New crop corn and soybean export sales were solid during the week ending July 23rd. The USDA says new crop corn showed a week-to-week improvement led by unknown destinations and Mexico, and while new crop soybeans were down on the week, sales were still strong with China and unknown topping the list
A new partnership with the National 4-H Council, Tractor Supply Company, and Starlink is helping expand access to reliable internet in rural communities. Jill Bramble, president and CEO of the National 4-H Council, says more than $500,000 from Tractor Supply Company will help bring new digital resou
A regional EPA administrator says the agency is working to ensure farmers don’t lose access to effective crop protection tools. Region 7’s Jim Macy says EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention has been reviewing thousands of labels since the administration took office. “We had about
A jump in the wheat market is catching the attention of producers. “Prices jumped up in the last week. We were going to have 90 acres to plant this fall, but now we’re up to 300 acres.” Central Illinois farmer Lance Muirhead, who inserted wheat into his corn and soybean rotation about five years ago
Farm Rescue volunteers are stepping up to assist farmers and ranchers affected by wildfires in Nebraska. Tim Sullivan, executive director emeritus, says it’s been a troubling year for many producers in the state. “It’s been one of those things where people are desperate,” he said. “They got totally
An agronomist says crop conditions have been a mixed bag across the Midwest. Ryan Harbison with AgroLiquid says some of the best corn and soybean fields he’s seen are in southern Illinois. “You get outside of there though and it gets really varied,” he said. “It just depends where the rains came thr
New research from the Soil Health Institute could help dairy farmers improve forage quality and overall sustainability on their operations. Dr. Maria Cloutier says Wisconsin farmers using reduced tillage and grazing are seeing more consistent forage production. “There is a 7% increase in organic car
Across the Corn Belt, cold fronts are producing widely-scattered but generally beneficial showers. The leading front is draped across the lower Midwest, while a trailing front is traversing the upper Midwest. Temperatures are favorable for corn and soybeans and will remain near or below 80°F all day
Showers and thunderstorms currently affecting the central Plains will drift eastward, delivering much-needed rain later Thursday across the western Corn Belt before reaching the remainder of the Midwest on Friday and Saturday. Event-total rainfall should reach 1 to 3 inches or more, except for lower
A commodity broker says he’s keeping a close eye on several grain market factors heading into August. Tommy Grisafi with Ag Bull Trading says variable weather conditions have been impacting grain prices. “Wide temperatures, hot temperatures,” he said. “Some places have too much rain, but where we ar
A new report from the American Farm Bureau Federation reveals a projected $32 billion in losses for major row crop producers in 2027. On this episode of Managing for Profit, AFBF’s John Newton talks about steps growers can take to help them cut costs and try to improve profitability. The post Farmer
The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service has issued an interim final rule to clarify that most wetland determinations made since late November 1990 are considered certified. The interim final rule provides more certainty for farmers, allowing them to use existing determinations to install d
A beef feedlot management specialist says extreme heat and environmental conditions created the potential for significant cattle losses at some South Dakota feedlots. “It’s certainly been a tough week to be a cattle feeder in South Dakota,” says Warren Rusche, South Dakota State University Extension
Soybeans were sharply lower on fund and technical selling. Near-term weather forecasts look non-threatening in many key growing areas. Longer-term outlooks are a little less certain and August is a key month for beans, so that will continue to be watched closely and could leave the market volatile.
Brownfield and Wyffels Hybrids are partnering to present the Corn Belt Award to high school students who demonstrate outstanding leadership qualities, show good character, and participate in school and community activities. 56 high school students will be selected for this award from the states of I
At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live and feeder cattle were higher, supported by oversold signals, waiting on direct business to develop. August live cattle closed $.42 higher at $227.90 and October live cattle closed $1.80 higher at $223.97. August feeder cattle closed $1.20 higher at $344.27 a
A divide is growing over farm labor reforms under consideration in Congress. National Potato Council CEO Kam Quarles tells Brownfield the bipartisan Securing Ag Workforce Act does not grant amnesty as some Republicans have been arguing. “You’re going to either offshore your food supply or you’re goi
The deputy secretary with the USDA says the agency is well into implementing its announced reorganization plans. Stephen Vaden says the goal of relocating several mission areas into five regional hubs is to improve cost savings and efficiency. “And that’s by getting more of our employees closer to t
Sep. corn $4.49, down 9 and 1/2 centsAug. soybeans $11.78, down 34 centsAug. soybean meal $315.30, down $5.00Aug. soybean oil 69.17, down 159 pointsSep. Chicago wheat $6.60 and 3/4, down 1 and 3/4 centsAug. live cattle $227.90, up 42 centsAug. feeder cattle $344.27, up $1.20Aug. lean hogs $100.67, d
The USDA says it is working with farmers and ranchers to improve its data collection process. Dr. Scott Hutchins, Undersecretary for Research, Education, and Economics, says increased producer participation is critical to providing a more accurate data set. “What they provide us with allows us to pr
Broiler hatchery numbers continue to rise year-over-year, pointing towards higher production. The USDA says 254.026 million broiler-type eggs were set into incubation last week, up 305,000 from the previous week and 2% from a year ago, with the average rate of hatchability unchanged at 79.3%. 194.53
An agronomist in South Dakota says expanding drought conditions are raising concerns for crop growers across the region. “Still waiting on rain,” said Stu Carlson with Hoegemeyer. “We’ve got good potential out there yet.” Carlson tells Brownfield many of the state’s corn and soybean producers are on
A larger and more efficient dairy herd in June continues to keep milk production numbers above last year. Milk production in the top 24 states increased 2.4 percent in June, with production totaling 19.7 billion pounds. Per cow production increased seven pounds on the year. USDA says farmers increas
U.S. ethanol production last week was a multi-month high. The U.S. Energy Information Administration says production averaged 1.133 million barrels per day, the second highest on record, rising 39,000 on the week and 37,000 on the year. The all-time average was set during the week of January 9th, 20
The Missouri Soybean Association has named a new officer team for the next year. Cody Brock from Carroll County will serve as the new president. Garrett Riekhof from Lafayette County is the vice president and Tory Meyr from Cape Girardeau County is the secretary/treasurer. The new officer team was e
A farmer in west-central Missouri says another round of economic assistance for farmers would be welcomed, but it’s not a long-term solution. Cody Brock from Carroll County tells Brownfield “It’s about input prices compared to our commodity prices. If we can get our trade opened up and get some more
Cash dairy prices were mixed on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange on Wednesday, with significant butter and nonfat dry milk trade. Dry whey up $0.0150 at $0.67. Three sales were made from $0.6650 to $0.67. Blocks down $0.01 at $1.5450. Thirteen sales were made from $1.52 to $1.5475. Barrels down $0.02
A north central Wisconsin farmer says he’s surviving the high input cost environment by becoming as efficient as possible with his nutrient applications. Adam Baumann, who farms in Marathon County, says he keeps close track of his nitrogen use efficiency. “We’ve cut back on our nitrogen.” He says, “
The director of the Missouri State Fair says there’s a lot for fairgoers to celebrate at the 10-day event in mid-Missouri. Jason Moore tells Brownfield “The first thing you’re probably going to notice when you come on the grounds is obviously the red, white and blue to go along with our Show Me Star
An agronomist in the Eastern Corn Belt says disease pressure has been variable. Alexie Garner covers Indiana for Brevant Seeds and describes weather patterns as “widespread” since the start of the growing season. “We’ve got areas where it’s been pretty dry, areas where it’s been very wet. I mean, so
