Brownfield

Virtual educational efforts by Michigan State University Extension are growing as educators work to find a balance between in-person and online connections. Extension educator Beth Ferry, based in Berrien County, tells Brownfield the traditional Agriculture and Natural Resources Week on MSU’s campus in March is expanding online with MSU’s Ag Ideas to Grow With Conference after last year’s success. “More than 67 percent of our attendees were brand new to […]

Two U.S. senators are asking Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack to provide an update on the USDA’s actions to address the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza. Indiana Republicans Mike Braun and Todd Young are requesting information about resources that can be provided to compensate poultry farmers for depopulation. They’re also asking if federal authorities are needed to implement additional testing and surveillance along the Mississippi Flyway and what steps the […]

As the administration rolls out investments to increase electric vehicles, ethanol and other biofuels are available now to help meet carbon reduction goals. Mark Fisler is the partner and managing director with Ocean Park, a boutique investment bank and financial advisory firm focused on renewable fuels, energy, food, ag technology, and the supply chain. “The current leadership and administration is talking about electrification, but the reality is we’re going to […]

Opening doors to more ethanol and biodiesel use is dominating conversations among corn and soybean groups at Commodity Classic. Missouri Corn Growers President Jay Schutte tells Brownfield the top corn policy priority is the Next Generation Fuels Act which would increase ethanol quality by setting a 98 ron standard in the U.S. “That can only be achieved by increasing ethanol blends,” Schutte said. “There’s a no backsliding provision in there […]

Looking ahead, the 6- to 10-day outlook calls for the return of near- or above-normal temperatures nationwide, with areas from the Midwest into the Northeast experiencing the greatest likelihood of warmer-than-normal weather. Meanwhile, near- or above-normal precipitation across most of the country should contrast with drier-than-normal conditions across the northern Plains and upper Midwest, as well as an area stretching from California to western and central Texas. ...

The Interim Executive Director and CEO of Wisconsin State Fair Park has been selected by the fair board to continue her duties.  Shari Black has been serving in this capacity since Kathleen O’Leary retired in October. Black was the state fair’s chief programming officer in charge of rides, attractions, agriculture, competitive exhibits, entertainment, and vendor services, and was involved in the Waukesha County Fair for 20 years before joining the […]

Across the Corn Belt, cold weather prevails, except in the Ohio Valley. Widespread sub-zero temperatures were reported Thursday morning in Minnesota and the Dakotas. In addition, snow is overspreading the southwestern Corn Belt, including parts of Missouri and southern sections of Iowa and Nebraska. On the Plains, snow is providing much-needed moisture for drought-stressed rangeland, pastures, and winter grains across parts of Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska. Elsewhere, unfavorably dry conditions […]

Brazil’s equivalent of the USDA has lowered its outlook for soybean production because of continued hot, dry weather in some key growing areas. CONAB projects Brazil’s bean crop at 122.77 million tons, down 2.702 million from February and 15.383 million less than last year’s total. The estimate for the first corn crop was cut by 102,600 tons to 24.332 million, but the outlook for the critical second crop was increased […]

A farmer from Ukraine says as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues, the possibility of getting a crop planted for this year dwindles. Kees Huizinga tells Brownfield the challenges are mounting. “Ukraine has been brutally disturbed,” he says.  “I just this morning got a message from our agricultural association that Ukraine farmers need 200,000 tons of diesel to do the spring planting.” He says it doesn’t stop there.  “The same story […]