An official with The Nature Conservancy points to several barriers holding back cover crop adoption. Rich Biske, the Conservancy’s resilient waters director for Minnesota, says despite reducing erosion and nutrient runoff, cover crops are only on about 4 percent of farm acres in his state. “It comes down to a few things, access to the seed to plant cover crops at that time of year (and) the equipment to get […]
Milk futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange closed lower at midweek despite USDA calling for increased milk prices in its latest supply and demand report, cash markets were mixed. March Class III milk was down 15 cents at $22.54. April 29 cents lower at $24.26. May down 40 cents at $24.25. June 23 cents lower at $24.20. July through September 30 to 42 cents lower. Dry whey unchanged at $0.7575. […]
Soybeans were mixed on spread trade and profit taking. Beans consolidated, monitoring conditions in South America, soybean product demand, and global vegetable oils. There was no USDA soybean export sale announcement for the first time this month, but unknown destinations did buy 20,000 tons of 2021/22 U.S. soybean oil. That could be linked to the slowdown in exports from the Black Sea region, both Russia and Ukraine are significant exporters […]
USDA is again lowering its expectations for milk production in 2022 as farmers milk fewer cows and milk per cow slows. In its March supply and demand report, USDA raised butter, cheese, nonfat dry milk, and whey prices for 2022 because of current prices, reduced production, and continued demand strength. The Class III and Class IV prices were raised because of higher product prices. The 2022 all milk price forecast […]
The Michigan FFA Convention is returning to Michigan State University’s campus this week to celebrate agricultural education and student leadership. State President Amara Jackson tells Brownfield the past year has incorporated virtual and in-person outreach for the organization. “We’ve learned so many resources about connection and that it doesn’t necessarily have to be in-person and because of that we’ve been able to keep our membership strong and keep our students […]
Matt Riggs accepts the Glen “GB” Brandt Prize for Ag Entrepreneurism The owner of an Illinois brewery says growing their own grain and processing it on the farm has him less concerned about the impact inflation will have on his business. Matt Riggs with Riggs Beer Company in Urbana, IL recently fulfilled his dream of running a brewery with grain sourced from his own farm. He tells Brownfield with inflation […]
The USDA raised its 2022 beef and turkey production projections, while cutting estimates for pork and chicken. Beef production is seen at 27.57 billion pounds, 195 million more than in February due to the slaughter pace for both fed and non-fed cattle, with an average price of $139.50 per hundredweight, $2 higher, and increases for imports, exports, and consumption. Pork production is expected to be 27.315 billion pounds, 65 million […]
The Association of Equipment Manufactures says the outlook for the construction and agriculture equipment industries is bright despite challenges. AEM Board Chair Bob Crain says “although there’s developing issues that could impact our industry, we feel optimistic that COVID’s retreat means a greater return to normalcy on our farms, in our factories, and in our homes.” Crain, who is also senior vice president of customer experience at AGCO, says supply […]
The USDA has increased its outlook for U.S. rice ending stocks, while leaving cotton unchanged from February. Rice ending stocks are projected at 34.5 million hundredweight, 1 million more than a month ago following a reduction in the export guess. The average farm price is estimated at $15.90 per hundredweight, up $.20. There were no changes to the domestic balance sheet for cotton, with an average estimated farm price for […]
