A market analyst says he’s expecting modest changes to corn and soybean yield estimates in USDA’s October supply and demand report. Sam Hudson with Cornbelt Marketing says the corn yield is expected to move lower, while the soybean yield could be steady to slightly higher. “There’s some quality and
The USDA says 2025 farm program payments being issued this month are the largest since the programs were established in the 2014 Farm Bill. The Farm Service Agency’s Ag Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs are providing $13.8 billion in gross payments. That’s before payment limits and a ma
A market analyst says harvest lows are in and farmers should be looking to reward any rallies prices as harvest progresses. Dan Basse with Ag Resource Company says grain prices hit their annual lows in late June, with another downturn following USDA’s Quarterly Grain Stocks report in September. “We
Dec. corn $5.00 and 1/4, down 1 and 3/4 centsNov. soybeans $12.87 and 1/2, down 10 centsDec. soybean meal $357.60, down $8.20Dec. soybean oil 67.92, down 24 pointsDec. Chicago wheat $6.83 and 1/4, down 3 and 1/4 centsDec. live cattle $223.55, down 22 centsNov. feeder cattle $334.87, down 92 centsDec
A trade policy expert says the European Union’s new due-diligence requirements are increasing the costs for U.S. dairy farmers and processors. “We shouldn’t be adhering to European rules,” she says. “We should be adhering to US rules.” Becky Rasdall Vargas with the International Dairy Foods Associat
The associate director of transportation and infrastructure with the Illinois Farm Bureau says Governor J.B. Pritzker’s consideration of extending the Illinois Harvest Permit program into 2027 would mean transportation savings for farmers at a time of record high diesel costs. Rodney Knittel says th
An ag economist says farmers surveyed in the latest Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer are concerned Brazil’s competitive advantage could have an impact on U.S. soybean exports in 2027. Joana Colussi with Purdue’s Center for Commercial Agriculture says their current soybean crop is pro
A southern Wisconsin producer says talk of increased beef imports have been good for his freezer beef business. Doug Rebout, who raises corn, soybeans, and cattle in Rock County, tells Brownfield, “That part of our market has picked up here recently.” He says, “I get a lot of calls from people that
Cash dairy prices were mixed Thursday at the CME. Dry whey was unchanged at $0.85. No sales were reported. Forty-pound cheese blocks were up $0.0150 to $1.3550. Twelve sales were reported ranging from $1.34 to $1.3575. Cheese barrels were unchanged at $1.4525. No sales were reported. Butter was down
Direct cash cattle trade activity continues to be quiet on Thursday, but packer interest should begin to develop at any time now. Asking prices this week have been noted at $228 to $230 live in Nebraska and $350 dressed. Boxed beef was lower at midday with Choice down $.75 at $374.87 and Select $2.1
Corn export sales were above average during the week ending October 1st. The USDA says the big buyers of corn were key trading partners Mexico and Colombia. Relatively high corn prices have limited global demand over the past month, but Mexico and Colombia remain consistent, representing two of the
A central Kansas farmer says it’s been a sluggish and disappointing start to soybean harvest. Rick Schlender says yields are well below trend-line from this year’s drought. “The heat during pod set and fill period has hurt us in that regard. Irrigated is going to be all over the board. We’d be fortu
A south-central Nebraska farmer says higher fuel costs could raise next year’s irrigation expenses. Randy Uhrmacher says now is usually the time when he locks in diesel fuel. “You’re talking some serious dollars. Watch fuel prices and see what happens from here. Maybe there is an opportunity to lock
The dean of Purdue University’s College of Veterinary Medicine says the development of the One Health Research Institute could help address the industry’s labor shortage. Dr. Bret Marsh says the effort is part of a larger statewide push to increase workforce retention. “It’ll be attractive to studen
Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins says President Trump’s temporary increase in imported ground beef supplies is helping lower prices for consumers. “We have seen some relief,” Rollins said. Speaking to reporters at a farm in Prairie City, Iowa on Tuesday, Rollins didn’t cite specific beef price data but s
A pair of Illinois farmers say it’s been a good fall for cover crop seeding. Kris Reynolds, who’s finished his corn and soybean harvest in Montgomery County, says he’s begun planting cereal rye in fields that didn’t have cover crops seeded into standing crops with a drone. “Those fields started gree
An ag meteorologist says he’s monitoring some hurricane activity that could impact upcoming weather conditions for Midwestern farmers. Drew Lerner, senior agricultural meteorologist with World Weather Incorporated, says Hurricane Isaias is moving through the Gulf of America and could bring additiona
As harvest continues across much of the Corn Belt, growers are collecting valuable information that can help shape decisions for next season. On this episode of Digging into Innovation, Justin Welch, head of commercial agronomy for Syngenta Seeds, discusses how farmers can use decision science when
Sprouting corn and colorful soybeans are showing up in some fields as combines roll across South Dakota, Iowa and Missouri. Jeff Kloucek is a crop consultant and farmer in eastern South Dakota. “There’s normal soybeans, green beans, purple beans, some that are almost black, yellow or a dark gold to
Soybean basis is weakening at crush plants across parts of the Corn Belt following several weeks of stronger bids driven by harvest delays. Ed Usset with the University of Minnesota says there was especially strong basis in southern Minnesota and Iowa. “Here in the last week, I saw 50 cents over the
The retiring CEO of Dairy Management Inc. says consumers have changed how they think about food since she joined the checkoff 25 years ago. Barb O’Brien tells Brownfield, “Trust is up nine points from a consumer standpoint, and that’s trust in dairy foods, in dairy farmers, in the category.” “The al
Some farmers say crop quality concerns haven’t been a big issue in their respective areas. Lance Lillibridge, who raises a corn-on-corn rotation near Vinton in eastern Iowa, says he hasn’t detected any sprouting in his corn fields. “We went to every field yesterday and hand shelled some corn and did
The president of the National Council of Ag Employers says he’s still optimistic an ag labor reform bill can pass by the end of the calendar year. “We’re up to 60 bipartisan co-sponsors,” says John Hollay. The Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act (SAWA), sponsored by House Ag Committee Chairman G.T.
Soybeans were lower on profit taking and technical selling. Near-term harvest weather looks favorable, helping farmers catch up after recent delays, but there are quality concerns in some areas. Still, reports have crushers taking in whatever soybeans are available due to demand. Soybean meal future
At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live and feeder cattle futures were lower on profit taking and the midday decline in beef, with traders waiting for the week’s direct business to get defined. December live was down $.32 at $223.77 and February was $.62 lower at $226.55. November feeders were $2.4
Dec. corn $5.02, down 6 centsNov. soybeans $12.97 and 1/2, down 5 and 1/2 centsDec. soybean meal $365.80, up $11.00Dec. soybean oil 67.68, down 223 pointsDec. Chicago wheat $6.86 and 1/2, down 17 and 3/4 centsDec. live cattle $223.77, down 32 centsNov. feeder cattle $335.80, down $2.47Dec. lean hogs
A fuel economist says he has some concerns about President Trump’s executive order on red dyed diesel. Patrick De Haan with GasBuddy says he’s doubtful the action will provide significant relief to farmers. “First of all, the taxes – as I understand it – are deferred,” he said. “Meaning that at some
The chairman of the Illinois Corn Marketing Board says finding ways to increase corn demand is vital to farmer profitability. Matt Raben, who farms in Gallatin County in southeastern Illinois, says farmers continue to explore domestic opportunities beyond the ethanol industry. “Corn, you can break i
Broiler numbers fell sharply over the past week while holding ahead of last year. The USDA says 246.428 million broiler-type eggs were set into incubators, down 3.178 million on the week with the largest declines in the southeast, but that’s still up 2% on the year. 189.689 million broiler-type chic
Harvest activity has picked up steam in Iowa this week. Iowa City farmer Jay Buline tells Brownfield his corn crop has been a pleasant surprise. “In southeast Iowa we’re seeing some record corn crops right now which is crazy,” Buline said. “But coming off last year’s disease issues we need the extra
