Ag News

Across the Corn Belt, outside of clouds and showers in the lower Ohio Valley, sunny skies are promoting fieldwork and summer crop emergence. Recent rainfall has been highly variable, with 2-week totals ranging from a [Read More…]

A strong cold front will accelerate east, producing locally heavy showers and thunderstorms from Plains southeastward into the Corn Belt. Behind the front, cooler air will provide a brief respite from heat, though hot weather [Read More…]

  Soybeans were modestly higher on short covering and technical buying. Contracts were due for a bounce, as beans continue to watch U.S. planting conditions and trade negotiations. Weekly export numbers were bearish, with no [Read More…]

This might be a good time for owners of farmland to consider selling. Brian Mohr with Farmers National Company says prices have stabilized following a period of slumping values tied to lower commodity prices. Looking [Read More…]

  Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures were lower, with light activity, as the trade watched the direct cash cattle markets. Business after the long holiday weekend was generally scattered, but held steady with the [Read More…]

A second “nuisance” trial involving the world’s largest pork producer, Smithfield, is underway in Raleigh, North Carolina. Local residents claim that a hog farm contracted with Smithfield uses an inadequate waste-disposal method that emits unpleasant [Read More…]

The dairy markets were lower again Friday at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.  Class Three June milk was down $.08 to $15.49. July was down $.15 to $16.23.  August was down $.08 to $16.79. September was [Read More…]

The USDA’s latest export projection is an improvement from the February forecast. “Now we’re a little bit above Fiscal Year 2017,” said USDA Chief Economist Rob Johansson.  The new forecast is $142.5 billion.  That’s $3 [Read More…]

Trade negotiations in Beijing this weekend will focus on U.S. exports to China.  Asian media is reporting the weekend talks will likely focus on how much American soybeans, beef, and energy products will be brought [Read More…]

Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue has received a letter from more than 50 lawmakers and candidates supporting his efforts to help promote biofuels. The letter commends Perdue’s efforts to, “combat special interests seeking to undercut homegrown [Read More…]

Delayed planting has led to emergence problems for some corn growers. Winfield United agronomist Jon Zuk says wet conditions across northern Iowa and southern Minnesota forced many farmers to work fields that weren’t completely fit, [Read More…]

The CEO of the National Pork Board says Checkoff investments are helping improve domestic pork demand. Bill Even tells Brownfield a new approach to marketing and promotion has been key in growing U.S. consumption to [Read More…]

  Ag leaders are concerned Michigan will be hard hit from tariffs imposed by the Trump administration as two-thirds of the state’s ag exports are sent to Canada and Mexico. Kathy Maurer with the Michigan [Read More…]

The CEO of the National Pork Board says Checkoff investments are helping improve domestic pork demand. Bill Even tells Brownfield a new approach to marketing and promotion has been key in growing U.S. consumption to [Read More…]

  June 1st has been named World Milk Day by the United Nations celebrate the contributions of dairy around the globe. Jolene Griffin with the United Dairy Industry of Michigan says the dairy industry is [Read More…]

South Dakota Ag Secretary Mike Jaspers is resigning to take a job with an electric co-op in the state. Governor Dennis Daugaard says Jaspers “knowledge and experience have strengthened the department.” Jasper’s resignation will be effective July [Read More…]

Several U.S. Senators have asked the USDA to extend the June 1st Margin Protection Program sign-up deadline by thirty days.  Minnesota Democrat Tina Smith says the extension would help the dairy farmers who are also [Read More…]

  The U.S. hog sector is expressing deep concern as the Trump Administration expands its steel and aluminum import tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and the European Union. Minnesota Pork Producers Association CEO David Preisler says [Read More…]

The director of national affairs for Nebraska Farm Bureau says the tariffs dispute with Mexico, Canada and the EU is very concerning. Jordan Dux says while farmers have been generally supportive of President Trump’s efforts [Read More…]

The Trump Administration says that Canada, Mexico, and the EU would no longer be exempt from US steel and aluminum tariffs announced earlier this year.  The tariffs are intended to bolster the US aluminum and steel [Read More…]