Ag News

A U.S. Senate Ag Committee member is calling on President Trump’s USDA Under Secretary for Trade nominee to go to bat for specialty crop growers. Michigan’s Elissa Slotkin says unfair trade practices need to be addressed [Read More…]

Mild weather the past few months could result in high alfalfa weevil pressure this spring. FMC technical services manager Eric Rebek says the forage pest begins to emerge in April and May, feeding on crops [Read More…]

A north central Illinois farmer says he’s disappointed in the state’s planned cuts to conservation funding.  Brian Corkill, who farms in Henry & Stark Counties, says the “Fall Covers for Spring Savings” program, which offers [Read More…]

Cash dairy prices were mixed again Wednesday on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.    Dry whey was down $0.0075 at $0.4975. One sale was recorded at that price.  Forty-pound cheese blocks were up $0.01 at $1.73.  Five [Read More…]

There were modest changes for U.S. ethanol production and supply over the past week. The U.S. Energy Information Administration says ethanol production averaged 1.04 million barrels per day, up 7,000 on the week and 53,000 [Read More…]

The U.S. EPA says its included updates in the final Insecticide Strategy to make it easier for applicators and growers to comply with the Endangered Species Act. “We see a lot of improvements here.” Kyle [Read More…]

An economist with the University of Missouri says the Trump administration’s waiver allowing sales of E15 fuel blends this summer isn’t a long-term solution. “Monday’s announcement of year-round E15 follows a similar pattern from the [Read More…]

The Trump administration has announced it is resuming payments to growers through the Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crop program. Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins says a second round of support up to $1.3 billion will be used to [Read More…]

An ag economist says demand has been strong for U.S. corn. Jim McCormick with AgMarket.Net says the corn market has been monitoring harvest in Argentina and second crop conditions in Brazil. “A big critical part [Read More…]

The Trump administration has dropped criminal charges against a South Dakota family accused of improperly using Forest Service land. Ethan Lane with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association says the Maude family was a victim of [Read More…]

Looking ahead, the 6- to 10-day outlook calls for the likelihood of above-normal temperatures in most areas east of the Rockies, while cooler-than-normal conditions will prevail across southern Florida and much of the West.  Meanwhile, [Read More…]

Across the Corn Belt, the threat of severe thunderstorms has shifted to the south and east, following Monday’s outbreak across the upper Midwest.  Early Tuesday, a broken line of showers stretches from the lower Great [Read More…]

A Wisconsin county is giving middle school students a chance to explore career paths in agriculture. The Kewaunee County Economic Development Corporation is working with Ebert Enterprises, a dairy and crop farm, to show students [Read More…]

At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live and feeder cattle were higher ahead of widespread direct business.  Feeders had additional support from the lower move in corn. June live cattle closed $.60 higher at $210.20 and [Read More…]

A soybean researcher is urging farmers to take another look at the fine print on the seed tags before planting. Shawn Conley with the Wisconsin Soybean Program says last year’s dry harvest conditions might have [Read More…]

An agronomist in Arkansas says there could still be good yield potential for flooded crops in the northeast part of the state. “There was already rice, soybeans and corn up before the flooding. Those are [Read More…]

Researchers at Michigan State University are studying how farmers can benefit from converting a portion of farmland into solar energy. Earth and Environmental Sciences doctoral student Jake Stid tells Brownfield the land use change does [Read More…]

A field agronomist at Beck’s Hybrids says a higher seeding rate doesn’t always mean higher yields. Luke Schulte, based in Ohio, says farmers should adjust seeding rates based on location and soil type.  “We’ve seen incredible results, not only [Read More…]

The CEO and Executive Director of the Missouri Soybeans has resigned. Gary Wheeler was at Missouri Soybeans for 11 years and previously served as the CEO of Missouri Corn. In a statement, he thanked the [Read More…]

A first-generation Illinois farmer says she’s found a unique answer to the “horsepower” needs of her specialty operation. Ruth Burke, who’s also an assistant art professor at Illinois State University, says draft animals, like her [Read More…]