Agriculture

The USDA has extended the comment period to identify the impacts of concentration and competition challenges in seed, fertilizer, other ag inputs, and retail markets. The new deadline is June 15.  The Biden-Harris administration says it wants to enhance fair and competitive markets.  The information submitted is intended to provide the USDA with data on competition and market access for farmers and ranchers, new and growing market competitors, and the […]

Recent warm weather has helped dry out fields for central Iowa farmers. Lee Tesdell of Slater tells Brownfield planting progress kicked into another gear on Monday. “About half of my section got planted,” he said. “One neighbor put in about 150 acres of corn. Another neighbor put in about the same amount on the west half of our section.” He says his soil temperatures have been around 60 degrees this […]

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has signed her Biofuels Access Bill into law. Speaking at a farm in Jasper County Tuesday morning, Reynolds said they’ve been working on different versions for well over a year. “And the final product truly is a testament to the idea that good-faith discussion, negotiation and compromise can pay off in a big way.” The legislation makes Iowa the first state in the nation with a […]

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is encouraged by the response to highly pathogenic avian influenza. “It looks like we’re maybe getting the upper hand on that (and) the warm weather is going to help us.” The avian flu outbreak in 2015 devastated Minnesota’s turkey and egg production sectors, as more than 9 million birds were lost across 23 counties resulting in financial losses of $647 million. Walz tells Brownfield while it’s […]

An ag economist says a ‘dismal’ couple of weeks for U.S. corn exports might continue but potential for some large ‘flash’ sales is building. The University of Missouri’s Ben Brown said traditional U.S. corn buyers like Mexico, Korea and Japan are still buying, but expectations aren’t being filled in other notable markets. “China being one,” Brown said. “They’re still importing U.S. corn, but they’re not importing lots of U.S. corn […]

Consumers reported spending less money on food in April, according to a recent survey. On average, consumers surveyed spent $110 per week at the grocery store and $63 per week on restaurants and carryout meals for a total of about $172. That’s down from food spending in March that was reported at about $177. Jayson Lusk discusses some of the findings of the latest Purdue University Consumer Food Insights Report. […]

Southwest Indiana farmer Mark Seib says he may have to replant some soybeans because of emergence issues. “We may replant a couple of soybean fields that have not come up very well,” he says.   He tells Brownfield recent timely rains helped the crop, but “we’re going to go out and look and see if there’s anything that we need to go ahead and adjust or tear it up and […]

The USDA is now accepting applications to help offset costs for producers and handlers transitioning to organic. The Organic and Transitional Education and Certification Program and Organic Certification Cost Share Program help to cover costs including certifications, fees, soil testing, and other expenses related to the transitioning process. Interested applicants can apply through October at their local Farm Service Agencies. ...