Ag News

A central Illinois farmer says he’s done with soybean planting. “No, that’s never happened. To have it done by the 14th of April.” Derek Martin, who grows corn and soybeans in Logan County, tells Brownfield… [Read More…]

A researcher with the Diverse Corn Belt project says limited market access is a primary challenge for farmers attempting to diversify. Brennan Radulski, postdoctoral researcher with the University of Vermont and co-lead of a new [Read More…]

The start-up tractor company Monarch says a large global equipment manufacturer is acquiring its core technology. After seven years of developing the first autonomous electric tractor, the company says unforeseen challenges have caused it to [Read More…]

Across the Corn Belt, active weather is slowing early-season fieldwork but replenishing soil moisture in areas still recovering from drought. However, rain has become excessive in portions of the Great Lakes States, leading to pockets [Read More…]

There has been an infographic floating around that says the average price for a pound of ground beef is higher than the federal minimum wage. Despite the higher prices, demand has been relatively strong.  But [Read More…]

A leader with the U.S. Small Business Administration says a new SBA loan guarantee initiative could give the meat processing industry a boost. Former Iowa State Senator Brad Zaun currently serves as SBA’s Great Plains [Read More…]

The chairman of Missouri’s Senate Ag Committee says Governor Kehoe’s plan to eliminate the state’s individual income tax is getting a lot of questions in the ag sector. Jason Bean tells Brownfield some ag businesses [Read More…]

Commentary. Land in the Midwest is not just dirt. It’s legacy, livelihood, and, increasingly, a line in the sand. We’re being told that converting productive crop ground and pasture into solar farms is progress. Clean [Read More…]

The new president of the Grain and Feed Association of Illinois says the grain elevator industry needs to keep up with today’s changing agricultural landscape. Spencer Janssen, who manages Litchfield Farmers Grain in Montgomery County, [Read More…]

A U.S. Congressman from South Dakota says the contours of a deal that allow nationwide, year-round sales of E15 has been ready to go for a month, but it’s been a challenge to get floor [Read More…]

The director of environmental programs with Missouri Corn says the voluntary practices Missouri farmers are taking to improve water quality have been working. Kurt Boeckmann tells Brownfield farmers are implementing cover crops, terraces, and grassed [Read More…]

As farmers plant spring wheat, durum, and barley, Corteva Agriscience Market Development Specialist Grant Harms says the weeds they’ll be dealing with throughout the growing season are similar to weeds seen in corn and soybeans. [Read More…]

Soybeans were lower on fund and technical selling. Beans were firm to start but couldn’t follow through due to losses in products and crude oil. Soybean product futures declined on technical selling and demand questions, [Read More…]

At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live and feeder cattle were higher, ahead of the week’s direct business and taking into consideration the tight supply of ready numbers.  June live cattle closed $2.90 higher at $251.42 [Read More…]

May corn $4.43, up 2 and 3/4 centsMay soybeans $11.58, down 4 and 1/4 centsMay soybean meal $329.70, down $2.20May soybean oil 66.44, down 6 pointsMay Chicago wheat $5.92, up 9 and 3/4 centsJun. live [Read More…]

A group of researchers with the Diverse Corn Belt project say transformational federal policy changes are needed to bring more opportunities to Midwestern farmers. During a webinar hosted by the Council for Agricultural Science and [Read More…]

USDA officials are criticizing fertilizer companies for idling production amid the conflict in the Middle East. Secretary Brooke Rollins told reporters Monday competition in the marketplace has declined. “The farmers continue to barely survive year [Read More…]

An agronomy specialist says a new tool from Ohio State University Extension can help farmers manage rising nitrogen fertilizer costs. Rachel Henry says the Corn Nitrogen Rate Calculator determines the correct application rate needed for [Read More…]

The president of U.S. Custom Harvesters says widespread drought is having a significant impact on operations. “There’s not any comparison for this year compared to years in the past.” Paul Paplow says he could lose [Read More…]

Brazil’s equivalent of the USDA has upped its expectations for soybean and corn production. CONAB increased its already record large estimate for soybeans to 179.152 million tons, thanks to an all-time projected high in yield, [Read More…]