‘Field of dreams’ tractor: The 1977 John Deere 2640 tractor driven by actor Kevin Costner in the movie “Field of Dreams” sold for $64,000 at auction in Beverly Hills, six times the usual price for a 2640 of that vintage. (Outsider)
Food prices up, again: The Food Price Index, a gauge of prices worldwide for commonly consumed food commodities, rose for the 11th month in a row in April and is at its highest level since May 2014. (Food and Agriculture Organization)
More farmland for sale: A “large and rapid run-up in land prices” is likely to combine with anxiety among landowners over potential changes in federal tax policy to bring farmland onto the market this year, said a large farm real estate management company. (Farmers National)
‘Swampbuster’ lawsuit is filed: In a long-running dispute, a South Dakota farmer has asked a federal judge to declare unconstitutional the “swampbuster” regulation that denies USDA subsidies to farmers to convert wetlands into cropland. (DTN/Progressive Farmer)
Deforestation increases in Brazil: For the second month in a row, deforestation of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil was larger than the same month in early 2020, a worrisome trend ahead of the annual burning season, from May to October. (Reuters)