Brownfield

Producers are slightly more optimistic about their farms’ financial performance, according to the latest Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer. But, Purdue University’s Jim Mintert says farmers surveyed don’t expect commodity price strength to offset record high ag input costs. “That’s reflecting the concerns people have about input costs because commodity prices in corn, wheat, soybeans, and cotton all look very positive,” he says. “…It looks like 2022 should be […]

Northwest central Ohio farmer Patty Mann says cool conditions have limited fieldwork in April. “It’s been cold and windy and not real pleasant. We’re not that terribly wet,” she says. “If we had a couple of 70-degree days and some wind we could dry out pretty quickly and we’d like to get to spraying some burndown on corn stalks that will be going to beans first opportunity we get.” She […]

The USDA’s Foreign Ag Service has reported another huge sale of corn to China.  This marks China’s second recent purchase of more than 1 million tons of corn.  Of that, nearly 750,000 tons is marked for delivery during the current marketing year.  The balance is set for delivery during the 2022/2023 marketing year.  The USDA’s next set of supply and demand numbers comes out May 12th.  ...

April is National Soyfoods Month and Missouri Soybeans is celebrating by touting the many health benefits of soy for human consumption. Outreach and education director Baylee Siegel says that while many people think of soy’s use as an ingredient in livestock food or new uses, soy is high in protein, promotes cognitive function, and helps lower cholesterol. Siegel says that Missouri Soybeans and local partners plan to educate throughout the […]

Corteva Agriscience Enlist field specialist Steve Snyder recommends a program approach to controlling weeds that involves different herbicide sites of action and an effective postemergence plan. He tells Brownfield the Enlist system allows for a lot of options so farmers can tailor the tank-mix partner to fit their weed spectrum. ...

Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack during a Wisconsin dairy farm tour Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack will be working from home for a while.  Vilsack tested positive for COVID-19 Friday after experiencing mild symptoms.  USDA says Vilsack is fully vaccinated and had tested negative both before and after his recent trip to Mexico, but Mexican officials have been notified and contact tracing has begun to minimize the spread of the virus. ...

Looking ahead, the 6- to 10-day outlook calls for the likelihood of below-normal temperatures throughout the western and central U.S., while warmer-than-normal weather will be confined to the East and areas along the Gulf Coast.  Meanwhile, near- or above-normal precipitation across most of the country should contrast with drier-than-normal weather in most areas from California to the southern High Plains. ...

Across the Corn Belt, cloudy, chilly, breezy weather—accompanied by rain and snow showers—continues to inhibit spring fieldwork, including planting preparations.  Friday’s high temperatures will remain below 50°F across most of the Midwest—and will struggle to reach 40°F in the upper Great Lakes region. On the Plains, an elevated wildfire threat continues in many areas from South Dakota to Texas, especially where dry, breezy conditions accompany underlying drought and ample cured […]

New cases of avian influenza continue to strike South Dakota.  Dr. Mendel Miller with the South Dakota Animal Industry Board tells Brownfield there have been ten new cases in the past week, bringing the state’s total number of affected farms to 32, and only one is a backyard flock. “A mix, mostly turkeys but a mixture.” Mendel says the state and USDA response teams have been outstanding, and he says […]