Agriculture

The White House is announcing a new nationwide network for rural communities to better access federal resources across all agencies. The Rural Partners Network will be led by USDA and dedicated staff to help rural areas apply for and secure federal funds from the American Rescue Plan and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Dustin Maxson says staff will serve as liaisons between communities and […]

U.S. ethanol production and stocks fell last week. The U.S. Energy Information Administration says production averaged 947,000 barrels a day, the fourth week in a row with a decline and down 48,000 on the week, but up 7,000 on the year. Iowa State University’s Center for Agricultural and Rural Development says ethanol margins moved back into positive territory, but two key demand indicators fell. The Renewable Fuels Association says net […]

Following President Biden’s announcement that E15 will be sold this summer, the Tennessee Corn Promotion Board is highlighting its availability in the state. George McDonald, board president says the announcement brings more opportunities for corn to be used as a renewable resource and will benefit not just consumers paying less for gas, but benefit corn farmers. In addition to lowering gas prices, he says E15 also has the potential to reduce […]

Fresh snow means it will be at least two more weeks before a farmer in the Red River Valley can begin planting. Vance Johnson grows corn, soybeans, wheat and sugarbeets near Breckenridge, Minnesota and spoke to Brownfield Wednesday morning. “Well as I sit here right now we’ve got a good mountain snow coming, it’s huge flakes and starting to cover the grass. We haven’t turned a wheel yet, we’re still […]

A member of the House Agriculture Committee is prioritizing an effective safety net as work on the next farm bill continues. Randy Feenstra is a Republican from Iowa. “The big thing for all the producers is we need some backstop when it comes to the costs and the dangers of losing crops.” He tells Brownfield farmers are challenged by high input prices, supply chain problems, and extreme weather. “So what […]

An agronomist says farmers should take advantage of the less-than-ideal spring weather to go over their planters. Scott Rowntree is a field agronomist for Pioneer in southern Wisconsin.  He tells Brownfield it’s a good time to check things beyond the usual grease fittings. “Raise that planter up and go behind each row unit. Move it side to side and up and down. You might need to replace the bushings on […]

Feeding America says inflation and phasing out pandemic food-assistance programs will likely worsen the hunger crisis. Vince Hall, Chief Government Relations Officer with Feeding America, tells Brownfield a majority of food banks – 85 percent – are seeing higher or equal demand for food assistance compared to the previous month. “That is a staggering reflection of just how severe the problem of hunger is in the United States and how […]

Across the Corn Belt, cloudiness is increasing in advance of an approaching cold front, while a few rain showers are developing from the Mississippi Valley westward.  Midwestern conditions are largely not conducive to planting activities and other spring fieldwork, due to cool soils, wet fields, or a combination of both. On the Plains, hot, breezy weather in Oklahoma and Texas is causing further deterioration of winter wheat, as well as […]