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
Cash dairy prices were mixed Monday to start the week at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Dry whey was unchanged at $0.76. No sales were reported. Forty-pound cheese blocks were down $0.04 to $1.42. Four sales were reported ranging from $1.42 to $1.43. Cheese barrels were down $0.0225 to $1.44. No s
Direct cash cattle trade is off to a quiet start to the week. Last week Northern dressed cattle traded at mostly $350 which is $5.00 to $6.00 higher than the previous week’s weighted average, and although Southern live cattle didn’t trade until late in the day, Southern cattle were marked at mostly
The Trump administration is continuing to take steps to help improve market access for U.S. producers in Latin America. USDA Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke Lindberg says the agency is helping provide humanitarian relief in Venezuela after two recent earthquakes. “The
The vice president of government and public affairs with The Mosaic Company says continued constraints on global sulfur supplies are dramatically impacting the company’s ability to produce phosphate fertilizer. Sarah Fedorchuk says the conflicts in Ukraine and Iran, as well as export controls from m
A dairy market analyst says expanded school milk options this fall could help boost long-term demand. Sarah Jungman with AgMarket.net says more than 30 million children participate in the National School Lunch Program each year. “It won’t be an immediate action as schools are trying to figure out wh
Bayer is preparing to bring a new soybean trait platform to the marketplace that could give farmers more options for managing increasingly challenging weed pressure. Becca Chaudhari is Strategic Account Lead for Winfield United within Bayer’s Crop Science Division, representing Bayer’s North America
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Soybeans were sharply lower on profit taking and technical selling, pulling contracts to a lower weekly finish. The USDA raised production and yield from the August update but did lower ending stocks on export demand expectations. On the supply side, the higher yield and production numbers were a bi
At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live and feeder cattle were up waiting on direct trade to develop. Feeders had additional support from the lower move in corn. October live cattle closed $1.85 higher at $219.67 and December live cattle closed $2.62 higher at $222.22. October feeder cattle closed
Dec. corn $5.30 and 1/4, down 3 and 1/2 centsNov. soybeans $12.96 and 1/2, down 35 and 3/4 centsOct. soybean meal $346.80, down $3.80Oct. soybean oil 69.19, down 222 pointsDec. Chicago wheat $7.25 and 1/4, down 16 centsOct. live cattle $219.67, up $1.85Oct. feeder cattle $332.50, up $4.95Oct. lean h
A farm business management coach says the uptick in diesel prices will be noticeable on the farm as harvest continues. Bret Oelke with Innovus Agra tells Brownfield a relatively small percentage of the farms he works with locked in fall fuel prices before the recent increase. “They have product on h
A new soybean disease threat is emerging in Minnesota. University of Minnesota Extension plant pathologist Dean Malvick says red crown rot has been confirmed in southwestern Minnesota. “We found it (there) last year. It’s been found in Wisconsin (and) we suspect it might have spread further than tho
The 2026 U.S. sorghum crop will be considerably smaller than 2025. The USDA now has production at 283.98 million bushels, a decline of 12.46 million on the month and more than 152.845 million bushels below a year ago because of drought impacts on yield and acreage numbers. The 2026 yield is pegged a
The demonstration farm manager with the Illinois Soybean Association says now is the time for producers to finalize their cover crop plans. Jim Isermann says timing cover crop seeding ahead of a forecasted rain can be crucial for stand establishment. “Farmers who are wanting to get those species on
The Trump administration is meeting with farmers to hear how fertilizer pricing challenges are impacting their operations. During a fertilizer hearing in Iowa on Friday, central Iowa farmer Mark Muench said the cost of fertilizer is causing many producers to reach a breaking point. “It’s cost my fam
Great Lakes partners from industry and Extension are bringing new agricultural technology to specialty crop growers. Michigan State University Extension specialist Mike Reinke tells Brownfield farmers in the region haven’t had a place to interact with cutting-edge, commercially available technology
The chief marketing economist with StoneX Group says corn was the standout in USDA’s September supply and demand report. Arlan Suderman tells Brownfield the U.S. corn crop is shrinking and there’s been strong demand. “Certainly on the export side and the ethanol side, but USDA, while they cut the si
The CEO of drone manufacturer Hylio warns an evolving regulatory landscape could prove costly for ag applicators. Arthur Erickson tells Brownfield an agricultural drone company in the Pacific Northwest is facing a nearly $290,000 fine from the Federal Aviation Administration for alleged violations i
The USDA’s 2026 upland cotton and rice crop estimates are lower than last month. Rice production was lowered 211 million hundredweight to 158.18 million as cuts to planted and harvested area, now at 2.102 million and 2.057 million acres, respectively, canceled out a higher yield guess, now at 7,690
The chairman of the U.S. Senate Ag Committee says he’s preparing for another vote on a farm bill as lawmakers return to Washington D.C. Senator John Boozman tells Brownfield while the conversations about nutrition provisions continued with Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar, a senator from Minnesota, over
The CEO of an Indiana-based nonprofit says addressing food insecurity starts with increasing access to high-quality protein. Daniel Leckie with Hatch says the Coalition to Close the Protein Gap program is looking to improving the long-term health outcomes of underserved communities. “It’s not about
The USDA has lowered their 2026 red meat production expectations while leaving poultry almost unchanged. Beef is now projected at 24.877 billion pounds, 90 million less than August on slower third quarter fed cattle slaughter and lighter dressed weights, along with an anticipated cutback in fourth q
