Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza has been confirmed in a backyard poultry flock in southwest Michigan. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development reports a non-commercial poultry flock in Kalamazoo County has been detected with the virus. Director Gary McDowell says while currently it is an isolated case and there is no threat to public health or food safety, it shows the disease is present in the environment. The premises […]
The global fertilizer market is reacting to Russia’s invasion on Ukraine in a big way. “It has been intense.” Josh Linville, Director of Fertilizer for StoneX tells Brownfield Russia is a major exporter of nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus fertilizers and because of that, “Out of the chutes we have seen global urea prices up over $200 a ton overnight. NOLA US prices are up $150-$200 per ton. The price of […]
Senate Ag Committee leadership has created a bipartisan caucus to support future agricultural leaders. Chair Debbie Stabenow of Michigan and Ranking Member John Boozman of Arkansas say the Senate FFA Caucus will support teachers, parents, and students through agricultural education. The announcement comes during National FFA Week with the goal of educating lawmakers on the difference FFA makes across the nation. U.S. Representatives Tracey Mann, a Republican from Kansas, and […]
An ag consultant says this week’s extreme volatility exemplifies the impacts geopolitical and global issues have on commodities. Dan Roque with Chicago-based Commodity and Ingredient Hedging tells Brownfield supplies are likely to tighten with Russia’s attack on Ukraine. “Not only on the grain side of things—but you also have oilseeds as well,” he says. “Vegetable oil is taking off again which is lost in the grand scheme of things but […]
Farmers in some parts of the Midwest faced rootworm pressure and cold soils. Those conditions highlighted the importance of starting crop protection in furrow. In this Managing for Profit, Lynn Justesen, UPL Technical Services Lead talks about how growers can protect their yield potential with TEPERA PLUS HD. ...
Modern technology and practices are helping produce more with fewer inputs, and it’s not just in the farm field. Dave Sovereign with Golden Grain Energy in Iowa says ethanol production practices have advanced dramatically since the plant opened in 2004. “Our efficiencies have changed so drastically. The amount of gallons we get from a bushel of corn has increased so much, and along with that, our energy usage and our […]
The National Corn Growers Association has been recognized for its contributions to the advancement and promotion of the ethanol industry. Geoff Cooper with the Renewable Fuels Association presented the National Corn Growers Association with their Industry Award during the National Ethanol Conference in New Orleans. Cooper says the NCGA stood with them in court battles against the EPA, collaborated on research including DDG feeding trials, and helped work on the […]
Legislation that would fund Wisconsin’s dairy export program is awaiting the Governor’s signature. Senate Bill 827 would allow the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to repurpose 880-thousand dollars in unused federal rural development funds to fully fund the state’s new Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports. The bill authored by Senator Joan Ballweg and Representative Tony Kurtz had bipartisan support and is expected to get Governor Tony Evers’ […]
The ethanol industry is working to expand further into the renewable jet fuel market. A panel of ethanol researchers and fuel producers told their colleagues and farmers the demand for sustainable aviation fuel or SAF is very high worldwide. Tim Cesarek is the Executive Vice President for Gevo, a fuel and chemical producer. He says, “In the last three to five years, I’ve never seen a convergence of interest associated […]
