Brownfield

Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says the USDA continues to monitor skyrocketing fertilizer prices. “Making sure that farmers are not being taken advantage of.” During a news conference during at the USDA’s Ag Outlook Forum, the Secretary said he was encouraged by an announcement from the Iowa Attorney General’s office that a market study has been commissioned to better understand the factors behind rising fertilizer prices. “I sincerely hope that no […]

Iowa’s attorney general is looking into the huge increase in fertilizer prices. During a call with reporters Thursday, Tom Miller said increases would be expected with the rising cost of natural gas as well as other factors. “But the question is, do those factors justify the increases?” Miller pointed out anhydrous ammonia prices are up more than 300 percent compared to last year, urea and potash are up about 215 […]

At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live and feeder cattle closed lower, pressured by the drop in the broader market.  April live cattle closed $2.45 lower at $142.30 and June live cattle closed $2.52 lower at $138.60.  March feeder cattle closed $3.67 lower at $159.10 and April feeder cattle closed $4.47 lower at $163.80.  A light direct cash cattle trade took place on Thursday.  Deals in the South were at $142 […]

Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts has proclaimed FFA week in the state and says it’s a good opportunity to promote how programs connect students to ag-related careers.  “FFA is a great way to do that to learn those skills to get exposed to the industry and develop leadership skills along the way.” Seward FFA member Remy Christensen says she didn’t have any experience with agriculture before joining the chapter. “I have […]

An eastern Iowa farmer calls his first trip to the State of Mato Grosso (motto gross-oh) in west-central Brazil “eye opening.” Robb Ewoldt is a corn and soybean grower who also raises hogs and cattle near Davenport. “The size and scale is just beyond comprehension. You could drive for 200 miles and see nothing but soybean fields when we were down there.” The Iowa Soybean Association president tells Brownfield Brazil […]

Nine Ohio agricultural groups have released recommendations to modernize the Ohio Expo Center and State Fair. The groups are sharing recommendations to be considered as the Ohio Expo 2050 Task Force develops its long-term vision for the Ohio Expo Center, the home of the state fair.   Ty Higgins is the senior director of communications and media relations with Ohio Farm Bureau. “Since the economic impact of our agirulcutre industry […]

Missouri Governor Parson has signed a supplemental budget bill into law that includes funds for school food programs. The bill allows for current operations of state government to continue through fiscal year 2022 and includes 219 million dollars for school food programs. ...

Mar. corn closed at $6.95, up 11 and 1/4 centsMar. soybeans closed at $16.61 and 1/2, down 13 and 1/2 centsMar. soybean meal closed at $464.90, down $6.20Mar. soybean oil closed at 72.00, up 128 pointsMar. wheat closed at $9.26, up 50 centsApr. live cattle closed at $142.30, down $2.45Apr. lean hogs closed at $105.52, down $2.50Mar. Class III milk closed at $22.51, up 49 centsApr. ...

Limited availability of certain herbicides could make cover crop termination more difficult this spring. Angie Rieck-Hinz is a field agronomist with Iowa State University Extension. “If glyphosate is really hard to get your hands on, what can we do to manage that cover crop? Can we reduce that glyphosate rate and (still) get that adequate termination? It’s possible.” She tells Brownfield the cover crop needs to be actively growing to […]