Commentary. I spent some time Sunday afternoon reading through old deeds and abstracts from my family farm in west central Illinois. Jonathon and Elizabeth Young were early pioneers who settled in the part of Morgan County that would later become Scott County sometime in the early 1820’s. Both Jonathon’s and Elizabeth’s parents had been farmers in Virginia, then Kentucky, before moving further west. Farming is in my DNA. Reading the […]
Grand Rapids-based energy distribution company Crystal Flash plans to match donations made to the Michigan FFA Foundation for the month of March. Assistant director of development for the foundation Kyle Schaberg tells Brownfield Crystal Flash came to the organization with the fundraising idea to help dollars go further to support agricultural education. “Crystal Flash is going to provide $10,000 of matching funds, essentially matching dollar for dollar whether it’s an […]
WASHINGTON, March 10, 2022 – The Departments of Agriculture, the Interior and Homeland Security through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are now accepting applications for members to the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission.
Corn and beef export sales hit marketing year highs during the week ending March 3rd. The USDA says old crop corn sales topped 2.1 million tons, with substantial purchases by unknown destinations, Japan, and Mexico. Beef sales were 27,500 tons, mainly to China, Japan, and South Korea. Combined old and new crop soybean sales were more than 3 million tons, continuing the spike related to lower South American production and […]
USDA has announced $35 million is available in grant funding to support veteran and underserved farmers and ranchers. Through the USDA’s Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program, or the 2501 Program, nonprofits, educational institutions, and tribal entities can apply for funds to help underserved and veteran farmers and ranchers. Over the past decade, the program has awarded nearly $160 million for […]
Virtual educational efforts by Michigan State University Extension are growing as educators work to find a balance between in-person and online connections. Extension educator Beth Ferry, based in Berrien County, tells Brownfield the traditional Agriculture and Natural Resources Week on MSU’s campus in March is expanding online with MSU’s Ag Ideas to Grow With Conference after last year’s success. “More than 67 percent of our attendees were brand new to […]
Two U.S. senators are asking Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack to provide an update on the USDA’s actions to address the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza. Indiana Republicans Mike Braun and Todd Young are requesting information about resources that can be provided to compensate poultry farmers for depopulation. They’re also asking if federal authorities are needed to implement additional testing and surveillance along the Mississippi Flyway and what steps the […]
As the administration rolls out investments to increase electric vehicles, ethanol and other biofuels are available now to help meet carbon reduction goals. Mark Fisler is the partner and managing director with Ocean Park, a boutique investment bank and financial advisory firm focused on renewable fuels, energy, food, ag technology, and the supply chain. “The current leadership and administration is talking about electrification, but the reality is we’re going to […]
Opening doors to more ethanol and biodiesel use is dominating conversations among corn and soybean groups at Commodity Classic. Missouri Corn Growers President Jay Schutte tells Brownfield the top corn policy priority is the Next Generation Fuels Act which would increase ethanol quality by setting a 98 ron standard in the U.S. “That can only be achieved by increasing ethanol blends,” Schutte said. “There’s a no backsliding provision in there […]
