An ag economist says recent changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are creating new challenges for food insecure families. Shellye Suttles, food policy and program coordinator with the City of Indianapolis Office of Public Health and Safety, says SNAP participants are trying to nav
Export demand for U.S. wheat continues to be slow. The USDA says wheat export sales for the week ending September 3rd fell to a marketing year low with a handful of routine sales to regular buyers against a couple of cancelations. U.S. wheat remains relatively high priced compared to competing expor
A cold front currently spanning the country from the Northeast to the Southwest will drift southeastward and gradually weaken. Meanwhile, a new storm system and its attendant cold front will begin to affect the northern U.S. By Friday, an outbreak of severe thunderstorms may occur across the upper M
Sell corn at harvest or put it in the bin? Sam Hudson with Cornbelt Marketing says it’s a double-edged sword. “When we talk about selling with customers, we’re really talking about merchandising. Does it make sense to sell it today versus three months from now? I think that’s what the market’s tryin
An ag economist says USDA’s effort to modernize farm data could help level the playing field for farmers as private companies expand forecasting tools. Seth Meyer with MU’s Food and Ag Policy Research Institute tells Brownfield… “The fundamental purpose of these reports is to provide information sym
Two Indiana farm families are using agritourism to generate additional revenue for their operations. Chris Steele with Steele Farms says his family’s corn maze and pumpkin patch has helped the farm stay profitable. “We really made a conscious effort to raise income per acre without growing acres,” h
A food marketing specialist says small and beginning farmers are using direct-to-consumer sales to help diversify their income. Patrick Nycz with Purdue University says local farmers’ markets are a good starting point. “With direct sales, there’s an ease of entry with a wide range of opportunities,”
The state climatologist with University of Missouri Extension welcomes the rain falling across portions of Missouri this week. Zach Leasor tells Brownfield more than one inch fell across central and northern Missouri on Thursday, and more is in the forecast. “It could be another inch or two for thes
Soybeans were higher on fund and technical buying, along with the big gains in crude oil. The USDA could lower yield and raise demand projections in Friday’s reports. The big questions are – how big of an adjustment is the USDA willing to make ahead of harvest and can China be fully counted on to […
At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live and feeder cattle were up, optimistic about this week’s direct business. October lives closed $1.97 higher at $217.82 and December live cattle closed $1.12 higher at $219.60. October feeder cattle closed $1.72 higher at $327.55 and November feeder cattle clos
Some farmers are using precision conservation to improve their profitability. Dallas Glazik, an Illinois farmer and precision ag conservation specialist with Pheasants Forever, says modern yield maps can help identify underperforming areas in fields that could be prime for a conservation program. “I
Dec. corn $5.33 and 3/4, up 6 centsNov. soybeans $13.32 and 1/4, up 22 and 3/4 centsOct. soybean meal $350.60, up $5.50Oct. soybean oil 71.41, up 133 pointsDec. Chicago wheat $7.41 and 1/4, up 12 and 1/2 centsOct. live cattle $217.82, up $1.97Oct. feeder cattle $327.55, up $1.72Oct. lean hogs $83.15
Conditions have steadily deteriorated since the 4th of July for a central Minnesota farmer preparing for harvest. Nick Peterson of St. Cloud says crops looked as good as they’ve ever looked heading into the Independence Day weekend. “We just kept catching quarter-inch, three-four tenths to keep the
A leader with AGCO says expanding access to on-farm service is helping farmers make better use of their time during critical seasons. Stefan Caspari, senior vice president of customer success and North America ag, says AGCO’s FarmerCore initiative is a “We Come To You” service model. “We don’t belie
The chairwoman of the Nebraska Sorghum Board says adding sorghum to a crop rotation could help improve an operation’s bottom line. Tracy Zink, a farmer from McCook, says the crop performs well in regions that are susceptible to drought. “Those are the acres you want to be looking at crop that can ha
An agricultural researcher says the profitability gap between sustainable and traditional cropping systems is evening out after four years into a project. Brook Wilke with MSU’s Long-Term Agroecosystem Research tells Brownfield, “There’s a caveat there that it varies by crop.” “We’re pushing the env
A market analyst says there are several factors that could impact the number planted to wheat this fall. Jim McCormick with AgMarket.Net says ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has partially led to a runnup in prices recently. “They’re now attacking infrastructure. They’re trying to take ou
U.S. ethanol production trickled lower over the past week. The U.S. Energy Information Administration says production averaged 1.099 million barrels per day, down 1,000 on the week and 6,000 the year, at least partially due to high temperatures hampering efficiency, while still accounting for a big
An Indiana-based hunger relief organization is working to close the protein gap for food insecure families. Daniel Leckie, CEO of Hatch, says the nonprofit recently launched its Coalition to Close the Protein Gap. “We work with the largest egg producers here in the state of Indiana,” he says. “We wo
Farmers are waiting for federal changes to Diesel Emission Fluid system regulations to take effect. EPA Region 7 administrator Jim Macy says the public comment period on proposed rulemaking ended last month. “Once that rule is finalized then absolutely you’ll be able to do all of this that was forec
Direct cash cattle trade activity was quiet. Bids haven’t surfaced. Asking prices were floated at $225 live in the South, but haven’t been established in the North. Significant trade volume could hold out until late in the Friday. Boxed beef was sharply lower and lower with light demand for solid of
Cash dairy prices were mixed Thursday at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Dry whey was up $0.0025 to $0.76. One sale was reported at that price. Forty-pound cheese blocks were down $0.01 to $1.46. Four sales were reported ranging from $1.4475 to $1.46. Cheese barrels were down $0.07 to $1.4625. Ten
John Deere is bringing more options to it’s 6 Series tractor. Deere go to market manager Anne Anderson says new models in the large and extra large frame 6R are coming in 2027. “A lot of times we measure that by wheel base, so our large frame is 110-inch and our extra large frame wheel […] The post
The president of the American Soybean Association says growers are optimistic about the future of soybean exports. Scott Metzger says China coming back into the market is a key reason. “I think right now they are about 14 million metric tons on their 25 million ton commitment.” He tells Brownfield C
Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins says US farmers have dealt with high fertilizer prices for far too long. “The high cost of fertilizer is not new,” she said. “The cost of urea, potash, MAP, DAP, ammonia, and UAN all rose swiftly beginning in 2022.” Speaking at the recent Farm Progress Show, she said prog
An extension corn agronomist says moisture will influence the start of harvest for many growers. Jeff Coulter with the University of Minnesota tells Brownfield crops in dry areas will likely need to be harvested first. “Any fields that were under stress, you’re going to want to try to prioritize tho
Many farmers are thinking through grain marketing strategies while preparing for harvest. Mark Jackson grows corn and soybeans in southeast Iowa. “We’re raising this crop, let’s also do a good job of selling this crop. To be successful and stay at it for the long haul you need to be able to know you
It was another summer of battling corn leaf aphids for many Midwestern farmers. University of Illinois entomologist, Nick Seiter, says it was the third straight year that the insects, which migrate into the region on southern storm fronts, have caused pollination issues. “The period where they’re re
A member of the Senate Ag Committee says reallocating the volume of small refining exemptions into future blending quotas over the next two years is an attempt to balance competing interests. “It’s threading a needle and we probably haven’t gotten the needle threaded correctly yet.” Jerry Moran of K
Brownfield Ag News is celebrating a significant milestone as its popular Weekly Livestock Market Update program reaches its 500th episode. Since its debut, the program has become a trusted source of market analysis and insight for livestock producers, marketers, and agricultural stakeholders across
