Persistent cold, wintry conditions kept many Minnesota farmers out of the field last week. The latest USDA crop progress report says oat planting is well behind a year ago and the five-year average at just 1 percent complete. Southwest Minnesota corn and soybean farmer Mark Enninga tells Brownfield it will be at least two weeks before he can begin planting. “I don’t have a lot more confidence in the weather […]
The Environmental protection has released a plan to revamp its pesticide review process to better protect endangered species from pesticides. The EPA says it’s falling behind on the review of pesticides and struggling to meet Endangered Species Act obligations under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act because of the length of the process and high volume of reviews. The agency’s news plan aims to better meet ESA obligations under […]
Soybeans were sharply higher on commercial and technical buying. There was continued support from the tight supply and solid demand for vegetable oils and energies. Ukraine’s the world biggest exporter of sunflower oil and significant contributor to the global energy market. Last week’s export sales and NOPA crush numbers were also bullish. Weekly export inspections were up on the week and the year, mainly to China and Egypt. That said […]
Dairy Farmers of America has named six ag-tech companies they plan to invest in this year. The DFA CoLAB Accelerator program supports startup companies focused on dairy products, processing, and technology with education and business development over a 90-day collaborative. This year’s startups span from waste management solutions, animal health monitoring technology, to caffeinated chocolate milk and improved energy-efficient processing technologies. In the Midwest, DFA will be working with Indiana-based […]
Cool temperatures and drought continued across Nebraska last week. Juniata farmer Jay Reiners says these aren’t ideal conditions to plant corn. “There’s moisture there. We can probably get it germinated, but is there enough to keep it alive until we do get rain? That’s anybody’s guess this year.” The latest crop progress report from USDA says topsoil moisture is 16 percent adequate-to-surplus and subsoil moisture is 17 percent adequate-to-surplus. […]
May corn closed at $8.13 and 1/4, up 23 centsMay soybeans closed at $17.14 and 3/4, up 32 and 1/2 centsMay soybean meal closed at $466.00, up $4.60May soybean oil closed at $79.99, up 108 pointsMay wheat closed at $11.20 and 1/2, up 24 centsApr. live cattle closed at $140.47, down 20 centsJune lean hogs closed at $122.40, up $3.92May Class III milk closed at $25.13, down 33 centsMay crude […]
The drought in Kansas has stunted winter wheat growth. According to USDA’s latest crop progress and condition report, 34 percent crop has jointed and that’s 13 percent behind last year and 10 percent behind the five-year average. Thirty-three percent of the crop is in good-to-excellent condition. Twelve percent of corn has been planted, two percent behind last year. One percent of soybeans have been planted. Topsoil moisture is rated 37 […]
The Michigan Department of Agriculture is reporting two additional cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza in domesticated birds. A 20-bird mixed-species flock in Livingston County was confirmed with the virus late last week along with domestic parrots in Washtenaw County. The department says the case in residential parrots that likely do not have contact with wild birds serves as a reminder pet birds are also at risk of the disease. […]
Another week of cold, wet weather limited fieldwork across Iowa. The latest USDA crop progress report says farmers applied fertilizer, tilled fields, and planted oats where possible while preparing to plant row crops. Soil temperatures across the state generally range in the 40’s. Oat planting is more than a week behind last year and three days behind the five-year average at 29 percent complete. Topsoil moisture is rated 71 percent […]
