Ag News

U.S. ethanol production backed off a little last week but stayed near the 2018 highs. The U.S. Energy Information Administration says production averaged 1.067 million barrels a day, down 5,000 on the week, but still [Read More…]

The latest quarterly report by the Federal Reserve shows ag bankers are slowly raising interest rates on operating loans to farmers. Lenders charged an average rate of nearly 5 percent this spring, up from 3.5 [Read More…]

Extreme rainfall is dampening hopes for good crop yields in southwest Minnesota. University of Minnesota extension educator David Bau is based in Worthington, and says the area has seen close to a foot of rain [Read More…]

Farm groups continue to call for resolution on trade disputes. David Preisler, CEO of the Minnesota Pork Producers, tells Brownfield American pig farmers have been hit hard by retaliatory tariffs from China and Mexico. “Now [Read More…]

Tariffs on $34 billion in Chinese goods are set to go into effect tomorrow, and China has said it will retaliate immediately with equal tariffs on US goods, including soybeans and cars. In a recent [Read More…]

Brownfield’s Tom Steever will be in Auburn, IL on July 26, 2018 for the Lake Springfield Watershed Soil Health Field Day. Continue reading Lake Springfield Watershed Soil Health Field Day. at Brownfield Ag News.      

At the recent World Pork Expo, we stopped by the Nedap Livestock Management booth to visit with pork producers who own and/or manage facilities that have converted from gestation stalls to group sow housing. On [Read More…]

A University of Illinois farm policy expert says the House and Senate conference committee should preserve the Conservation Stewardship Program in the final farm bill.  Jonathon Coppess leads the Garner Agriculture Policy Program and the Bock [Read More…]

Brownfield Anchor/Reporter Larry Lee will be on the ground at Renk Seed Field Day on August 28, 2018 in Sun Prairie, WI. Continue reading Renk Seed Field Day at Brownfield Ag News.      

 Across the Corn Belt, above-normal temperatures continue to promote a rapid pace of crop development. On July 1, progress for U.S. corn (17% silking) and soybeans (27% blooming) were significantly ahead of the respective 5-year [Read More…]

As farmers continue to operate within a tight margin environment, a business consultant with Compeer Financial says there are a few areas worth looking at that could lead to better profits. Matt Lange has put [Read More…]

A farm financial official says the value of ag data goes beyond the production information it provides. Glenn Wachtler with Compeer Financial tells Brownfield lenders can use data to help farmers make equipment purchases, investment [Read More…]

  A brief surge of cool air will fully overspread the Plains by Thursday and reach the remainder of the central and eastern U.S. by week’s end. Meanwhile, heat will build across the West. In [Read More…]

Some corn and soybean fields have a yellow appearance resulting from too much rain.  The precipitation overabundance has leached nitrogen away from the reach of corn roots.  In the case of soybeans, east central South [Read More…]

At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, cattle futures closed mostly higher on buyer interest, ahead of this week’s direct business.  The narrowing Choice/Select spread indicates there is more available Choice beef as demand is falling behind.  [Read More…]

Extension educators in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin are preparing to help dairy farmers recognize and manage stress.  Jennifer Bentley with Iowa State tells Brownfield they are hosting a series of webinars starting July 10th.  [Read More…]

Jul. corn closed at $3.42 and 3/4, up 5 and 1/4 cents Jul. soybeans closed at $8.43 and 1/4, down 5 and 1/4 cents Jul. soybean meal closed at $328.60, down 90 cents Jul. soybean oil closed at 28.70, down 7 points Jul. wheat [Read More…]

Canada’s tariffs that began this week on American goods, including beef products, are another trade concern for farmers’ bottom line. “Small and mid-sized farmers just can’t afford this increased in costs at any level,” says Casey [Read More…]

An Indiana senator says there is a very short window to address tariffs and the negative impact they have on farmers as harvest approaches. Joe Donnelly says he spoke with President Trump about those concerns [Read More…]

Brownfield’s Mark Dorenkamp will moderate the Minnesota U.S. Senate debate during Minnesota Farmfest Tuesday, Aug. 7th at Gilfillan Estate near Redwood Falls, MN. Continue reading Minnesota U.S. Senate debate at Brownfield Ag News.