An agronomist says soybean seed inoculants remain a good investment for farmers. Kurt Seevers with Verdesian says the rhizobia in the treatment helps provide adequate nitrogen for crops without having to add as much fertilizer. “If you find something that’s going to give you a return on investment, it doesn’t matter how big that return is, as long as it’s a return, then you’re making money.” Seevers says many farmers […]
The first dairy-based ethanol plant in the U.S. will break ground later this year. The Michigan Milk Producers Association and Canadian Dairy Distillery are partnering to turn a dairy byproduct, milk permeate, into ethanol for the biofuels sector. Dairy Distillery CEO Omid McDonald tells Brownfield he helped create a method to process the milk sugar into a carbon-neutral vodka that’s marketed as VodKow. “Very early on in the project, I […]
At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures were up and feeders closed higher, supported by the week’s direct cash cattle business. Weekly beef export sales were up on the week and larger than average. June live was up $1.20 at $167.30 and August was $.65 higher at $164.77. August feeders were $.17 higher at $234.70 and September was up $.45 at $238.07. A few scattered bids were left on […]
Jul. corn closed at $5.90 and 3/4, up 3 and 1/2 centsJul. soybeans closed at $13.24, down 1/2 centJul. soybean meal closed at $397.20, down $5.00Jul. soybean oil closed at 48.52, up 52 pointsJul. wheat closed at $6.04 and 1/4, down 2 centsJun. live cattle closed at $167.30, up $1.20Aug. feeder cattle closed at $234.70, up 17 centsJun. lean hogs closed at $77.65, down $2.15Jun. ...
Soybeans were lower on fund and technical selling. Planting and development weather looks favorable in most of the Midwest, with generally warm, dry conditions in the near-term forecast. The critical test for beans will be weather during the pod filling stage this summer. Old crop export sales were below average and new crop sales were very light. Germany and Japan led the way on old crop, with a cancellation by […]
The director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources says dry conditions are becoming more noticeable. “Throughout Missouri, there are localized areas where drought is persisting.” Dru Buntin tells Brownfield if more rain doesn’t come, it is possible the state drought assessment committee could reconvene. This working group designates the drought levels for each county in Missouri.“If we don’t see more rain, I think you can expect a recommendation and […]
The USDA is accepting public comment on prevented planting crop insurance guidelines through this summer. The Risk Management Agency is planning listening sessions from June through August, including in-person listening sessions in 11 states, including Arkansas, Indiana, and Michigan. USDA is specifically looking for feedback on the Harvest Price Option, “1 in 4” Rule which requires that a prevented planting coverage acreage must have been planted to a crop, insured, […]
Poultry production in April 2023 was slightly lower than in April 2022. The USDA says monthly production was 4.025 billion pounds, modestly lower than last year, with chicken at 3.588 billion pounds, 1% lower, against turkey at 426.08 million pounds, 1% higher. The chicken and turkey slaughter paces were both down on the year at 733.054 million and 16.367 million head, respectively, while average live weights were up. Year-to-date poultry […]
Commercial red meat production fell sharply in April. The USDA says the total of 4.2 billion pounds was down 8% on the year, including an 11% drop in beef production to 2.069 billion and a 4% decline in pork to 2.119 billion pounds. Those decreases were due to tighter ready numbers limiting slaughter levels and lighter average weights. The cattle slaughter was 2.544 million head, 10% less than a year […]
