Ag News
Soil Health Insights From 2023 to Apply in 2024
In this week’s Soil Health Hotline, a partnership with Sound Agriculture and Brownfield Ag News, Jeff Divan says one of the biggest soil health lessons learned in the last growing season happened in the drought. [Read More…]
Milder weather returns, but moisture-laden and harsh for some across the Heartland
Across the Corn Belt, wintry precipitation, including freezing rain, is spreading northeastward into the middle Mississippi Valley and environs. Icy Midwestern conditions, combined with pre-existing snow cover, continue to complicate livestock operations, as well as [Read More…]
SD Corn Growers adopt carbon pipeline policy
The South Dakota Corn Growers Association will support carbon pipeline projects in the state. Two new resolutions on carbon were approved at the SDCA’s annual meeting over the weekend. The state’s corn growers support carbon [Read More…]
Cattle futures mixed to start the week
At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live and feeder cattle were mixed ahead of the week’s direct business. February live cattle closed $.60 lower at $173.77 and April live cattle closed $.47 lower at $176.90. March feeders [Read More…]
Iowa farmer sees benefits from cover crops ahead of soybeans
A northwest Iowa farmer is seeing benefits from planting cover crops ahead of soybeans. “Including increased weed control.” Sam Bennett of Ida County says cover crops suppress weeds, allowing him to cut back on herbicide [Read More…]
Employment expert hopes feds expand and reform H-2A
An agent for an agricultural labor agency is hoping the federal government makes reforms to the H-2A agricultural visa program. Beth VanDrie with Arlene Resource Management tells Brownfield she’s hopeful Washington makes changes to the [Read More…]
Pilot program opens doors for small and mid-sized beef processors
The USDA has launched a pilot program to increase accessibility and affordability of carcass quality grading for small and mid-sized beef processors. Patrick Robinette of North Carolina, chairman of the independent beef processing committee for [Read More…]
Support grows for sustainable aviation fuel
A policy expert in the airline industry says sustainable aviation fuel can be a worldwide opportunity to help lower greenhouse gas emissions. Jeff Davidman, vice president of government affairs with Delta Air Lines, says the [Read More…]
Economist concerned about farm bill delays
An agricultural economist is concerned about the delays in Washington and how they affect the new farm bill. Jonathan Coppess at the University of Illinois tells Brownfield the first continuing resolution extended the 2018 Farm [Read More…]
December egg production up on year
U.S. egg production was up in December, with numbers pointing towards short term growth in table egg supplies and tighter broiler chicken numbers. The USDA says 9.54 billion eggs were produced during December 2023, up [Read More…]
Skor sees vibrant future for biofuels
The CEO of Growth Energy says the future is bright for low-carbon fuels. Emily Skor tells Brownfield the renewable fuels industry has made significant progress in recent years. “We have done really good work to [Read More…]
KDA names McGinn as Assistant Secretary of Agriculture
The Kansas Department of Agriculture says Josh McGinn has been selected as the state’s new Assistant Secretary of Agriculture. McGinn most recently served as policy director within the governor’s office, and has prior experience within [Read More…]
Yield Contest Winners
Most of the top winners of the Missouri Soybean yield contest managed to eclipse 100 bushels to the acre. Missouri Soybeans Field Services Coordinator Dylan Anderson says Joseph Landewee from Chaffee Missouri topped the irrigated [Read More…]
Corn export inspections down, still ahead of needed pace
The USDA says that as of the week ending January 18th, 2024, U.S. corn export inspections remain ahead of the pace needed to meet projections for the current marketing year. The 2023/24 marketing year got [Read More…]
House Republicans call for H-2A wage freeze
New legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House that would freeze H-2A worker wages at 2023 levels. Michigan Republican John Moolenaar is the bill sponsor. “Sometimes these issues get caught up with immigration issues [Read More…]
Strategizing for Clean Fuels
Supply chain strategic partnerships are an important part to the development of clean fuels. Chief Operating Officer Doug Whitehead with Clean Fuels Alliance America says from the truckers to fuel producers, these partnerships have allowed [Read More…]
Minnesota Farmers Union continues call for lower healthcare costs
Many farm families are burdened by the high cost of healthcare. Minnesota Farmers Union president Gary Wertish says his organization continues to ask the state legislature for solutions. “We spent a lot of time on [Read More…]
New beef processing plant to open in early 2025
The president of the American Foods Group says a new beef processing plant in eastern Missouri should start contracting cattle later this year. Steve Van Lannen tells Brownfield America’s Heartland Packing plant will source cattle [Read More…]
Cashing in on residual nitrogen
Drought was a problem for many farmers in 2023, but a soil scientist suggests a silver lining for corn growers is potentially usable nitrates for the upcoming growing season. And Brad Carlson with the University [Read More…]
Upcoming Iowa DNR Public Listening Sessions
On this week’s episode of the Outdoor Adventures podcast from Brownfield Ag News, Brent Barnett talks with Mick Klemesrud from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources about some upcoming public listening sessions the DNR will [Read More…]