Ag News
Lender encouraged by smaller interest rate increase
An ag lender is encouraged by how small the latest Federal Reserve rate hike is. Chris Lotzer with Ag Country Farm Credit Services in Marshfield, Wisconsin tells Brownfield he’s hopeful Wednesday’s quarter-percent increase to 4 [Read More…]
Carbon market opportunities abound at 2023 Iowa Ag Expo
Farmers are learning about carbon market opportunities at the Iowa Ag Expo in Des Moines. Cindy Feldman is one of the organizers of the Expo and tells Brownfield there are about a half dozen booths [Read More…]
Cattle futures pressured by beef, waiting for direct cash
Chicago Mercantile Exchange live and feeder cattle were lower with boxed beef down at midday, getting ready for the week’s direct business. February live was down $.42 at $158.42 and April was $.80 lower at [Read More…]
USDA announces $74M in rural Iowa investments
The USDA is investing $74 million to help diversify food production and improve access to clean water in rural Iowa. Xochitl Torres Small is the USDA’s Under Secretary for Rural Development. “Rural America has risen [Read More…]
Soybeans down as corn ekes out modest gains
Soybeans were lower on profit taking and technical selling, along with spillover from the broader market. There is some rain in the near-term forecast for parts of Argentina, but overall coverage is expected to be [Read More…]
Woodall: Food security is national security
The head of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association says protecting funding for farm bill programs will be a priority in 2023. Colin Woodall says the ag industry is ready to put up a fight to [Read More…]
Grassley frustrated with EPA’s E15 delay
A U.S. Senator from Iowa says the oil industry is holding up the Environmental Protection Agency in allowing some states to sell E15 year-round. Republican Chuck Grassley says he’s frustrated the EPA has failed to [Read More…]
Agreement with United Airlines, biofuel companies could ramp up SAF production
A pair biofuel companies and United Airlines have announced a joint venture to develop and commercialize Sustainable Aviation Fuel that uses ethanol as a feed stock. Speaking to Brownfield before the announcement, Chief Financial Officer [Read More…]
Corn leaders meet with lawmakers over Mexico’s decree on biotech corn
U.S. Corn growers recently briefed Congressional leaders about the negative impact of Mexico’s proposed ban on biotech corn. During Tuesday’s meeting in Washington D.C., Nebraska Corn Growers Association President Andy Jobman says he wanted to [Read More…]
Senate farm bill hearings begin
The U.S. Senate Ag Committee has begun the official farm bill hearing process. The hearing, which began Wednesday morning took testimony on the trade and horticulture titles of the farm bill. Ranking Member John Boozman [Read More…]
Sheep, goat inventories down on year
There were fewer sheep and goats in the U.S. at the start of 2023. The USDA says the sheep and lamb inventory on January 1st of this year was 1% smaller than on January 1st [Read More…]
Pattern remains active across the Nation; milder days ahead from the Plains, eastward
Looking ahead, the 6- to 10-day outlook calls for the likelihood of above-normal temperatures in most areas east of the Rockies, while colder-than-normal conditions will dominate much of the West. Meanwhile, near- or above-normal precipitation [Read More…]
Optimism for A-PLUS Act as it’s reintroduced into the US House
A bipartisan group of legislators has reintroduced the Amplifying Processing of Livestock in the United States (A-PLUS) Act in the US House. The bill would remove outdated regulatory barriers and allow livestock auction market owners [Read More…]
Live cattle mixed, feeders up ahead of inventory report
Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle were mixed and feeders were higher ahead of the week’s direct business and Tuesday’s semi-annual USDA Cattle Inventory report. The U.S. inventory at the start of 2023 was down 3% [Read More…]
USTR announces new actions seeking Canadian dairy market access
The U.S. is again trying to make Canada live up to the dairy guidelines in the USMCA trade agreement. U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai announced Tuesday that a second dispute panel has been established regarding [Read More…]
Soybeans, corn consolidate as wheat gains
Soybeans were mixed on bull spreading, supporting nearby contracts, and pressuring deferred months. Soybeans consolidated after Monday’s gains, continuing to monitor weather in South America. Forecasts for Argentina remain mostly dry over the next two [Read More…]
Cattle producers remain committed to conservation
When done correctly grazing increases native grass environments, improves soil quality, and sequesters carbon. Ethan Lane, vice president of government affairs, with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association tells Brownfield members want to ensure grazing remains part [Read More…]
Pork market faces headwinds in ‘23
An ag economist says pork had a strong year in 2022, but challenges are ahead. “The last eight weeks or so we have seen consumer level demand stay pretty steady,” said Dr. Steve Meyer with [Read More…]
Drone technology useful in small fields
An educator says using drones to manage crops is getting easier with new advances in drone technology. Sean Creviston Sean Creviston with Chippewa Valley Technical College in Eau Claire, Wisconsin tells Brownfield the ability to [Read More…]
Cattle inventory down, pointing to tighter numbers
The U.S. cattle industry continues to contract, with even tighter numbers likely in the coming months due to a smaller calf crop caused by drought in the major feeding areas and producers trying to improve [Read More…]