Agriculture

South Dakota’s state veterinarian says their avian influenza situation has been improving. Dr. Mendel Miller with the South Dakota Animal Industry Board says, “We haven’t had a new positive for, I think we’re going on eight days now.” Miller tells Brownfield for a while, the state was getting new cases every day. “We were running two or three a day, and then I think it dropped down to maybe one a […]

The FBI has advised ag cooperatives they could see an uptick in attempted cyberattacks during planting and harvest seasons. George Grispos is an assistant professor of cyber security with the University of Nebraska at Omaha and says a successful attack could disrupt the food supply chain. “Right now, they’re trying to go for the biggest fish in the pond. How many people would be impacted like a stakeholder like this? […]

At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live and feeder cattle were supported by the week’s stronger direct cash business and the lower corn. June live cattle closed $1.27 higher at $139.90 and August live cattle closed $1.42 higher at $141.57.  May feeder cattle closed $2.37 higher at $164.85 and August feeder cattle closed $2.97 higher at $176.45.  It was a quiet Thursday for direct cash cattle trade activity following the active […]

May corn closed at $7.99 and 1/4, down 16 and 1/2 centsMay soybeans closed at $17.48 and 1/4, up 1 and 1/2 centsMay soybean meal closed at $468.90, down $2.50May soybean oil closed at $81.50, up 69 pointsMay wheat closed at $10.68, down 20 centsApr. live cattle closed at $144.10, up $1.02June lean hogs closed at $117.17, down $1.57May Class III milk closed at $24.57, up 40 centsJun. ...

Highly pathogenic avian influenza is expected to concentrate in the Upper Midwest. American Farm Bureau economist Veronica Nigh says the outbreak is following a similar pattern to 2015 with the largest impact on laying hens and turkeys. “Unfortunately those northern states, in particular Minnesota, North Dakota, Iowa stand out as being the most impacted.” She tells Brownfield because those states stay cold longer, the window for infection is bigger. ...

An analysis by the Renewable Fuels Association shows the energy balance ratio of corn ethanol has improved in recent years. Chief Economist Scott Richman tells Brownfield ethanol continues to provide more energy to consumers than it takes to produce and distribute it. “Corn ethanol now provides users about three times the energy that is needed to produce it on average, and actually, the top quarter of plants are so efficient […]

An American Farm Bureau leader says the Biden administration’s direction on environmental policy going backward and is bad for farmers and ranchers.  Shelby Hagenauer is a Senior Director of Congressional Relations. She says, “We were very supportive of more common-sense reforms that had been done and were finalized in July 2020.” Hagenauer says many of the regulations still in place are from 1978, and the Biden proposal reverts to the […]

The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service is working to shape a Cattle Contract Library pilot program.  Bruce Summers is the administrator for AMS.  “Congress gave us until September 30, 2023 to design and implement this pilot,” he says.  “That’s 16 months and not a ton of time.” Chelsea Good with the Livestock Marketing Association says the pilot Cattle Contract Library should focus on three areas.  “The first is ease of use,” […]