Soybeans

Crop prices have returned to more normal levels this year — down from record highs. As farmers expect less income this year, that's likely to send ripples through the larger agricultural economy.

Humidity can bring the heat index up significantly, and “corn sweat” only adds to the moisture in the air.

The corn and soybean crops in Missouri and Illinois are in better condition because of the recent rain, meaning it didn’t come too late in the growing season to make a difference.

Growing interest rates, high crop prices and rising transportation costs are making it more expensive to store grain — a critical step for many farmers. Economists and grain merchandisers say the market conditions leave them and farmers in an awkward place.

Russia is a big exporter of fertilizer and its raw ingredients, and without them on the market, Midwestern farmers are reeling.

The fertilizer applied to corn, soybean and hay fields costs up to twice as much as a year ago, and that's creating uncertainty as farmers approach planting season.

The Missouri Soybean Association is funding the effort at Pittsburg State University in Kansas.

Replacing limestone with basalt rock could lead to healthier soil and better harvests and reduce the amount of carbon in the atmosphere.

Corn, soybeans, livestock, lumber and wines are all among the products the state is marketing to southeast Asian countries.

The soybean oil could be cheaper, safer, better for the environment and in use within a year.