Soybeans were higher on commercial and technical buying but ended the session below the day’s highs. CONAB lowered its outlook for Brazil’s bean crop by 2.702 million tons, now at 122.77 million, which is under the most recent USDA guess. CONAB left its export projection for Brazil unchanged, for now. Brazil’s National Association of Cereal Exports estimates March soybean exports at 13.769 million tons, compared to the initial projection of […]
The CEO of the National Pork Board is highlighting the Real Pork trust and image brand during the National Pork Forum. Bill Even says it’s not an advertising campaign. “It’s really the brand image of who we are as an industry going forward,” he says. “We’re real farmers on real farms that have real pigs that produce real pork, and that pork is real nutritious and real sustainable.” He tells […]
Commentary. I spent some time Sunday afternoon reading through old deeds and abstracts from my family farm in west central Illinois. Jonathon and Elizabeth Young were early pioneers who settled in the part of Morgan County that would later become Scott County sometime in the early 1820’s. Both Jonathon’s and Elizabeth’s parents had been farmers in Virginia, then Kentucky, before moving further west. Farming is in my DNA. Reading the […]
Grand Rapids-based energy distribution company Crystal Flash plans to match donations made to the Michigan FFA Foundation for the month of March. Assistant director of development for the foundation Kyle Schaberg tells Brownfield Crystal Flash came to the organization with the fundraising idea to help dollars go further to support agricultural education. “Crystal Flash is going to provide $10,000 of matching funds, essentially matching dollar for dollar whether it’s an […]
Corn and beef export sales hit marketing year highs during the week ending March 3rd. The USDA says old crop corn sales topped 2.1 million tons, with substantial purchases by unknown destinations, Japan, and Mexico. Beef sales were 27,500 tons, mainly to China, Japan, and South Korea. Combined old and new crop soybean sales were more than 3 million tons, continuing the spike related to lower South American production and […]
USDA has announced $35 million is available in grant funding to support veteran and underserved farmers and ranchers. Through the USDA’s Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program, or the 2501 Program, nonprofits, educational institutions, and tribal entities can apply for funds to help underserved and veteran farmers and ranchers. Over the past decade, the program has awarded nearly $160 million for […]
Virtual educational efforts by Michigan State University Extension are growing as educators work to find a balance between in-person and online connections. Extension educator Beth Ferry, based in Berrien County, tells Brownfield the traditional Agriculture and Natural Resources Week on MSU’s campus in March is expanding online with MSU’s Ag Ideas to Grow With Conference after last year’s success. “More than 67 percent of our attendees were brand new to […]
Two U.S. senators are asking Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack to provide an update on the USDA’s actions to address the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza. Indiana Republicans Mike Braun and Todd Young are requesting information about resources that can be provided to compensate poultry farmers for depopulation. They’re also asking if federal authorities are needed to implement additional testing and surveillance along the Mississippi Flyway and what steps the […]
As the administration rolls out investments to increase electric vehicles, ethanol and other biofuels are available now to help meet carbon reduction goals. Mark Fisler is the partner and managing director with Ocean Park, a boutique investment bank and financial advisory firm focused on renewable fuels, energy, food, ag technology, and the supply chain. “The current leadership and administration is talking about electrification, but the reality is we’re going to […]
