Selecting the right seed variety to maximize return on investment in 2027. Agronomist Trey Stephens with Beck’s Hybrids says seed selection is one of the most important decisions especially when margins are tight. “Depending on the hybrids that fit your management style is where you’ll get extra yie
An east central Illinois agronomist says high disease pressure is leading to stalk quality concerns heading into harvest. Kris Ehler, who’s based in Champaign County, tells Brownfield, “It’s going to be easier for me to tell you what I’ve not found for diseases in cornfields right now than it is wha
In this Managing for Profit, American Farm Bureau ag economist Faith Parum discusses adjustments in USDA’s September Farm Income Report and the largest factors impacting the cost to operate. The post Record production costs limit profit potential for farmers appeared first on Brownfield Ag News.
The latest ag technology will be front and center at this year’s Husker Harvest Days. Matt Jungmann, senior director of events with Farm Progress, says producers will get the latest look at what’s hitting the market. “Whether times are good or times are bad, the technology continues to advance, thin
Some Iowa farmers have begun harvesting corn. USDA’s latest weekly crop progress report shows corn two percent harvested, in line with the five-year average. There’s no indication soybean harvest is underway, with just 22 percent of the crop dropping leaves compared to nearly 30 percent normally. So
An east central Illinois agronomist says he expects harvest activity to pick up this week, weather permitting. Kris Ehler, sales agronomist for Ehler Brothers in Champaign County, says there’s been sporadic corn harvest in his area. “For the most part, growers aren’t quite ready yet.” He says, “From
At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live and feeder cattle futures were sharply higher, supported by technical buying, the midday gains in boxed beef, and optimism about this week’s direct business. October live was up $2.57 at $222.25 and December was $2.92 higher at $225.15. October feeders were $
A southwest Minnesota farmer says early harvest activity is underway. Bryan Biegler of Lake Wilson tells Brownfield most crops in the area are still a week or more away from being ready. “We have had some people in the neighborhood taking out a little bit of beans, and had a neighbor actually trying
Soybeans were higher on short covering and technical buying. The USDA is projecting a record crop but is also expecting continued solid demand. There was spillover from the strength in crude oil, which was up on supply concerns. Still, as crude oil trimmed its gains, soybeans, bean oil, and corn all
A farmer in northwestern Wisconsin says the driest stretch of weather after June 1st in 130 years will impact grain yields. Andy Bensend, who grows corn, soybeans, and wheat in Barron County, tells Brownfield… “Grain yields are going to be off, I’m going to roughly say 20%.” He says, “Nobody’s cut a
A dry end to the summer in parts of the Midwest is raising concerns about water levels on the Mississippi River. Mike Steenhoek with the Soy Transportation Coalition says another fall with low levels is likely. “We’re not exactly in a position of strength, and the concern is that we could have five
A farmer in the Missouri Bootheel says the early soybean yields are good as harvest picks up the pace. “There’s some variability there, a little bit of disease pressure that kind of hurt some of the varieties, but for the most part, I think the beans are going to be really good,” Aaron Porter of […]
Early digging for the Michigan Sugar Company is underway. Sanilac County farmer Dennis Gardner tells Brownfield he delivered his first field of sugarbeets last week. “We got some phenomenal beets that are probably 30 tons plus right now,” he shares. “Some of the early beets went 20, and some were a
Dec. corn $5.33 and 1/4, up 3 centsNov. soybeans $13.04 and 1/4, up 7 and 3/4 centsOct. soybean meal $350.20, up $3.40Oct. soybean oil 69.65, up 46 pointsDec. Chicago wheat $7.22, down 3 and 1/4 centsOct. live cattle $222.25, up $2.57Oct. feeder cattle $337.85, up $5.35Oct. lean hogs $79.60, down $1
Southwest Kansas farmer Gary Millershaski says extreme heat and ongoing drought has decimated corn yields. “The dryland corn is going to become cattle pasture. It wasn’t even good enough for silage.” He tells Brownfield he estimates production could be down 40 percent in his state. “We’re only going
A southwest Nebraska farmer says crop conditions vary widely across the region. Tracy Zink says it was extremely dry and hot until timely regains begin in early August. “What turned out to be the saving grace was that we’ve had the humidity because that dew that we don’t really get was the majority
The USDA’s national crop condition ratings were unchanged to higher over the past week. Weather conditions were widely mixed last week, ranging from hot and dry, to excessively wet, to near ideal for late summer. 57% of U.S. corn is in good to excellent shape, up 1% on the week, and 86% of the crop
Missouri farmers say the corn crop is decent as harvest continues, and progress varies across the state. In northwest Missouri, Ryan Meyerkorth tells Brownfield it’s been a slow start due to the late season dry down, but the corn is coming out above expectations. “We had a wet spring, so we were kin
A north central Ohio farmer says she doesn’t expect to start harvest until the end of the month. Patty Mann tells Brownfield, “Our beans are still pretty green for the most part, but we’re starting to see a little yellow on our earliest planted varieties. The green fields are still putting on new gr
A west central Indiana farmer says excess rainfall in August is having an impact on harvest timing. Kevin Cox says he was able to get an early look at soybean yields last week, but, “If the beans hadn’t already started turning, because of all of the rains in August, they just kept on growing. Now, i
Business and Extension collaborators are trying to bring more ag technology startups to the Great Lakes. Mark Ledebuhr with Application Insight Consulting says specialty crop innovations developed on the West Coast haven’t been able to break into the Great Lakes region. “This is a very difficult pla
Ted McKinney with the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture says the continued tensions between the U.S. and Canada are concerning. “Former Ag Secretary Sonny Purdue used to say this is the best neighborhood on Earth: Canada, the U.S., and Mexico. Let’s get back to being the best
The USDA’s Deputy Secretary says reopening the US border to cattle imports from Mexico has been successful. Stephen Vaden tells Brownfield, “We had a hiccup there with a gate. Thanks to our APHIS team and the cooperation of our Mexican partners, we have been able to install a working gate there in D
Turkey hatchery numbers are pointing towards increased supplies. The USDA says 21.92 million poults were hatched during August, rising 8% on the year, with 21.213 million of those poults placed into meat production, up 7%. The year-to-date placement pace is 1% ahead of last year. Those birds will st
Crop diversification provides opportunity to add value to operations. A south-central Kentucky farmer says the demand for locally grown and milled small grains has increased exponentially over the last 15 years. Sixth generation farmer John Halcomb raises corn and soybeans, along with wheat, barley,
An Extension specialist says specialty crop growers should be following the spread of spotted lanternfly now that it’s been detected in Southwest Michigan. Michigan State University Extension’s Mike Reinke tells Brownfield, “In this part of the country, in Michigan in particular, we’re really concer
USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke Lindberg has been selected to lead the United Nations World Food Program. Lindberg, who was nominated earlier this year by President Trump, recently told Brownfield at the Iowa State Fair that the position is a five-year term. “The
The general counsel for the American Federation of Government Employees says a federal judge is considering a temporary pause to the USDA’s reorganization plan. Rushab Sanghvi says four unions representing Department employees, joined by nonprofit organizations and cities and counties from across th
The chairman of the U.S. Senate Ag Committee says another bridge payment is needed to help farmers navigate the record high input costs. John Boozman says more economic assistance was included in reconciliation, but he’s not expecting that to pass anytime soon. “We’re talking to the president and th
New crop U.S. soybeans have started leaving domestic ports for China. The USDA says about half of the weekly shipment total on soybeans during the week ending September 10th was bound for China, reflecting Beijing’s near-term delivery needs. The recent rise in demand U.S. beans comes as state buyers
