An economist says more dairy farmers are utilizing the risk management programs for milk. Danny Munch with American Farm Bureau says since 2019, there has been a general increase in the amount of milk production insured and the number of policies sold to producers. “Since 2019, just under four thousand policies were sold and now we’re up over 5,400 policies sold under Dairy Revenue Protection. When we jump down to […]
At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live and feeder cattle ended the day higher, with feeders in the lead on the lower corn. August live cattle closed $2.52 higher at $132.90 and August feeder cattle closed $4.60 higher at $169.72. There was another round of light to moderate direct cash cattle trade on Tuesday. Deals in Kansas were at mostly $135 live, with a few at $136. That’s $2 lower than […]
An organic row crop farmer in southwest Minnesota says planting delays are also problematic for weed control. Carolyn Olson of Cottonwood tells Brownfield work has been limited by wet conditions. “Usually we’ll field cultivate and wait about five days for new weed seeds to germinate, and then field cultivate once again right in front of the planter. And this year it’s a one and plant.” She says they’ll try to […]
Expensive inputs are dampening farmer enthusiasm about high commodity prices. Brent Mohn grows corn and soybeans in southern Minnesota. “A lot of people get excited about high commodity prices, but kind of don’t think about the high expenses that go with it. I personally find it actually a little easier to farm when both sides are more in the middle.” The Lakeville farmer tells Brownfield volatility adds a lot of […]
Jul. corn closed at $7.31 and 1/4, down 22 and 1/4 centsJul. soybeans closed at $16.90 and 1/4, up 7 centsJul. soybean meal closed at $412.70, down $2.10Jul. soybean oil closed at 78.11, up 19 pointsJul. wheat closed at $10.41 and 1/4, down 46 and 1/4 centsJun. live cattle closed at $132.80, up $2.27Jun. lean hogs closed at $109.80, up $1.82Jun. ...
A dairy group is asking Ag Secretary Vilsack to clarify what he needs to move ahead with Federal Milk Marketing Order hearings. Laurie Fischer with the American Dairy Coalition says the ADC Board of Directors sent a letter to Vilsack asking him to give specific requirements since the board is not sure if the Secretary wants a consensus of stakeholders agreeing to a hearing vetting potential milk pricing proposals or […]
Soybeans were modestly higher on commercial and technical buying. Contracts are oversold, crush margins are in positive territory, and soybean oil was higher following crude oil. Soybean meal was down on the adjustment of product spreads. U.S. planting made a solid advance in the past week, now just 1% behind the five-year average pace. China bought 132,000 tons of U.S. beans, half for this marketing year, half for next. The […]
A farmer in southeast Iowa went out of his way to offset the cost of cover crop termination. Mark Jackson of Oskaloosa tells Brownfield he pre-purchased herbicide knowing prices were climbing. “We bought glyphosate way back last August seeing the handwriting on the wall of what the increased costs were.” He also changed some of his cover crop mixes. “Instead of using rye or some of those cover crops that […]
The Biden administration has announced its framework to transform the country’s food system. During an event at Georgetown University on Wednesday, Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack detailed more than $2 billion in funding to improve markets. “The transformation that needs to take place has to be comprehensive,” Vilsack said. “It has to touch on all elements of our food system: production, processing, distribution and aggregation, and market development.” He says the […]
