An agronomist says farmers should inspect their alfalfa stands while they are waiting for good planting weather. Aricka Roberson with Pioneer tells Brownfield the mild winter left most alfalfa fields in good shape, but it’s still a good idea to get out and look for signs of slow green-up, asymmetrical growth, uneven growth, and she says dig up a few roots. “We’re going to want to see a firm and […]
At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live cattle closed higher watching direct cash business develop while feeder cattle were pressured by the day’s higher move in corn. June live cattle closed $.82 higher at $136.25 and August live cattle closed $.95 higher at $138.27. May feeder cattle closed $.57 lower at $160.72 and August feeder cattle closed $1.35 lower at $173.15. There was another round of direct cash cattle trade that […]
A southern Wisconsin farmer is one of many waiting for the weather to change before planting can begin. Doug Rebout and his family farm near Janesville, just north of the Wisconsin-Illinois border. He tells Brownfield he’s still making planter adjustments while waiting for better field conditions. “It’s all going to depend on the weather because someone just told me today they’re talking snow on Wednesday again.” About says when it […]
Market Wagon, an online farmers market, is celebrating $10 million in sales for farmers in central Indiana. Nick Carter, the CEO and co-founder of Market Wagon, says it’s an important milestone for the local food community. “This was a great celebration today of a big milestone. We’re celebrating that just here in central Indiana we’ve reached $10 million in cumulative sales. The vast majority of that revenue goes straight to […]
A forage specialist recommends relying on soil tests to determine a budget-friendly fertilizer investment this year. Kim Cassida with Michigan State University says grid sampling forages and determining a field’s pH level has the best returns for fertility management. “If you haven’t got your pH right, you’re kind of wasting your time putting other nutrients out there,” she says. Cassida says if the pH is off, plants can’t absorb the […]
A southwest Minnesota farmer anxious to begin planting is waiting for the ground to warm up. Bill Gordon of Worthington tells Brownfield soil temperatures are between 30 and 40 degrees. “There are a few farmers scratching (the dirt) and talking about putting some beans in, with the replant protection coming with the seed treatment. But not a lot of corn going in the ground yet.” He says while some fields […]
Many in the cattle industry are in agreement that increased transparency in markets is needed, but how to get there remains under debate. During a Senate Ag Committee hearing on Tuesday, William Ruffin, a cattle producer from Bay Springs, Mississippi said the Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act of 2022 is the best way to do that. “If the packers do have to buy cattle off the negotiated cash market, […]
The Iowa Legislature has passed a bill to establish an E15 standard. The 2022 Biofuels Access Bill, which was introduced in January by Governor Reynolds, is now headed to her desk for signature. The legislation guarantees E15 access statewide by 2026 and updates the E15 promotion tax credit to nine cents per-gallon year-round through 2025. Iowa Farm Bureau president Brent Johnson says their members have long advocated for this measure […]
The EPA is investing $50 billion in rural water infrastructure through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. EPA Administrator Michael Regan tells Brownfield the investment will improve management of wastewater, storm water and drinking water. “That is so critical,” he said. “Especially for our rural communities that don’t have the tax space to do these upgrades.” Regan said the rural infrastructure investments will also spur economic development. “Every business has conversations with […]
