A dairy economist says rising costs are expected to limit herd expansions despite $25 milk. Tanner Ehmke with CoBank tells Brownfield farmers are likely to rely on more productive cows to increase profitability rather than grow their herd in the current environment. “Really trying to squeeze as much value out of each pound of feed and each pound of milk as you possibly can,” he says. “I think going forward […]
At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live and feeder cattle closed higher on follow-through buying and the lower move in corn, waiting for direct cash business to develop. June live cattle closed $.12 higher at $135.32 and August live cattle closed $.27 higher at $137.32. August feeder cattle closed $2.20 higher at $176.27 and September feeder cattle closed $1.67 higher at $178.35. Direct cash cattle trade activity is off to a […]
Many farmers testifying during the first Senate Ag Committee field hearing in Michigan credited farm bill funding sources as an important lifeline to their business. Allyson Maxwell, a crop farmer from Beaverton, says it’s nearly impossible for new entrants to begin farming in an increasingly capital-intensive industry and the Farm Service Agency’s young and beginning farmer loan programs need continued support. “A successful farm bill reauthorization should continue to support […]
An ag economist says China has not increased domestic corn acres in seven years, which is a primary driver for the country’s ramp up in corn imports. David Widmar with Ag Economic Insights tells Brownfield the industry doesn’t fully understand why China is buying so much corn today, with guesses ranging from poor quality stocks to bad production. “We need to untangle this a little bit and say, ok is […]
May corn closed at $8.00 and 36/4, down 12 and 1/4 centsMay soybeans closed at $16.59, down 15 centsMay soybean meal closed at $436.40, down $6.50May soybean oil closed at 84.30, up 160 pointsMay wheat closed at $10.33 and 3/4, down 9 and 3/4 centsJun. live cattle closed at $135.32, up 12 centsJune lean hogs closed at $102.20, down $2.77May Class III milk closed at $24.21, down 2 centsJun. ...
Kansas ag exports topped $5 billion for the first time ever in 2021 and Governor Laura Kelly says investments in infrastructure helped expedite products to market. “For many years, we did not fund our infrastructure programs: our highways, our roads, our bridges (and) our short line railroads. We have now in the last three years, we have restored all of the funding to those programs.” Meat exports topped the list […]
Ongoing strength in commodity prices contributed to an improvement in farmer sentiment, according to the latest Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer. Jim Mintert is the director of the Purdue Center for Commercial Agriculture. “That’s largely a reflection of the boost in commodity prices we’ve seen,” he says. “If you look at prices, for example, for corn and soybeans from when we did the survey in March to when we […]
Soybeans were lower on fund and technical selling. Domestic crush and export demand continue to be strong, but beans were unable to follow through on the early gains, with spillover from the outside markets and soybean meal. Sustained export demand, including from China, is a question mark due to concerns about the global economy. China is likely out of the market until Thursday due to holiday celebrations. Soybeans are also […]
The Missouri Pork Association and Missouri Corn Growers Association are working together to increase opportunities for corn-fed pork in the state. MPA Executive Director Don Nikodim tells Brownfield they’ve added several sow operations in Missouri the past few years, but unfortunately a lot of the young pigs get moved to other states for finishing. “One thing we have been working with the corn folks on is to figure how we […]
