Ag News

Corn and soybean harvest has advanced in Indiana. According to the USDA’s weekly crop progress report, 12% of corn is harvested, well ahead of the 6% five-year average, with 95% of the crop dented, 67% [Read More…]

Corn and soybean harvest and tobacco cutting were the primary activities last week for farmers in Kentucky. The USDA says dry conditions persist statewide with growing concern for field crops. Temperatures have remained above normal [Read More…]

Dry conditions have sped up harvest in Ohio. According to the USDA’s weekly crop progress report, 10% of corn is harvested, well ahead of the 2% five-year average, with 94% of the crop dented, 60% [Read More…]

Warm conditions furthered harvest activity in Minnesota last week. USDA’s latest weekly crop report says with more than six days suitable for fieldwork, the corn for grain harvest reached four percent and the corn silage [Read More…]

A pair of agronomists say farmers are facing several tough decisions as they plan for the 2025 crop. Matt Montgomery, who covers western Illinois for Pioneer, says evaluating disease resistance should be a priority. “Now [Read More…]

An ag economist says the Rural Mainstreet Index (RMI) fell in September to its lowest level since spring 2020. Ernie Goss with Creighton University tells Brownfield… “We’ve got an increase in supply pushing down, particularly [Read More…]

Directors from the state departments of agriculture are in Indianapolis this week to set policy that addresses ag issues on the state level. Indiana State Director of Agriculture Don Lamb says the meeting is an [Read More…]

Fermented foods and foods with prebiotics help promote the growth of beneficial gut bacteria that produce short-chain fatty acids.  Dr. Steve Lerner with Novonesis says that’s one reason why fermented foods play a role in [Read More…]

A climatologist with the National Drought Mitigation Center says abrupt, wild weather transitions are becoming more of the norm. Brian Fuchs tells Brownfield it’s been a variable early fall with drought conditions expanding across the [Read More…]

Across the Corn Belt, a Frost Advisory was in effect early Monday in the upper Great Lakes region, mainly across northern Wisconsin and northeastern Minnesota.  Major Midwestern corn and soybean production areas are experiencing cooler [Read More…]

Looking ahead, the 6- to 10-day outlook calls for the likelihood of warmer-than-normal weather nationwide, except for near- or below-normal temperatures in the Pacific Northwest.  Meanwhile, near- or below-normal precipitation across most of the country [Read More…]

Community leaders in southern Michigan are encouraging students to consider a career in agriculture. Scott Welden tells Brownfield 11 schools came to his farm in Hillsdale County this week to learn about the diversity of [Read More…]

Jeff Pape is one of many row crop farmers facing some difficult marketing decisions as harvest gets going. “Kind of interesting talking to people that market ahead like I typically do, and just not having [Read More…]

Chicago Mercantile Exchange live and feeder cattle futures were mostly higher, watching direct business develop and waiting for the USDA’s Cattle on Feed report, which was out after the close. October live was up $2.50 [Read More…]

Dec. corn closed at $4.01 and 3/4, down 4 centsNov. soybeans closed at $10.12, down 1 and 1/4 centsOct. soybean meal closed at $317.40, down $2.50Oct. soybean oil closed at 42.16, up 41 pointsDec. wheat [Read More…]

Milk production rose slightly in August.  USDA says production totaled 18.1 billion pounds, which was one-tenth of a percent more than August of 2023.  USDA also revised the July figures down to 18.2 billion pounds, [Read More…]

Colombia has moved to impose additional tariffs on U.S. milk powder imports. Jaime Castenada with the National Milk Producers Federation and U.S. Dairy Export Council tells Brownfield the one-month period of filing counter-arguments has passed, [Read More…]

Chicago Mercantile Exchange live and feeder cattle futures were sharply higher, getting ready for direct business and Friday’s USDA Cattle on Feed report. Feeders had additional support from the lower move in corn. October live [Read More…]

Dec. corn closed at $4.05 and 3/4, down 7 centsNov. soybeans closed at $10.13 and 1/4, down 3/4 centOct. soybean meal closed at $319.90, up $2.00Oct. soybean oil closed at 41.75, up 76 pointsDec. wheat [Read More…]

Soybeans were fractionally lower on fund and technical selling. It was an up and down day, as early yield results have been mixed, generally below expectations in the east, with probable harvest delays in some [Read More…]