ADM says it will be making upgrades at four existing plants in the next three years, adding 700,000 metric tons of annual crush capacity. Storage improvements, optimization work and equipment upgrades are happening at the Frankfort, Indiana facility, expected to be completed by late 2028. There will
Mid-State Specialty Eggs is opening a new plant in mid-Missouri, expected to be online by the end of the calendar year. The company says this new facility in Sedalia will include state-of-the-art egg processing capacity, offering egg grading, breaking, along with processing whole eggs, egg whites, a
A group of researchers at Purdue University are looking to expand the use of biofuels in traditional diesel engines. Dr. Greg Shaver, professor of mechanical engineering, says the Purdue Biofuels Consortium is focused on creating new market opportunities for farmers. “The idea is to be able to take
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is searching for new groundwater sources in northeast Missouri to improve drought resilience. Scott Kaden with the Missouri Geological Survey-Water Resources Center is the project manager and technical lead for the effort. “The goal is to identify where i
Cash dairy prices were up Friday at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Dry whey was up $0.01 to $0.6925. Two sales were reported ranging from $0.6925 to $0.6950. Forty-pound cheese blocks were down $0.04 to $1.5725. Fifteen sales were reported ranging from $1.53 to $1.5725. Cheese barrels were unchang
An agronomist is concerned as southern rust continues moving north. Grant Harms with Corteva Agriscience says the corn disease is blown in from the south and has been detected in Iowa. “So knowing that we have southern rust history in these regions of the bread basket doesn’t mean that we’re going t
Direct cash cattle business has been inconsistent this week, with scattered trade reported. So far, in the South, lived deals have been at mostly $231 to $232, which is $1 to $2 higher than the previous week’s weighted averages. Dressed deals have been at mostly $365, also steady with the prior week
An agronomy manager with Wyffels Hybrids says corn aphids are once again causing issues for some Midwestern farmers. Robby Meeker, who covers the eastern half of Illinois and all of Indiana, says the insects are blown into the region on stormfronts each season. “It seems to be isolated mainly to the
The chief atmospheric scientist with Nutrien Ag Solutions says strong El Nino weather patterns typically cause problems for farmers in South America. Eric Snodgrass says the warming of the waters in the central Pacific alters the jet stream and influences the main growing regions of Brazil. “Once th
The new CEO of the United Soybean Board says the organization is focused on creating new market opportunities for U.S. soy in 2027. Courtney Knupp says growing domestic demand is just one way to boost farmer profitability. “There’s a lot of versatility in this product,” she says. “That includes soy
An ag economist says the pork industry has reasons for optimism, but challenges remain. Matt Erickson with Terrain there are a few factors helping support prices. “Exports still remain above what we saw in 2025. That’s positive. I look at some of the other things like disease-related issues like PRR
Organized rainfall moving into the middle and upper Mississippi Valley will continue to shift eastward, delivering much-needed moisture for reproductive to filling corn and soybeans in the central and eastern Corn Belt. Storm-total rainfall should reach 1 to 3 inches in many areas of the Midwest. Si
August weather can make or break a soybean crop, and Andre Reis, a soybean specialist at the University of Missouri Extension, says he’s optimistic about how the month is expected to begin. He says weekly rains are needed to drive yield and rain is in the forecast. Hear more in this week’s Managing
The CEO of Pivot Bio says the reality of volatile input costs continue to weigh on farmers. Chris Abbott tells Brownfield it’s a different situation than previous years. “When you had the Russia and Ukraine conflict, you had commodity grain price go up at the same time. So you got a little bit of in
Corteva Agriscience is introducing a new herbicide available to soybean growers in 2027. Corteva technical field agronomist Ron Geis says Enclosa is a novel pre-plant and preemergence herbicide that controls broadleaf and grass weeds. “If giant ragweed is a problem, if bur cucumber is a problem, if
At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live and feeder cattle were supported by technical buying ahead of widespread direct business. August live cattle closed $3.32 higher at $231.22 and October live cattle closed $3.47 higher at $227.45. August feeder cattle closed $2.20 higher at $346.47 and Septemb
Soybeans were lower on fund and technical selling. China bought another 132,000 tons of new crop U.S. soybeans ahead of the open, and last week’s new crop sales were solid at 49 million bushels, primarily to China and unknown destinations. Old crop sales were above average at 11.1 million bushels, w
An agronomist says mistakes made during planting are evident. Michael Fosdick covers eastern Iowa for Pioneer and says some growers faced short planting windows and less than ideal conditions this spring. “There was a lot of work to get done, and there’s times when the envelope has to get pushed.” S
Sep. corn $4.45 and 3/4, down 3 and 1/4 centsAug. soybeans $11.77 and 1/4, down 3/4 centAug. soybean meal $314.10, down $1.20Aug. soybean oil 68.35, down 82 pointsSep. Chicago wheat $6.63 and 1/2, up 2 and 3/4 centsAug. live cattle $231.22, up $3.32Aug. feeder cattle $346.47, up $2.20Aug. lean hogs
Some Missouri farmers say the corn is on track for an earlier than usual harvest this fall. Southwest Missouri farmer Brad Arnold tells Brownfield the corn on his farm is already in full dent and drying down. “Usually we’re at least testing the corn around September 1, but this year it wouldn’t surp
Sugar producers are renewing calls for changes to federal trade policy as they continue to face tremendous financial pressures. Luther Markwart is the Executive Vice President for the American Sugarbeet Growers Association. “I’ve worked in sugar professionally for 47 years, and when you look across
A Canadian ag trade leader says it’s unclear if U.S. negotiators have any decision-making power as talks continue between the two countries. Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance executive director Michael Harvey tells Brownfield, “When you go to Washington, almost the only person who has any influence
A farmer in northwest Missouri says the crops are at a tipping point, and what happens with the weather moving forward makes a difference. “If we don’t get some good rain, we’re going to really start possibly losing some yield.” Andy Hull in Nodaway County tells Brownfield he’s been satisfied with h
New World screwworm has kept the border closed to cattle trade with Mexico for the better part of 2 years. Barbara Jackson, a rancher and feedyard owner outside of Tucson, Arizona says the news that live cattle imports from Mexico would resume August 24th was welcomed. “Being closed has been huge ec
A crop specialist says he’s concerned that heavy pest pressure could impact corn production in southwest Nebraska. Shawn Becker with Hogemeyer Hybrids tells Brownfield, “We are seeing a lot of Western Bean Cutworm this year. High percentages and a lot of acres are being treated.” He says the cause f
The president of the Nebraska Farm Bureau says a recent trade mission to Southeast Asia underscored the growing competition U.S. producers are facing. Mark McHargue says Japanese and Philippine buyers expressed concern about the price of ag products like beef, pork, wheat and ethanol compared to oth
The Illinois wheat checkoff is up and running. “It officially started July 1st, where assessments were being withheld from grain settlements.” John Howell, who farms in southwestern Illinois and chairs the Illinois Wheat Development Board, says the voluntary penny and a half per bushel assessment br
Tar spot has been confirmed in Ohio for the first time this year. Adam Byrne, a technical service manager with FMC, says early season weather patterns created the right environment for disease development. “We know it’s out there and we know the conditions were right to start the season,” he says. “
Cash dairy prices were mixed Thursday at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Dry whey was up $0.0125 to $0.6825. One sale was reported at that price. Forty-pound cheese blocks were down $0.0125 to $1.5325. Two sales were reported ranging from $1.5325 to $1.54. Cheese barrels were down $0.0050 to $1.547
Direct cash cattle trade activity has been slow to pick up. Bids have been floated in Nebraska at $235 live and $365 dressed. Asking prices are at $234 to $235 live in the South and $370 dressed in the North. Look for business to pick up as the day progresses. Boxed beef was lower at […] The post Mi
