Ag News
Wisconsin farmer-legislator explains support for ag roads bill
A Wisconsin farmer who serves in the State Assembly says the Agricultural Roads Improvement Program bill under consideration is a good start to fixing rural infrastructure. Republican Travis Tranel of Cuba City says, “Here, we [Read More…]
Illinois Wheat Tour reveals good potential for 100-bushel yields
Several Illinois farmers could harvest 100+ bushel wheat this year. The Illinois Winter Wheat tour this week collected data from 57 fields across 19 counties in the southern half of the state. Illinois Wheat Association [Read More…]
Creating diverse markets for the food supply chain
The USDA is launching 12 Regional Food Business Centers across the country to help build resiliency in the food supply chain for consumers and producers. AUDIO: Healthy Living on resiliency in the food supply chain [Read More…]
The Andersons add Michigan granulation facility to portfolio
The Andersons have completed an acquisition of a granulation facility in mid-Michigan. Prolime Agriculture LLC had been manufacturing pelletized lime and gypsum in Laingsburg since it was built in 2018. The Andersons say the facility [Read More…]
Ethanol stocks fall for fifth straight week
Ethanol stocks have tightened for five weeks in a row. The U.S. Energy Information Administration says the domestic supply is the tightest since last November at 22.041 million barrels, a decrease of 1.15 million on [Read More…]
Emotional ups and downs with weather extremes
Commentary. Much needed rain fell on our farm a couple of weeks ago, bringing us out of the “extreme drought” category and back to “severe drought.” The earth was thirsty, and the hay crop we [Read More…]
Vaccine developer studies Asian long-horned tick
Animal health company Medgene is studying the Asian long-horned tick and the possibility of developing vaccines for the diseases it can carry. Medgene founder and researcher Dr. Alan Young tells Brownfield they received a grant [Read More…]
UNL-based USDA precision ag research center on schedule despite budget snafus
A leader with the University of Nebraska says he’s still optimistic about USDA’s precision ag research facility despite disagreements over its funding. Mike Boehm, vice chancellor with the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, tells [Read More…]
Guilty pleas for men arrested in multi-state frozen meat thefts
Three men have pleaded guilty to charges for stealing frozen meat across several Midwestern states that totaled $9 million in losses. Investigators say the men conducted a sophisticated, organized criminal enterprise in 2022 that consisted [Read More…]
Be on the lookout for early season pests
Farmers are encouraged to scout for pests. Iowa State University Extension agronomist Meaghan Anderson says early planted soybeans are vulnerable to insects like bean leaf beetles. “And then we certainly have our fair share of [Read More…]
House ag chair questions progress of new USDA conservation programs
The chair of the House Ag Committee is asking USDA officials about new conservation program problems. Glenn GT Thompson told a subcommittee hearing Tuesday the SUSTAINS Act, which created public-private partnerships for USDA to fund [Read More…]
Renewable diesel an opportunity for U.S. agriculture
The CEO of the largest agriculture cooperative in the United States says he optimistic about renewable diesel demand from California’s low carbon fuel standard and what that means for U.S. agriculture. Soybean oil can be [Read More…]
Too much, then too little moisture for Minnesota farmer
Moisture has gone from too much to not enough in parts of west-central Minnesota. Kandiyohi County farmer Noah Hultgren says fieldwork started later than normal. “Dealing with spring snow and moisture, although now we haven’t [Read More…]
“God Father of Soil Health” remembered
A long-time no-till farming leader has died. Ohio farmer Dave Brandt of Fairfield County, 76, passed away from complications related to a car crash over the weekend. Retired Ohio State University faculty member Randall Reeder [Read More…]
Tar spot here to stay
Tar spot is expected to be a problem in areas where corn farmers have seen the pathogen in the past. Mark Storr with BASF says crop diseases are hard to get rid of. “Once the [Read More…]
Farm Operations Support Act would freeze H-2A wages
Bipartisan legislation recently introduced in the U.S. House would give farmers some relief on labor costs this year. Co-sponsor Representative Dan Kildee of Michigan tells Brownfield the Farm Operations Support Act would maintain 2022 wage [Read More…]
USDA questioned about prime farmland in conservation programs
A Minnesota Congressman is concerned that USDA’s conservation programs might be encouraging farmers to idle prime productive farmland. Minnesota Representative Brad Finstad is a farmer and former USDA State Rural Development Director. He commented during [Read More…]
Cattle futures mostly lower waiting ahead of widespread cash business
At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live cattle were mostly lower, and feeders were lower ahead of the week’s direct cash business. Feeders had additional pressure from the higher move in corn. June live cattle closed [Read More…]
Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: May 23, 2023
Jul. corn closed at $5.77 and 1/2, up 6 and 1/2 centsJul. soybeans closed at $13.22 and 1/2, down 18 and 3/4 centsJul. soybean meal closed at $406.40, down $5.80Jul. soybean oil closed at 47.76, down [Read More…]
The Benefits of Biodiesel
This week Illinois Soybean Association Communications Manager Claire Weinzierl highlights the benefits of biodiesel for farmers, fleets, fuel retailers and drivers and opportunities for everyone to expand use of the fuel. She also explains how [Read More…]