrictions
In March, the Environmental Protection Agency issued additional restrictions on dicamba use for farmers in two states.
The changes apply to Engenia by BASF, Tavium from Syngenta and Bayer’s XtendiMax dicamba products.
The new labels prohibit dicamba application:
- On dicamba-tolerant crops after June 20 in Iowa;
- On dicamba-tolerant crops south of Interstate 94 after June 12 in Minnesota (the cut-off date for land north of Interstate 94 remains June 30); and
- When the air temperature is over 85 degrees at the time of application or if the forecasted high temperature of the nearest available location exceeds 85 degrees in Minnesota.