Articles by nedvedmedia

2026 U.S. broiler hatchery numbers remain on pace to top 2025, implying a larger U.S. flock and increased meat availability. The USDA says 254.778 million broiler-type eggs were set into incubators last week, while 195.791 [Read More…]

The USDA says there will be an increase in cotton plantings this spring, higher than some were expecting. Jody Campiche with the National Cotton Council says a boost in cotton prices likely helped. “The NCC [Read More…]

A meteorologist with Aura Commodities says much of the Midwest has benefited from a wet month of March. Xander Lowry says the eastern Corn Belt has seen some needed relief from the lingering drought. “It’s [Read More…]

The farmer response rate for USDA’s Prospective Plantings survey was the lowest it’s ever been for the March survey. Seth Meyer, the director of the University of Missouri’s Food and Ag Policy Research Institute, says [Read More…]

Working to maximize yields in 2026. In this episode of Managing for Profit, Syngenta agronomist Jami Loecker says creating a proactive crop management plan could help growers mitigate risk. The post Using a proactive crop [Read More…]

Across the Corn Belt, wet snow in portions of the upper Great Lakes region, especially near Lake Superior, contrasts with warm, humid conditions from Missouri to Ohio. Isolated large hail was reported overnight as far [Read More…]

Looking ahead, the 6- to 10-day outlook for calls for the likelihood of near- or above-normal temperatures, except for cooler-than-normal conditions in southern and coastal Texas, as well as the nation’s northern tier from northern [Read More…]

An agricultural economist with the University of Illinois says the USDA’s Prospective Plantings Report shows more farmers plan to plant soybeans this year. However, Joe Janzen says the shift in acres fell below pre-report estimates. [Read More…]

An extension agronomist who covers southeast and east central Iowa says most farmers in her area are in good shape with fertilizer. Rebecca Vittetoe with Iowa State University tells Brownfield a lot of manure gets [Read More…]

Soybeans were higher on short covering and technical buying, along with the weakness in the dollar during the session. The USDA expects soybean planted area to be up 4% on the year, which was towards [Read More…]

At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live and feeder cattle were higher, optimistic about the week’s business.  April live cattle closed $3.47 higher at $243.02 and June live cattle closed $3.07 higher at $243.27.  April feeder [Read More…]

May corn $4.57 and 3/4, up 2 centsMay soybeans $11.71, up 11 and 1/4 centsMay soybean meal $316.40, up $1.50May soybean oil 68.88, up 41 pointsMay Chicago wheat $6.16 and 1/4, up 9 and 1/4 [Read More…]

Sorghum planted area is projected to decline in 2026. The USDA expects 6.12 million acres of to be planted to sorghum this year, down 8% from last year. Ongoing drought in the Plains likely had [Read More…]

Michigan livestock industry leaders are asking state lawmakers to keep funding the Michigan Alliance for Animal Agriculture. Michigan State University AgBioResearch Director George Smith says the goal of the program is to advance the animal [Read More…]

A northeast Nebraska farmer says many growers are facing unprecedented financial uncertainty this spring. “We’re all in this panic and pressure mode.” Anne Meis says she’s increasingly worried about the price and availability of some [Read More…]

Minnesota farmer Bill Zurn has served on the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council for more than 20 years, and as he prepares to step down this summer, he says the checkoff has made a [Read More…]

The economy is hitting rural America hard, and some sectors, like crop farmers, are struggling more than others.  Ag Banker Chris Schneider says producers need to continue to fine-tune their operations, especially when margins are [Read More…]

An agricultural banker says most farmers are navigating through today’s economic challenges, but it’s more difficult for some. Chris Schneider from Nicolet National Bank tells Brownfield the effect on operating loans has been consistent. “You [Read More…]

The Under Secretary of Farm Production and Conservation at the USDA says the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program sign-up is going well, with more than half a million farmers expected to participate. “Right now, we’re over [Read More…]

The executive director of government relations with GROWMARK says crop protection tools are coming under increasing fire in state legislatures across the country. Chuck Spencer says the agricultural cooperative supports the process of the U.S. EPA. [Read More…]