Brownfield

Deere & Company says its revenue increased 5 percent in the first quarter despite supply chain issues and November’s union strike. Chairman and CEO John May says the company’s growth is impressive despite challenges created by the coronavirus pandemic and the ratification of the UAW contract. He said those factors have led to higher production costs in the quarter and the company continues to work with its suppliers to meet […]

The USDA has lifted its export ban on Mexican avocados put in place last Saturday. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service says extra measures have been put in place to protect inspectors after a death threat was made last week. More than 80 percent of avocados in the U.S. come from Michoacá, which were valued at nearly $3 billion last year.  It’s the only state in Mexico currently approved […]

A new report from USDA analyzes how the nation’s dairy industry has become more efficient while consolidating over the past 20 years. The Economic Research Service says between 2000 and 2020, milk output per cow across the U.S. increased by more than 1.5 percent nationally with significant variations across states.  Conventional dairies also saw larger gains than organic. In 2002, there were more than 73,700 dairy farmers across the U.S. […]

Milk futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange were stuck in a sideways trade Friday ahead of Monday’s holiday while cash markets were at a standstill. February Class III milk was up two cents at $20.90. March five cents higher at $22.40. April down five cents at $22.81. May nine cents higher at $22.39. June through August five cents lower to 15 cents higher. Dry whey unchanged at $0.81. Blocks unchanged […]

Budgets, nutrient loss reduction, agritourism liability and grants for minority farmers are all bill topics Illinois Farm Bureau is keeping an eye on at the state capitol. Mark Gebhards tells Brownfield with a condensed legislative session, he’s not sure how many items will get through, but the state budget is top of mind and IFB is asking for an additional $750,000 to the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s budget for animal […]

Missouri Farm Bureau president and farmer Garrett Hawkins has testified in favor of a bill that would protect farmland from eminent domain in the case of utility infrastructure. He testified before the Missouri Senate ag committee this week. “What we are asking is for the Missouri General Assembly to lead again. Missouri should lead as we think about the future of energy transmission in a way that respects private property […]

A livestock economist says the current beef market conditions can be an opportunity for dairy producers.  Brenda Boetel is with the University of Wisconsin River Falls. She says, “Long term, yes. So as the herd cycle contracts, then the Holstein steers and the beef-on-dairy is going to have an increase in the beef production that we have availability for.” Boetel tells Brownfield many dairy producers are already diversifying their operations. […]

The Senate voted Thursday to pass a stopgap bill to avert a government shutdown ahead of the Friday deadline.  The House of Representatives had previously approved the continuing resolution to extend funding through March 11.  The continuing resolution includes temporary funding for Livestock Mandatory Reporting, which requires meatpackers to report purchases and sales of livestock and livestock products to the USDA. Kenny Burdine, an ag economist with the University of […]

Canadian ag groups are wary of how future border blockades could impact trade.  President of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association Bob Lowe tells Brownfield protests along the U.S. border are a testament to how mad restrictions have made citizens but there are other ways to take action against regulations. “Once you set a precedence, it’s pretty easy to keep it going but we don’t want a country that’s run by mobs,” […]