Ag News

A former chairman of the House Agriculture Committee says getting bipartisan approval for the farm bill in committee will help lawmakers build widespread support the House. But Collin Peterson says to get more bipartisan votes [Read More…]

Soybeans were higher on speculative and technical buying, closing solidly higher on the week. Beans were monitoring planting delays in the Midwest and Plains, with help from a higher move in soybean meal. That higher [Read More…]

Photo: Wisconsin Ag Secretary Randy Romanski and USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack The Secretary of Agriculture urges farmers to double down on farm biosecurity.  With another human case of the H5N1 virus in Michigan, Tom Vilsack [Read More…]

Legislation that would allow Missouri Farm Bureau to offer a health plan to its members didn’t make it across the finish line in the Missouri Legislature again this year. This is the second year the [Read More…]

An ag economist says there are lingering questions about South American crop production. Brain Basting, with Advance Trading in Bloomington, Illinois, says Argentina’s corn crop is having issues. “Corn Leaf Hopper is transmitting this corn [Read More…]

Foreign soybean buyers have been getting a firsthand look at the U.S. soybean industry through the Soybean Oil Masters Program.  Will McNair, Worldwide Director of Oil and Soy Food Programs, with the U.S. Soybean Export Council says it [Read More…]

The senior vice president of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers says he’s not concerned about recent industry layoffs. Curt Blades tells Brownfield it is cyclical. “The manufacturers are really doing a nice job of preparing [Read More…]

Eastern Iowa farmer Lance Lillibridge says field conditions are completely different from the last three growing seasons as widespread rains continue this spring. “We grew a crop of corn (last year) on about 5-7 inches [Read More…]

Across the Corn Belt, locally severe thunderstorms are marching across areas west of the Mississippi River, including Iowa.  Although some weakening is occurring Friday morning, storm activity should flare again this afternoon in parts of [Read More…]

At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live and feeder cattle were lower ahead of widespread direct business and Friday’s On Feed report.  June live cattle closed $.65 lower at $183.52 and August live cattle closed $.60 [Read More…]

Jul. corn closed at $4.64, up 2 and 3/4 centsJul. soybeans closed at $12.39 and 1/4, down 7 centsJul. soybean meal closed at $376.70, down $1.50Jul. soybean oil closed at 45.19, down 69 pointsJul. wheat [Read More…]

Democratic and Republican members of the House Ag Committee came out swinging as the group began its markup of the farm bill.  Ranking Member David Scott in opening comments voiced discontent. “I cannot, and I [Read More…]

Soybeans were lower on profit taking and technical selling. The trade continues to monitor U.S. planting delays and the impact of heavy flooding in southern Brazil. That flooding and crop loss in Brazil has pushed [Read More…]

Poultry production was up sharply in April. The USDA says 4.426 billion pounds of poultry were certified wholesome in April 2024, up 10% from April 2023. That big year-to-year rise was due to a much [Read More…]

Spring planting recently wrapped for an eastern Iowa farmer. Lance Lillibridge says the wetter than expected spring pushed back some of his progress. “I was having concerns about getting planted,” he said. “I guess you [Read More…]

The Senate Ag Committee Chair says farm bill negotiations can start as soon as Republican leaders release their priorities. Michigan Democrat Debbie Stabenow tells Brownfield, “I’ve not seen anything specific from my Ranking Member yet, [Read More…]

Some farmer organizations are teaming up to push for checkoff program reforms.  It’s the Enough is Enough Tour, and members from Farmers Union and Farm Action would like to see some changes in commodity checkoff [Read More…]

Biofuel supporters are still pursuing a long-term fix for year-round E15 sales. The U.S. EPA issued an emergency waiver last month allowing sales of the fuel during the 2024 summer driving season, but U.S. Senator [Read More…]

U.S. Congressman Adrian Smith says the Biden administration needs to pursue more free trade agreements. “The fact of the matter is we have given other countries more access to our market than they have given [Read More…]

Looking ahead, the 6- to 10-day outlook calls for the likelihood of below-normal temperatures in much of the Midwest, while warmer-than-normal weather will dominate northern New England, the Deep South, and the West, excluding areas [Read More…]