Ag News
SOIL Stewardship Act introduced in U.S. Senate
Legislation aimed at improving soil health and water quality has been introduced in the Senate. Minnesota Democratic Senator Tina Smith says the Strengthening Our Investment in Land (SOIL) Stewardship Act would help farmers both create [Read More…]
NAFTA negotiations continue
Trade officials from the three NAFTA countries continue efforts to hammer out a new deal. Disagreements between the U.S. and Mexico over auto manufacturing remain a hold-up, although Mexico has expressed a willingness to move [Read More…]
A tale of two planting seasons
Northeast Nebraska farmer Greg Anderson and northcentral Iowa farmer Chris Edgington are only 270 miles apart, as the crow flies. But they’ve experienced vastly different planting seasons in 2018. Anderson farms near Newman Grove, Nebraska. [Read More…]
Managing for Profit: What to do when battling Mother Nature
Despite the slow start to spring, the majority of the Corn Belt has been able to catch up in terms of planting progress. But, in some areas, they are still playing catch-up. In this Managing [Read More…]
Missouri and Illinois co-host foreign buyers tour
State agriculture departments in Illinois and Missouri are promoting seedstock cattle to a group of foreign buyers this week. The trade mission has brought Mexican buyers to Missouri and Illinois cattle operations. Bobby Dowson with the [Read More…]
Milk futures, cash dairy mixed
Class III milk futures at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange closed mixed Thursday supported slightly by strong international markets and export demand. The USDA reports bi-weekly whole and skim milk powder, cheddar cheese and butter prices [Read More…]
Soybean and corn revenue projections slightly improved
Average prices for corn and soybeans are higher than in recent years, resulting in a brighter crop revenue picture for 2018. “USDA is being a bit more optimistic about our prices,” Gary Schnitkey, a farm [Read More…]
Cattle futures mostly lower ahead of on feed report
Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures were lower on profit taking, the recent mixed boxed beef trend, and traders waiting for the week’s widespread direct cash business. June was down $1.05 at $104.40 and [Read More…]
Grains, oilseeds can’t follow through on early gains
Soybeans were modestly lower on profit taking and technical selling, unable to follow through on the early advances. The trade continues to monitor ongoing talks with China, including the lack of an application of Beijing’s [Read More…]
April pork production notches new monthly high
The USDA says pork production during April 2018 was a new monthly high at 2.142 billion pounds, up 8% from April 2017. New monthly highs have been set several times in recent months because [Read More…]
Millenniels venture out of their beef comfort zone
Millenniels have a comfort zone for cooking beef: ground beef and steak. But there’s a trend toward home cooking and younger people are turning more to beef roasts for dinner. Continue reading Millenniels venture out [Read More…]
Cancellations hit old crop soybean export sales
The USDA reports combined old and new crop soybean and soybean meal exports for the week ending May 17th were towards the low end of pre-report estimates, while corn and wheat were near the [Read More…]
Honey bee colony declines up 10%
A national survey of beekeepers found colony losses increased by 10 percent from last October through this April to the highest level since 2010. Julie Shapiro with the Honey Bee Health Coalition tells Brownfield colony [Read More…]
Alliance for Science Global Farmer Leadership training in Illinois
Farmers from 40 countries are in Illinois to learn more about biotechnology and how to communicate what they want and need. Sarah Evanega directs Cornell University’s Alliance for Science which is teaching the Global Farmer [Read More…]
White House meeting today on RFS and E15
Another White House meeting is planned today on proposed changes to the Renewable Fuels Standard and expanding access to E15 fuel year-round. The head of Growth Energy says she’s pleased the USDA is taking up [Read More…]
Iowa farmer likes the cover crops/cattle combination
Jeff Jorgenson farms in the southwestern corner of Iowa, near the town of Sidney. Jorgenson has been growing cover crops for five years and is one of a growing number of Midwestern farmers who are [Read More…]
Conaway says House farm bill language will not change before June vote
House Ag Committee Chairman Michael Conaway says when the House votes again on their farm bill proposal, nothing in the bill will change. “No, because right now, I can’t change the bill. The motion to [Read More…]
Details are unclear, but China and US resolving trade issues is welcome news for many farmers
A board member with the American Soybean Association says although there is no official deal between China and the US yet, there have been reports that China could purchase 30 to 40 percent more soybean [Read More…]
Dayton deals Minnesota farmers another blow with more vetoes
Minnesota commodity groups say Governor Dayton has dealt farmers another major blow by vetoing two more bills containing legislation important to agriculture. Dayton struck down the Omnibus Supplemental Budget Bill, which would’ve provided $250,000 dollars [Read More…]
Mexican cattle buyers visiting Missouri don’t want to lose NAFTA
A group of Mexican buyers touring cattle operations in Missouri and Illinois this week say they don’t want to lose NAFTA. On Tuesday, the buyers visited Mead Farms in Barnett, Missouri. Marco Alvarez and Julio [Read More…]