Ag News

Ethanol Summit of the Asia Pacific this week in Minneapolis
U.S. renewable fuels advocates are building off the momentum of record ethanol exports in 2017 to grow market-share. The Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy, and U.S. Grains Council (USGC) are hosting an Ethanol Summit of [Read More…]

USGC hopeful corn can return to prominence in China
U.S. Grains Council CEO Tom Sleight says China’s revocation of duties on U.S. sorghum could signal progress for corn exports. “U.S. corn is very competitive into China, and for various political reasons, biotechnology a big [Read More…]

Fastest rookie program highlights dairy
The Fastest Rookie program and the Indianapolis 500 continue to highlight the importance of the Indiana dairy industry. Andrew Kuehnert, this year’s Indianapolis 500 rookie milkman, says he is honored to take part in both [Read More…]

Supply concerns pressure pork prices
At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, cattle futures closed mostly higher in a choppy trading session ahead of today’s Cold Storage report. The numbers were fairly neutral to cattle. Traders will look ahead to Friday’s Cattle [Read More…]

Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: May 22, 2018
Jul. corn closed at $4.04 and 3/4, up 2 cents Jul. soybeans closed at $10.30 and 1/2, up 5 and 1/4 cents Jul. soybean meal closed at $377.50, down $1.60 Jul. soybean oil closed at [Read More…]

Minnesota farmers still in dark at conclusion of Session
Minnesota farmers remain in the dark on many pieces of legislation important to agriculture as the 2018 Legislative Session ends. Minnesota Farmers Union director of government relations Thom Petersen says he’s not sure if Governor [Read More…]

CME dairy markets mixed Tuesday
The dairy markets were mixed Tuesday at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Class Three May milk was up $.02 at $15.24 a hundredweight. June was down $.06 to $15.84. July was up $.01 to $16.46. August [Read More…]

Secretary Perdue did not support sugar changes in House farm bill
Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue says he was not in favor of a farm bill amendment that would have changed U.S. sugar policy. “I would hate to see that come into the farm bill at this [Read More…]

Top White House official sounds more optimistic about NAFTA
President Trump’s top economic adviser, Larry Kudlow, sounds more optimistic about NAFTA this week than he did a week ago. “Ambassador (Robert) Lighthizer is working—we’re all working—there’s a lot of communication back and forth–perhaps more [Read More…]

Secretary Perdue comments on ag trade, negotiations,
U.S. Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue talks to Brownfield about trade negotiations, which have many farmers and ranchers concerned. Continue reading Secretary Perdue comments on ag trade, negotiations, at Brownfield Ag News.

Dayton vetoes Ag Policy Bill
The Minnesota Soybean Growers Association says its extremely disgusted with Governor Dayton for vetoing the omnibus Ag Policy Bill. CEO Tom Slunecka says he feels MSGA has compromised, but the Dayton Administration is unwilling to [Read More…]

American Dairy Coalition leader sees silver lining in failed farm bill vote
The American Dairy Coalition’s top official says Friday’s failed House farm bill vote might help deliver changes in immigration law they need. CEO Laurie Fischer says, “There isn’t any indication that there will be [Read More…]

Wisconsin farmers catching up on fieldwork
Most Wisconsin farmers were able to get in the fields last week to try and catch up after a cool and wet beginning of spring. USDA reporters say just over 5 days were suitable for [Read More…]

Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: May 21, 2018
Jul. corn closed at $4.02 and 3/4, up 1/4 cent Jul. soybeans closed at $10.25 and 1/4, up 26 and 3/4 cents Jul. soybean meal closed at $379.10, up $2.80 Jul. soybean oil closed at [Read More…]

Alfalfa needs to be harvested on time
An extension specialist recommends stopping planting if first cutting alfalfa is ready to be harvested. Michigan State University Extension forage specialist Kim Cassida says farmers can’t make up lost forage quality if they’re late [Read More…]

2019 could squeeze livestock profitability even more
A livestock economist says the USDA’s first look at prices for the 2018-2019 crop year isn’t great news for livestock producers. University of Missouri’s Scott Brown says input costs are projected to rise. “The USDA [Read More…]

MSCA director returns from Asia with broader trade perspective
The director of the Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association has a broader perspective on marketing meat exports following a recent trade mission to Asia. Ashley Kohls was part of a U.S. Meat Export Federation trip to [Read More…]

High soybean yields still attainable
An extension agronomist says high soybean yields are still attainable for Midwestern farmers just finishing corn planting. But, Seth Naeve at the University of Minnesota tells Brownfield the window for maximum yields has probably shut. [Read More…]

Algal blooms on the rise in US waterways
Toxic algal blooms continue to be a problem in Lake Erie and other US waterways, according to a new report from the Environmental Working Group. Craig Cox, a leader with the organization, says runoff from [Read More…]

China trade news stops soybean selloff
An analyst says news that China and the U.S. are working to resolve trade issues comes at an opportune time for the soybean market. Naomi Blohm with Stewart-Peterson tells Brownfield the announcement by Chinese officials [Read More…]