A corn agronomist with University of Kentucky Extension says he’s cautiously optimistic about the U.S. corn crop. “There’s a lot of things that could happen, but right now, we’re set up for some really good yields.” Chad Lee tells Brownfield USDA’s estimate of the 186.5 bushels/acre average for corn
Sep. corn $4.51 and 3/4, down 12 and 1/2 centsAug. soybeans $12.08 and 1/2, down 39 and 1/2 centsAug. soybean meal $320.80, down $10.50Aug. soybean oil 71.46, down 287 pointsSep. Chicago wheat $6.60, down 18 centsAug. live cattle $225.22, down $1.85Aug. feeder cattle $338.25, down $7.07Aug. lean hog
U.S. crop condition ratings were steady to lower over the past week. That followed another generally mixed week of weather across the nation, including a hot, dry pattern in parts of the Midwest and Plains that’s had at least some impact on corn and soybeans. The USDA says 63% of U.S. corn is in goo
A southwest Ohio farmer says it’s been a mixed year for crop development across the state. Scott Metzger says favorable conditions early in the season helped get his corn and soybean crops off to a strong start. “We got everything planted very timely,” he says. “We had everything planted by the thir
A farmer in south central South Dakota says the crops are hanging on as triple digit temperatures impact the farm this week. “We were at 106 degrees, at times, and it feels like 115 degrees. It’s just incredibly hot.” Trent Kubik says soil moisture from June rains, and the humidity has been a saving
A west central Indiana farmer says the summer heat is starting to have an impact on crop development. Kevin Cox tells Brownfield, “We missed some rains where we’re supposed to have been getting last week starting today. We’re back up in the 90s, starting to see some of those thinner, thinner soils,
Two farmers from the Missouri Bootheel and a farmer from west-central Missouri were elected to serve as officers for the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council in the next year. Kevin Mainord from East Prairie is the new chairman, Justin Rone from Portageville is vice chair and Nathan White from Nor
A southeast Texas cow/calf operator says the sterile fly dispersals have been integral in the containment of New World screwworm. Stephen Diebel says the proactive approach has made a difference. “I think it’s a manageable situation as we get to the fall and the winter months,” he says. He tells Bro
The vice president of environmental with Denali says high input costs are causing more farmers to seek out alternative fertilizers. Lauren King says some are turning to food processing residuals, or waste from large food processing facilities. “The facility will essentially try to remove some of the
A U.S. Representative from Iowa says permanent, nationwide year-round E15 would provide greater market certainty for corn growers and biofuel producers. Republican Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks says getting an E15 bill passed out of the US House earlier this year was a long time coming. “If
A pair of ag economists say it’s time to start planning for the 2027 crop. Allen Featherstone with Kansas State University says producers should start budgeting for next year’s crop and include government assistance they receive this year, including supplemental aid, ARC and PLC payments. “Whether t
Corn, sorghum, and soybean export inspections continue to make a strong push into the end of the marketing year. The USDA says physical shipments of those three commodities during the week ending July 23rd were more than what’s needed to meet projections, with just over a month remaining in 2025/26.
The CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives says Senate Ag Committee leaders are optimistic about marking up a bipartisan farm bill before the August recess. Duane Simpson says U.S. Senators John Boozman from Arkansas and Amy Klobuchar from Minnesota believe they are very close to a bipar
Extreme heat has farmers in Missouri and the western Corn Belt moving grain extra early in the morning, keeping irrigation systems up and running and monitoring cattle for heat stress. Andy Hull farms in Nodaway County, Missouri, where the heat index hit 120 degrees on Sunday. He’s been scooping out
A farm business management instructor says changes to Minnesota’s Beginning Farmer Tax Credit should make the program more effective. Kristina McVicker with South Central College tells Brownfield a funding cap has been temporarily removed for 2026 transactions. “If there are some beginning farmers o
Cash dairy prices were down Monday to start the week at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Dry whey was unchanged at $0.68. No sales were reported. Forty-pound cheese blocks were down $0.0125 at $1.5950. No sales were reported. Cheese barrels were unchanged at $1.63. No sales were recorded. Butter was
Direct cash cattle trade activity is quiet as buyers and sellers continue to prepare for the week ahead. Bids and asking prices have yet to be established. The bulk of the week’s business isn’t expected until sometime Thursday or Friday. Last week, Southern live deals were at $230 to $231, $7 to $8
Flood impacts were a key topic during a farmer roundtable in Colfax, Iowa on Friday. Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig tells Brownfield flood waters have caused crop damage in several parts of the state this growing season. Jasper County is one of those areas. “Pretty wet actually early on and maybe gave
The president of the National Pork Producers Council says he’s optimistic a fix for Proposition 12 can still be included in the Senate’s version of the farm bill. “Every indication I’ve got is they are still going to do their best to get it in there,” Rob Brenneman told Brownfield on Monday. He says
A dairy lender says the added value of beef-on-dairy calves has helped grow the U.S. dairy herd over the last year. But, Tim Van Hofwegen with Farm Credit Services of America says the economics are changing. “That’s mostly been through producers holding onto cows longer and having older animals in t
A soybean extension specialist with the University of Minnesota says prioritizing soybean moisture levels during harvest could help growers’ bottom lines. During a recent Science for Success webinar, Dr. Seth Naeve says harvesting soybeans under the optimal 13% moisture costs farmers billions each y
An economist says today’s agriculture policy isn’t built for the future of the industry. Brad Lubben with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln says while there’ve been necessary updates to the farm safety net, it doesn’t address larger issues. “The future directions of the ag economy and drivers on th
One of the biggest healthy food trends in the last few years has been tinned fish. That could be oily fish, which are high in Omega 3s like sardines, mackerel, salmon, or trout. But did you know those little fish pack a big punch when it comes to health benefits? AUDIO: Healthy Living on sardines Th
Monty Christian with Texas Tech University says he expects U.S. sorghum acreage to grow as more farmers see its benefits. He tells Brownfield sorghum is a great rotation crop, shows promise in dairy rations, and has established markets like China. The post Sorghum: a solution appeared first on Brown
An ag economist says there’s still no clear signs of expansion in the cattle herd. Josh Maples with Mississippi State University Extension says heifers held back for beef cow replacement were up 3 percent in the Cattle Inventory report. “Yes, it’s an increase and it’s the first increase since 2015,
The USDA has announced plans to resume live cattle imports from Mexico. Beginning August 24th, the department says it will open the Douglas, Arizona port to cattle trade. Stephen Diebel, president of the Texas and Southwest Cattle Raisers Association, and cow-calf operator, tells Brownfield the Doug
Soybeans were higher on fund and technical buying, adding to what would have already been a week-to-week gain. Forecasts into early August for large parts of the region are hot and dry, potentially stressing the crop. This is a critical time for soybean development, so weather will continue to be on
A certified appraiser with Compeer Financial says many farmers are being more selective about buying farmland. Brent Wiest tells Brownfield buyer behavior has changed. “There’s still farmers and investors buying farmland, and there’s still competitive sales for high-quality properties. But they’re a
A conservation advocate says volunteer groups like hers have been standing in place for lost conservation technical assistance following USDA staff reductions. Michael Fields Agricultural Institute Advancement Director Kriss Marion helps to facilitate the Wisconsin Women in Conservation Network. “We
Poultry production surged in June. The USDA says 4.751 billion pounds of poultry were certified wholesome last month, a year-to-year increase of 8%, largely due to higher slaughter numbers for chicken and heavier weights for turkeys. Chicken made up most of the total at 4.299 billion pounds, with tu
