Agriculture

Soybeans were sharply higher on commercial and technical buying. Soybeans were oversold, the fundamentals remain supportive, and soybean products were higher, also supported by commercial buying tied to demand expectations. Old crop soybean export sales were down sharply on the week after a cancellation by China, but new crop sales were solid thanks to unknown destinations and Mexico. More near-term planting delays are likely in some key U.S. growing areas. […]

The USDA has announced it will allow producers to terminate their Conservation Reserve Program contract if it’s in the final year of the agreement. Farm Service Agency Administrator Zach Ducheneaux says the flexibilities will help address global food supply challenges. “In response to the anticipated demand based on Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and the impact to the global food supply there, we heard from the countryside that our producers want […]

Jul. corn closed at $7.65, down 7 and 1/4 centsJul. soybeans closed at $17.26 and 1/2, up 45 and 1/2 centsJul. soybean meal closed at $428.20, up $4.00Jul. soybean oil closed at 80.52, up 160 pointsJul. wheat closed at $11.43 and 1/4, down 5 centsJun. live cattle closed at $132.40, up 10 centsJun. lean hogs closed at $111.10, up $2.05Jun. Class III milk closed at $24.25, up 5 centsJul. ...

An economist says the outlook for the ag industry remains strong this year but has signs of softening in 2023. Nathan Kauffman with the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank says the farm economy rebounded rapidly after a slowdown at the start of the pandemic. “Commodity prices are still high, profit margins are still there, lending conditions are still there, credit quality is strong, land values are at record highs – […]

An Illinois farmer is keeping mental health at the top of his mind this planting season. “Sometimes one phone call can make all the difference in the world,” said Matt Rush. Rush tells Brownfield pressures this time of year can stack up. “It is a big deal when farmers are delayed on planting and planting an expensive crop,” he said. “I’m encouraged by the awareness that’s been brought to mental […]

Commentary. It happens every year. Summer’s official start is a couple of weeks away, but Memorial Day weekend is upon us and for many of those not making hay or trying to get a crop in, it is a time for picnics and parties. I have nothing against picnics and parties, but the reason behind the Monday federal holiday is for mourning United States military personnel who have died while […]

Northeast South Dakota farmer Stuart Samson says this year’s planting season closely resembles 2019. “We had a pretty late spring where some guys didn’t get wheat planted until the 15th or 20th of May, kind of like this year,” Samson said. “It ended up being a cooler summer. The wheat was pretty good, but the corn was wet in the fall.” But, he tells Brownfield supply chain disruptions are a […]

A farmer in north-central South Dakota says planting is picking up in his area. Troy Hadrick says, “Typically, we would be quite a ways ahead of where we are right now.” Hadrick tells Brownfield the weather has been his biggest challenge. “We didn’t have any moisture really to speak of all winter, and then from April 23rd until the middle of May we had almost six inches of rain.” He […]

An ag economist says China’s import delays are far from over but product movement out of U.S. ports is improving. The University of Missouri’s Ben Brown said rising COVID cases and lockdowns in China are continuing to cause shipping delays. He tells Brownfield recent strong case numbers in Beijing and Shanghai will likely drag the backlog out. “They’re not able to get people to the ports to offload or reload […]