High input costs continue to impact farm finances for growers across the country. On this episode of Managing for Profit, three Iowa farmers outline some of their decision making to ensure stability on the farm in 2026. The post Farmers continue to prioritize input cost management appeared first on Brownfield Ag News.
Milk production continues to go up in the United States. USDA’s National Ag Statistics Service says March production was up 2.4 percent, and the January-through-March first quarter milk production was up 2.9 percent. Production per cow averaged 2,133 pounds during March, seven pounds more than a year ago. The twenty-four major producing states had 9.18 […] The post U.S. milk production continues to go up appeared first on Brownfield Ag […]
A financial advisor says farmers can often get financing for farm expenses without going to the bank. Mary Jo Irmen with FiscalBridge LLC tells Brownfield the key is in a properly set-up whole life insurance policy. “Not universal life, not variable, not indexed universal, whole life with a dividend-paying company structured correctly so we have […] The post Many farmers utilize life insurance for farm financing appeared first on Brownfield […]
A farmer in eastern Iowa says he intends to plant more soybeans than corn this year. Dave Walton farms near the Mississippi River… “Normally we put in a little bit of corn on corn every year. We’re flipping all of those acres to soybeans. Profit potential in soybeans looks better, and it’s a little less […] The post Iowa farmer plans more soybeans as input costs shape planting decisions appeared […]
A central Iowa farmer says the next two growing seasons will test many farmers financially. Morey Hill says the price of diesel is impacting budgets in 2026. “Kind of used to it with fertilizer as far as knowing what to expect. But man you look at diesel and it’s sticker shock. I hope we can […] The post Farmer says next two growing seasons could test farm finances appeared first […]
Soybeans were lower on profit taking and technical selling. The trade is waiting for any clarity on a major trade meeting with China, expected to happen next month. The ongoing volatility around the military actions in Iran and the Middle East is clouding those negotiations, partially because China is a major trading partner of not […] The post Soybeans, products see profit taking, corn and wheat finish mixed appeared first […]
At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live and feeder cattle were lower, pressured by technical liquidation and watching direct business develop. June live cattle closed $.47 lower at $243.07 and August live cattle closed $.52 lower at $239.18. May feeder cattle closed $.12 lower at $358.42 and August feeder cattle closed $.07 lower at $358.87. There […] The post Cattle futures remain under pressure appeared first on Brownfield Ag News.
The U.S. Trade Representative says he would like to see changes made to the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement to better support American agriculture. Ambassador Jamieson Greer says USTR has been meeting with Mexico to discuss the terms prior to the joint review this summer. “We’ve been focused on Rules of Origin and economic security,” he says. “We’ve […] The post USTR weighs in on USMCA updates prior to July review appeared first […]
A member of the US House Agriculture Committee says newly introduced bipartisan legislation aims to boost domestic fertilizer production. Illinois Congressman Eric Sorensen says the Homegrown Fertilizer Act would provide grants and low-interest loans through the USDA to expand domestic fertilizer production and improve storage capacity. “We’re really not producing much in this country.” He […] The post Homegrown Fertilizer Act would boost domestic production appeared first on Brownfield Ag […]
