Brownfield

Many farmers are saying now is not a good time to make large investments in their operations. Ag Economist Jim Mintert tells Brownfield the latest Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer is pointing to supply chain issues.    “Over 40 percent of the people in the survey have been telling us tight farm machinery inventories are impacting their investment decisions,” he says. “That’s one factor and I think that’s spilling […]

A western Indiana farmer says although he’s anxious to pick up the planting pace, there is still time to get a crop in the ground. Kevin Cox tells Brownfield “we’ve been spoiled. We’ve had a couple of really great years to get planting in and last year was exceptional and we were done planting by now. This has just been a different year. We still have a lot of time. […]

Photo courtesy UPL UPL has launched a program to recognize the unsung heroes in the ag industry. Growers, crop advisors, food processors, and distributors are just some of the people who play a crucial role in ensuring food security around the world.  Craig Brekkas, head of UPL North America, says UPL has launched the Allies for Agriculture initiative to celebrate the people who are making a difference. “I think the […]

Agricultural exports helped support over one million jobs throughout the economy in 2020. USDA’s Economic Research Service says it measures the employment and output effects of trade in farm and food products on an annual basis. Findings from 2020 include more than 1.13 million jobs on and off the farm tied to ag exports, with the value of those exports estimated at over $150 billion. Farm activities generated by ag […]

With only 14% of corn planted nationwide at the beginning of May, the option of prevent plant has come into consideration. Ag Economist Gary Schnitkey with the University of Illinois tells Brownfield in some states, corn planting progress is behind 2019- a year when many acres never got planted. “We had 7% of corn acres planted in Illinois on May 1st of this year and on May 5, 2019 there […]

A Kansas cattle producer says drought and a wildfire have created difficult forage management decisions. Ethan Dickerson of Paradise tells Brownfield he doesn’t want to overgraze new growth in pastures from recent moisture. “They’re going to have to get fed some really expensive hay for awhile.  It’s something we’re going to have to live with because we can’t turn out on it until mid-season and our stocking rates are going […]

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and a Minnesota farmer hopes his battle with depression can be an encouragement to others. Bob Worth grows corn and soybeans in Lincoln County and says during the farm crisis in the 1980’s land and machinery values dropped as interest rates rose above 20 percent, and at one point he had to beg his lender to finance a crop. “It got to the point […]

Farmers and ranchers in parts of Kansas are trying to secure access to water while others face the threat of floods. Governor Laura Kelly says producers in Western Kansas are running out of water because the Ogallala Aquifer is being depleted. “We’ve been working with our farmers and ranchers over the last few years to really help them find modified ways to produce crops so that they lessen the need […]

A seed expert says corn tar spot and rootworms remain a concern for growers. Alex Renk with Renk Seed tells Brownfield tar spot wasn’t expected to be an every-year problem, but so far, it has.  He says it takes special conditions for tar spot to develop, and he cannot recommend changing corn varieties to avoid it. “You’re just not going to get any varieties that are necessarily better or worse […]