Brownfield

Moving farm equipment from one generation to the next after a death in the family just got easier for Wisconsin farm families. Governor Tony Evers signed the bipartisan Nonprobate Transfer of Farming Implements at death bill into law Friday.  The new law allows tractors, machines, accessories, attachments, fuel, and repair parts used in farming to immediately transfer to designated individuals.  The new law applies to equipment including bale loaders, barn […]

An economics expert says it’s never too early to learn how money works in the family farm business.  Dr. David Kohl from Virginia Tech says it’s important to get the children involved in the financial side of the family business so they understand money management early in life. “Oftentimes, even at four years of age to fifteen years of age, getting them ingrained into their financials early is very important […]

A researcher says livestock farmers should change the way they think about methane.  Dr. Frank Mitloehner from the University of California-Davis says methane escaping from cattle is energy that is escaping the farm. “It costs you money to lose energy, right? Nobody in their right mind would leave the door open or a window open in the winter in Madison, Wisconsin. Guess what? We’re doing the same thing with our […]

A Wisconsin farmer says 2022 is going to be unlike any other. Third-generation dairy farmer Josh Meissner with Norm-E Lane Dairy near Marshfield, Wisconsin tells Brownfield, “It’s going to be quite the ride. That’s all I keep telling everybody. We’ve got to manage risk like never before and we’ve got to be prepared for the unprecedented.” Meissner says soil moisture is decent, even with less snow cover this winter. “In […]

A leading ag meteorologist is expecting a dry growing season west of the Mississippi River and a wet one to the east. Eric Snodgrass with Nutrien Ag Solutions tells Brownfield if current drought impacts west of the river aren’t relieved by the beginning of April, growers could have a rough growing season. “The have a Mediterranean climate; basically, when you get to April, their rain shuts off normally,” he said. […]

At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live cattle and feeder cattle are higher, supported by the week’s cash trade and higher boxed beef during the session.  April live cattle closed $1.02 higher at $140.50 and June closed $1.15 higher at $137.07.  April feeder cattle closed $1.22 higher at $162.32 and May feeder cattle closed $1.57 higher at $167.45. At the Ogallala Livestock Auction in Nebraska, the USDA says demand was good to […]

May corn closed at $7.41 and 3/4, down 12 and 3/4 centsMay soybeans closed at $16.68, down 1/2 a centMay soybean meal closed at $477.00, up $2.90May soybean oil closed at $72.29, down 234 pointsMay wheat closed at $10.63 and 3/4, down 34 and 1/4 centsApr. live cattle closed at $140.50, up $1.02 centsApr. lean hogs closed at $99.40, down 95 centsMar. ...

The soybean complex was mixed to mostly lower on Friday with most areas trading moderately lower for most of the day before nearly breaking even by the close. May soybeans closed 1/2 cent lower at $16.68 and July beans closed down 1 and 1/2 cents at $16.45 and 3/4. May bean meal closed $2.90 higher, making up most of the losses it saw Thursday. May soybean oil closed 234 points […]

Milk futures and cash dairy prices closed higher on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Friday.  March Class III milk was up $.02 at $22.41.  April closed up $.20 at $23.43.  May closed up $.32 at $24.07.  June was up $.24 at $24.19.  July through February contracts ranged from five cents lower to eight cents higher. Dry whey was unchanged at $0.76.  No sales were recorded. Cheese Blocks were up $.0525 closing […]