The US Trade Representative says expanding export opportunities for US agriculture remains a top priority for the Trump administration. Ambassador Jamieson Greer says previous trade policies focused too heavily on imports. “Including from adversaries like China,” he said. “President Trump has focuse
The vice president elect with the National Corn Growers Association says the proposed merger of two major rail companies is another example of consolidation impacting agriculture. “When the Surface Transportation Board started with this, there were 30 class one railroads and we’re down to six.” Bill
The cattle industry continues to digest the news that Tyson has shuttered additional beef processing plants. Illinois Beef Association Executive Vice President Josh St. Peters says the abrupt closure of Tyson’s Joslin, Illinois facility is problematic. “When they closed facilities in Nebraska, they
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Soybeans were higher on fund and technical buying, cementing a higher weekly finish. Crop weather continues to generally look favorable, but there are some areas of concern and August is the key month for bean development. While the USDA lowered its yield guess this week, the production estimate was
At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live and feeder cattle were lower on fund liquidation, waiting for the rest of the week’s direct business to develop. October live cattle closed $1.17 lower at $218.87 and December live cattle closed $1.07 lower at $218.37. September feeder cattle closed $2.65 low
U.S. grain shippers say two major rail companies have failed to meet minimum standards in their revised application to merge. Soy Transportation Coalition executive director Mike Steenhoek tells Brownfield Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern railroads recently revised their proposals for the Surface
Sep. corn $4.59, up 11 centsSep. soybeans $11.77 and 3/4, up 11 and 3/4 centsSep. soybean meal $310.20, up $2.80Sep. soybean oil 69.44, up 65 pointsSep. Chicago wheat $6.74 and 3/4, up 22 centsOct. live cattle $218.87, down $1.17Sep. feeder cattle $334.55, down $2.65Oct. lean hogs $81.75, down 37 ce
Cash dairy prices were mixed Friday at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Dry whey was up $0.02 to $0.69. One sale was reported at that price. Forty-pound cheese blocks were down $0.01 to $1.60. No sales were reported. Cheese barrels were unchanged at $1.5625. No sales were reported. Butter was down $
A retired firefighter says farm fires could have better outcomes if SoyFoam was used to fight them. Pat Butler says he’s made it his mission to get fire departments to stop using foams containing PFAS chemicals after surviving cancer following his 30-year career in the fire service. “We gotta quit u
Iowa’s climatologist says crops are under stress in some areas of the state while others are flourishing. Justin Glisan is with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship… “There are parts that are extremely wet – eastern Iowa and parts of southern Iowa, he said. “Then we have drier par
New research could help farmers be more proactive at managing soybean diseases. Plant pathologist Dylan Mangel with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln says he’s developing modeling that could help indicate which years could have more disease pressure. “White mold, for example, if we could narrow tha
A partnership in West Michigan is helping food companies and farmers adopt more regenerative agriculture practices. Oceana Conservation District Manager Laura Ackerman tells Brownfield a new Regenerative Pear Growers Network is paying farmers to improve soil health. “For the past few years, we have
An ag economist says new analysis shows consumer purchases are leaning toward more natural sugars. CoBank’s Tanner Ehmke tells Brownfield, “It is a clear trend that people are switching away from high fructose corn syrup over to sugar.” He says that transition hasn’t been a major factor on corn bala
A member of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee says the USDA’s ongoing reorganization is causing concerns across the countryside. Illinois Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski says she continues to hear from farmers that are worried reductions in USDA staff will limit their ability to access needed servi
A second-generation archivist for the Wisconsin State Fair says about 10,000 farm families have been part of its history over the past 175 years. “I hope people continue that legacy.” Tom Zimmerman’s father Jerry began curating for the fair in 1996. “He wrote a book about the Wisconsin State Fair fo
Drought is taking a toll on hay and forages in the Northern Plains. Kevin Deinert grows, corn, soybeans, and forage crops for their family cow-calf and feedlot operation near Mitchell in south-central South Dakota. “Pastures are going backwards fast, a lot of cattle coming off of grass early or havi
A Bedford High School graduate received top honors during the Iowa State Fair’s livestock shows. “I brought a wether,” said 18-year-old Eli Johnson on Friday. “His name is Bennett.” Johnson is the 2026 FFA Grand Champion for Carcass Market Lamb, and he tells Brownfield it took a lot of work to get t
Farmers are bracing for a more expensive harvest and 2027 growing season. American Farm Bureau vice president of public policy and economic analysis John Newton says fuel and fertilizer costs are a major concern. “Going into this fall when prices are still elevated, they’re above where they were bef
Direct cash cattle trade activity is quiet following the light round of business that took place on Thursday. A few bids have resurfaced at $233 live in Kansas and $351 dressed in Nebraska. More trade is still needed to develop throughout the day. So far this week business has been mostly in the Nor
Two swine industry experts say the use of RFID technology can improve traceability and make the U.S. herd more resilient. Brent Pepin a veterinarian and the director of swine health for the National Pork Board says RFID tags would shorten the response times in the case of a foreign animal disease ou
Eric Lawson with MEG Corp, a contractor that helps provide awareness for the renewable fuels industry, says additional demand for biodiesel can provide up to $2 per bushel of value. But, he says, that’s only the beginning if farmers consume more of it. “It’s not quite readily available yet to pipeli
The Missouri State Fair is an opportunity for FCS Financial to celebrate agriculture and the cooperative’s member-owners. FCS Financial Board of Directors Chair Beth Schnitker says Monday, August 17, has been designated as FCS Financial Member Day at the fair. “It’s really just an opportunity for us
The Missouri State Fair is an opportunity for FCS Financial to celebrate agriculture and the cooperative’s member-owners. FCS Financial Board of Directors Chair Beth Schnitker says Monday, August 17, has been designated as FCS Financial Member Day at the fair. “It’s really just an opportunity for us
The Indiana State Fair is creating new opportunities to connect fairgoers to the products made across the state. Don Lamb, Indiana’s Director of Agriculture, says the state’s Indiana Grown program helps provide marketing opportunities for local farmers. “We help businesses that are packaging, produc
Ag policy conversations are front and center at the 2026 Iowa State Fair. US Senator Chuck Grassley says fairgoers have been asking him about the future of the next five-year farm bill. “The five-year farm bill of 2018 has become and eight-year farm bill,” Grassley said Friday morning. He tells Brow
Cautiously optimistic about a new farm bill. Mark Bunselmeyer, president of the Illinois Corn Growers Association, says he’s disappointed the Senate Ag Committee adjourned for the August recess without advancing a new five-year farm bill. “I am still optimistic, not necessarily that we are going to
Missouri’s Attorney General Catherine Hanaway met with farmers at the Missouri State Fair on Thursday, and she says the rising fertilizer costs were a concern. “The Missouri attorney general has at their disposal a law that is very similar to the federal antitrust law, and so we are going to look at
Market livestock shows and cured meat judging are underway at the Missouri State Fair, and several champions have been named. The Grand Champion Pen of Chickens belongs to Judd Lawson of the Osage River 4-H Club in Vernon County. The Reserve Champion Pen of Chickens was exhibited by Laynee Morgan fr
A 4-H member from south-central Missouri showed the Grand and Reserve Grand Champion Market turkeys at this year’s state fair. Hazel Hawks tells Brownfield “My grand champion bird was a hen and her name was Daphne, and then my reserve champion bird was a tom and his name was Fred.” Hawks has been sh
