An ag economist says inflation and higher interest rates continue to impact farm profitability. David Widmar with Agricultural Economic Insights says producers are expected to face additional financial pressure. “The Fed is now positioning themselves to raise interest rates as we wrap up 2026 and he
A northeast Wisconsin dairy farmer says he’s thankful for last year’s bumper crop as drought conditions intensify Travis Speirs milks 2,800 cows with his father south of Green Bay. “We’ve got a lot sitting there in carryover,” he shares. “We’ve harvested more alfalfa acres the last two years than ev
Some Iowa producers are urging Congress to address Proposition 12 as lawmakers work toward a new five-year farm bill. Rob Brenneman, a pork producer from southeast Iowa and current president of the National Pork Producers Council, says Prop 12 could put additional financial pressure on family-owned
The president of the Illinois Farm Bureau says he’s optimistic that the state’s farmers could soon see estate tax relief. Phillip Nelson, who farms in LaSalle County, says Governor J.B. Pritzker and other state leaders are voicing their support for the Family Farm Preservation Act. “I was very pleas
The director of research agronomy and Practical Farm Research for Beck’s says the future of farming will be more prescriptive. Jim Schwartz says corn hybrids build yield in different ways. “How we manage those hybrids has a great impact on the success we experience on our farm,” he says. He tells Br
A Purdue Extension field pathologist says red crown rot has expanded across the Midwest in 2026. Darcy Telenko says it has already been found in 17 counties in Indiana and can be difficult to detect. “The foliar symptoms mimic some of our other major diseases like sudden death syndrome,” she says. “
The president of Wisconsin Farmers Union says frustration continues to mount over Congress’ inability to pass a new farm bill. Darin Von Ruden, who farms in Vernon County, tells Brownfield, “We’re already three years behind schedule and doesn’t look like there’s going to be much action here in the n
The president of Heartland Farm Partners says there’s opportunities for farmers take advantage of the recent strength in commodity markets. On this episode of Managing for Profit, Jeff Peterson says producers should focus on marketing their old crop grain heading into harvest first. The post How to
At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live and feeder cattle futures were mixed, mostly higher on spread trade and oversold signals after the recent steep drop. October live was down $.17 at $210.77 and December was up $.45 at $212.57. September feeders were $.27 lower at $319.00 and October was $.92
An eastern Iowa farmer says USDA’s effort to gather producer feedback could help improve agricultural data collection. Lance Lillibridge raises corn and red angus cattle in Benton County, and is a past president of the Iowa Corn Growers Association. “USDA and our Secretary Rollins are very motivated
A Minnesota dairy farmer says milk prices have flattened. Dan Glessing of Waverly tells Brownfield the market is stagnant. “We did see some hope here a few months ago, and then it dropped back off a little bit. But (we need) to continue to figure out how to get more on the backside with putting […]
Soybeans were higher on fund and technical buying. China bought another 333,000 tons of new crop U.S. beans ahead of the open. Combined with Tuesday’s sale to unknown destinations, that puts the 2-day running total at 465,000 tons, all for 2026/27 delivery. The trade continues to monitor late develo
Some ag groups are asking President Trump to reverse a proposed plan to import beef that he says would lower prices for consumers. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Gene Copenhaver tells Brownfield the move isn’t going to lower prices for consumers. “What he’s going to import is trim,
The vice president of the Dairy Business Association says producers need elected officials to support policies that strengthen agriculture for farms of all sizes. Fourth-generation dairy farmer Travis Speirs tells Brownfield the milk price alone isn’t enough to make a profit. “Beef-on-dairy is the o
Sep. corn $5.14, up 13 and 1/2 centsSep. soybeans $12.54 and 1/4, up 26 and 1/4 centsSep. soybean meal $328.70, up $8.40Sep. soybean oil 67.22, down 30 pointsSep. Chicago wheat $7.30 and 1/2, up 45 centsOct. live cattle $210.77, down 17 centsSep. feeder cattle $319.00, down $.27Oct. lean hogs $80.90
USApples is forecasting a smaller crop this year following a once-in-a-generation freeze that hit the Eastern U.S. Vice President, Insights & Analytics Chris Gerlach tells Brownfield a three-day freeze stretching from the Great Lakes to North Carolina reduced total production by about seven percent.
University of Missouri Extension says a new soybean pest has been confirmed in Missouri. The soybean tentiform leafminer was first confirmed in Cooper County in early August and another case was confirmed in Macon County on August 19. It’s a pest that’s been confirmed in northern states, like Minnes
Broiler hatchery numbers were mixed on the week while maintaining a faster than last year trend. The USDA says 251.518 million broiler-type eggs were set into incubators, an increase of 1.521 million from a week ago following a moderation in weather in some areas, and 1% above a year ago due to a hi
Construction has officially started on what’s expected to be the world’s largest low-carbon ammonia plant in Louisiana. CF Industries CEO Chris Bohn said the new $3.7 billion Blue Point Project will provide reliable domestic nitrogen fertilizer supplies for American farmers, exportable products, and
The USDA’s Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs says soybean sales to China remain an important part of the U.S. export outlook. Luke Lindberg says China met its 12 million metric ton commitment that was made last fall. “Right now they’ve procured about 6 million metric tons fo
The CEO of Growth Energy says additional work is needed before the 45Z clean fuel tax credit can be fully implemented. Emily Skor tells Brownfield, “What we need is for that tax credit to allow us to factor in the innovations and improvements that take place on the farm.” She says the next step is [
Technology to avoid tragedy. Mark McLaren, founder of ShockAvoid, says incidents of farm equipment, especially sprayers, contacting power lines can be deadly. “Somewhere around 120 to 140 people annually across the U.S. either die or are badly injured due to contact with high power electric lines,”
There are times when it seems like agriculture just can’t catch a break. This is one of those times. Parts of the Corn Belt have been too wet, with some acreage destroyed by flooding, while other areas are dealing with drought and heat stress. The 2026 growing season has been another reminder that t
U.S. ethanol stocks moved to a multi-month high last week. The U.S. Energy Information Administration says the domestic supply of 25.206 million barrels was the largest since early May, up 85,000 on the week and 2.657 million on the year, as increased rates of production push the domestic reserve hi
Cash dairy prices were mixed on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange on Wednesday, with a strong selloff for butter. Dry whey up $0.0075 at $0.72. One sale was made at that price. Blocks down $0.0175 at $1.51. Barrels unchanged at $1.5750. Butter down $0.0150 at $1.4650. Thirty-two sales were made from $
The executive vice president of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association the state’s cattle producers are uneasy following President Trump’s decision to import more beef. “We think that action is really a solution to a problem that doesn’t really exist,” says Mike Deering. Deering says consumer demand f
The USDA’s Farm Service Agency is making some adjustments to county offices this fall. Richard Fordyce, the Under Secretary of Farm Production and Conservation, says the changes are temporary, but will better serve farmers. “If we can move some resources, you know, out of a county and fully staff or
The direct cash cattle market is quiet at Wednesday’s start following the business that developed in the North at $345 dressed and $218 live. No bids are currently on the table. Boxed beef is lower. Choice is $1.05 lower at $387.48, and Select is $2.69 lower at $366.29. The Choice/Select spread is $
Spotty soybean aphid pressure has been reported in parts of the Midwest this month. Iowa State University Extension entomologist Erin Hodgson tells Brownfield. “This is a pest that’s highly variable. We have pockets in Minnesota, Iowa, and even some of the surrounding states where aphids are startin
An ag economist says global export and shipping challenges could continue to be supportive for the U.S. wheat complex. K-State University’s Guy Allen says there are logistical bottlenecks in the Black Sea region. “In recent weeks, we’ve seen increased military action which is destroying a lot of inf
