By DTN Staff

OMAHA (DTN) -- From labor unrest on both sides of the U.S.-Canada border to record-high prices in the cattle market, more extreme weather events, the detection of H5N1 in dairy cattle for the first time, a presidential election filled with numerous twists and turns, and Congress failing to pass a new farm bill yet again, 2024 was another memorable year for agriculture.

During the past two weeks, DTN has revisited these and other big stories in our annual Top 10 Ag Stories of Year series. (See the No. 1 story, along with links to all 10, at https://www.dtnpf.com/…; you can also check out a Reporter's Notebook video on them at https://www.dtnpf.com/….)

But those stories were just the tip of the iceberg. Beyond the major events that dominated the headlines were numerous other stories that, though they may not have gotten as much attention, had a significant impact on the farming and ranching community and rural America.

In recognition of the importance of these stories to agriculture, we're presenting some of them here as part of our annual "Best of the Rest" list, in no particular order.

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GEORGIA FARMER BREAKS WORLD SOYBEAN YIELD RECORD ... AGAIN

After becoming the world's first soybean farmer to officially exceed 200 bushels per acre (bpa) in 2023, Alex Harrell of Leesburg, Georgia, didn't rest on his laurels this past year. Instead, he went out and broke his own record.

In August 2024, he harvested a 2.5757-acre plot of irrigated soybeans that averaged 218.2856 bpa, increasing the world record yield by more than 11 bpa. "We changed up a lot because we wanted to see if we could repeat what we did [in 2023] in a different environment," Harrell told DTN. "We were in a different soil type on the opposite end of the county. We changed genetic traits. We changed herbicide traits."

Harrell planted Pioneer P49Z02E, a 4.9 relative maturity soybean, into a strip-tilled field on 30-inch rows. He increased his seeding rate from 85,000 to 110,000 seeds per acre to thicken the stand and help prevent branches heavily loaded with soybean pods from breaking.

Each Monday from emergence until the field was desiccated, Harrell took tissue samples that he used to inform his application of in-season nutrition. Foliar fertility was applied primarily using Y-drops and drones.

"There was someone out there just about every day checking on it," he said. "It's not just about checking on nutrient levels; it's also about nutrient balances."

When it comes to achieving high soybean yields, Harrell said two things are necessary: planting early and striving for large seed size.

"We were past the heavy blooming stage and in full grain-fill mode by the time those long, hot days of summer came around," he said. "That allowed us to pump up that seed size. Last year, we were about 1,660 seeds per pound, and we're somewhere in the same ballpark this year. We actually had pods busting at the seam."

Read more about Harrell's achievement here: https://www.dtnpf.com/….

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2022 AG CENSUS SHOWS LOSS OF NEARLY 142,000 US FARMS

USDA released the results of the 2022 U.S. Agricultural Census in February, revealing significant declines in farm numbers and acreage. From 2017 to 2022, the U.S. lost nearly 142,000 farms and 20.1 million agricultural acres, with the total number of farms falling below 2 million for the first time. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack called the numbers a "wake-up call" for policymakers.

The census showed decreases across all farm size categories, including larger operations of 1,000-plus acres and smaller farms under 10 acres. Total farm acreage, including cropland and pasture, dropped to 880.1 million acres. Despite these losses, the average farm size increased to 463 acres, up 5% from 2017.

The data highlighted the concentration of agricultural sales, with just 1.4% of farms accounting for 50% of all product sales. Farm production expenses rose by 23% to $424.14 billion, with significant increases in livestock feed, fertilizer and labor costs.

Demographically, the number of producers decreased slightly to 3.374 million. The average farmer age increased to 58.1 years, emphasizing the need to attract younger individuals to agriculture.

Vilsack stressed the importance of the census in shaping agricultural policies and addressing challenges facing the sector. The data will be used to inform decision-making on USDA programs and highlight areas requiring attention in the evolving landscape of American agriculture.

See more here: https://www.dtnpf.com/….

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FARMERS OVERCOME BEVY OF EMERGING PESTS IN 2024

The national average corn yield hit an all-time high in 2024, and soybeans almost did, yet hidden behind this production prowess was a battle against an army of emerging diseases and pests that increased their footprints, many going places where they'd never been seen before.

Though it is still a relative newcomer, first detected in 2015, tar spot continued to spread this season. The disease showed up early in several states and continued a steady march across the Corn Belt. In total, tar spot showed up 20 states and two Canadian provinces, according to the IPM CornPIPE map (https://corn.ipmpipe.org/…).

No cornfield was impervious. Many farmers reduced their risks in 2024 by planting hybrids that were less susceptible and applying fungicides timely. This strategy, and the lack of conditions favoring the disease, kept yield losses at bay for some. For others, losses were more significant.

While many anticipated tar spot as a potential issue in 2024, one disease farmers likely didn't expect was corn stunt, a major disease in Central and South America. In August, Extension specialists in Missouri and Oklahoma announced the first confirmed cases in those states, marking the farthest north that corn stunt had been detected at that time.

However, before the season ended, instances of the disease were found as far north as Minnesota and New York, with corn leafhoppers -- the vector for the pathogens that cause the disease -- also detected in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Nebraska and Wisconsin. Though it is believed these insects cannot survive harsher winter conditions, entomologists will be monitoring for the pest throughout the winter.

Two emerging soybean pests also gained ground in 2024. Soybean gall midge -- determined to be a new pest species in 2018 -- continued to expand its geography. The Soybean Gall Midge Alert Network reported in early December that the tiny pest had been found in 14 new counties this past year, bringing the total to 178 in seven states.

Red crown rot also continued turning up in new places. Historically recognized as a southern disease, the fungal pathogen was detected in localized areas in Illinois in 2018. Additional pockets of problems have since been found in Kentucky (2021), Indiana (2022) and Missouri (2024). At present, soybean and disease specialists know of no cure for red crown rot, which can cause devastating yield losses in severe cases. The Crop Protection Network tracks the disease here: https://cropprotectionnetwork.org/….

Read some of DTN's coverage of these pests from this past year:

-- https://www.dtnpf.com/…

-- https://www.dtnpf.com/…

-- https://www.dtnpf.com/…

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EPA ROLLS OUT WORLD'S TOUGHEST EMISSION STANDARDS FOR HEAVY-DUTY TRUCKS

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rolled out new emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles through 2032 that agriculture groups and states argue is a mandate for electric vehicles.

Though the standards are said to provide flexibility to automakers in how they reduce emissions, the rules do little to promote the use of ethanol and other biofuels.

The new rule includes delivery trucks, refuse haulers or dump trucks, public utility trucks, transit, shuttles, school buses and semi-trucks. They would have to meet lower pollutant criteria standards for 2027 through 2032.

Attorneys general in 24 states sued the Biden administration and were joined by agriculture groups in the case. Those states include Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming.

Read more about it here: https://www.dtnpf.com/…

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COURT STRIKES DOWN BIDEN EFFORTS TO REVERSE SMALL-REFINERY EXEMPTIONS TO RFS

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit vacated the Biden administration's reversals of 105 small-refinery exemptions to the Renewable Fuels Standard, granted by the first Trump administration.

The court's ruling was celebrated by biofuels and agriculture groups who had been fighting the Trump administration actions dating back to 2018 exemptions.

Small-refinery exemptions have been a hot-button issue for agriculture. Interest groups have estimated the exemptions have reduced biofuels demand by about 4 billion gallons.

Read more about it here: https://www.dtnpf.com/…

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CONTINUED CARBON PIPELINE FIGHTS

As Summit Carbon Solutions continued to move forward on clearing regulatory hurdles to build a carbon pipeline across North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska, landowners and others continued to fight the project.

Summit's plan includes connecting 57 ethanol plants to a pipeline, to capture carbon and improve the plants' carbon footprint.

The fight continued in a variety of court venues in 2024 and included important decisions from state supreme courts and the approval of a ballot initiative in South Dakota.

For more, see https://www.dtnpf.com/….

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SUPREME COURT TOSSES CHEVRON DOCTRINE, EFFECTS ON FARMS AND RANCHES

In June 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a key legal doctrine that could help farmers and ranchers fight federal regulations as it relates to the Clean Water Act and other statutes.

Because of the court's decision, courts will no longer be able to defer solely to a federal agency's interpretation of the law simply because a statute is ambiguous.

Chevron deference required that if statutory language is clear, agencies were required to follow the letter of the law. If wording and context in a statute is ambiguous, courts have been deferring to federal agencies' discretion.

Read more here: https://www.dtnpf.com/… and here: https://www.dtnpf.com/…

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FORMER IOWA AG SECRETARY NORTHEY DIES

Bill Northey, the former Iowa secretary of agriculture and longtime farm advocate from Spirit Lake, Iowa, died suddenly on Feb. 5 at age 64.

The 1981 graduate of Iowa State University most recently served as the CEO of the Agribusiness Association of Iowa (AAI), a position he held since March 2022.

Northey served as the USDA undersecretary for farm production and conservation from 2018-21. Northey was confirmed to the position by the Senate in February 2018.

He served as Iowa's ag secretary from 2007-17 before he was nominated to the USDA post by President-elect Donald Trump during his first term.

Northey has also served on the Iowa USDA Farm Service Agency state committee, was a Dickinson County soil and water conservation district commissioner and a board member of Ag Ventures Alliance.

Northey was co-founder and president of Innovative Growers LLC, a farmer-owned and farmer-managed company designed to capitalize on demand for the production of specialty grain products. On his own farm at Spirit Lake, Northey produced corn and soybeans.

"It is with great sadness that the Agribusiness Association of Iowa shares the news of the passing of CEO Bill Northey," the group said on its website. "The state of Iowa, and all of agriculture, has lost a great leader who has left his mark on future generations and will be greatly missed. Bill was a tireless advocate for agriculture and a beloved leader for the entire AAI staff and organization. As we mourn the loss of our close colleague, we also extend our prayers for his family in this difficult time."

Read more here: https://www.dtnpf.com/… and here: https://www.dtnpf.com/…

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KANSAS P5 RANCH GETS NEW OWNERS

In mid-January, Kansas' largest contiguous ranch, the P5 Ranch, was sold for an undisclosed amount of money in a private sale.

The ranch, located in Hamilton and Kearny counties about 24 miles west of Garden City, spans approximately 44,923 acres. While primarily pasture, it includes 2,700 acres of crop land and 17 miles of Arkansas River frontage, which supports vibrant hunting.

"Usually when we sell a property, it's either a farm, cattle operation or recreational land," said Mitch Keeley, one of the land specialists handling the sale for Whitetail Properties Real Estate, in a news release. "We often represent properties that fit one of these categories, but what's so unique about the P5 is it combines all three property types. It's very hard to find something like this in Kansas."

The ranch can support 6,500 to 8,000 head of cattle. It includes 17 irrigation pivots that the ranch used to grow alfalfa, triticale and corn. A log cabin on the ranch is also used to provide housing for sportsmen hunting the ranch's whitetail, mule deer, elk and waterfowl, which are supported by a 36-acre lake. There are also four homes for ranch employees.

"The P5 has been exceptionally well-maintained over the years with excellent fencing, new irrigation pivots and as clean of a ranch as you'll find anywhere in the Midwest," said Adam Hann, the other land specialist involved in the ranch's sale.

According to the news release, the previous owners' decision to sell was "based on not wanting to burden the next generation of ownership with the future responsibility of selling of handing off the ranch."

Read more about the sale here: https://www.dtnpf.com/…

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DTN/Progressive Farmer Content Manager Anthony Greder, DTN Ag Policy Editor Chris Clayton, DTN Environmental Editor Todd Neeley, DTN/Progressive Farmer Crops Technology Editor Pamela Smith, DTN Crops Editor Jason Jenkins and DTN Farm Business Editor Katie Dehlinger contributed to this article.

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