Agriculture

A leader with the University of Nebraska says he’s still optimistic about USDA’s precision ag research facility despite disagreements over its funding. Mike Boehm, vice chancellor with the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, tells Brownfield ground could be broken on UNL’s campus in summer of 2024. “This center will be a pivotal tool in American agriculture’s arsenal to maintain our cutting edge forward leaning #1 spot in the world […]

Three men have pleaded guilty to charges for stealing frozen meat across several Midwestern states that totaled $9 million in losses. Investigators say the men conducted a sophisticated, organized criminal enterprise in 2022 that consisted of 45 thefts of beef and pork from packing plants across Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, South and North Dakota. Investigators say the men scoped out plants and drove away with semi-trailers full of frozen meat. The […]

Farmers are encouraged to scout for pests. Iowa State University Extension agronomist Meaghan Anderson says early planted soybeans are vulnerable to insects like bean leaf beetles. “And then we certainly have our fair share of moths always flying across the state, so paying attention to things like the black cutworm. Now is the time on any emerged corn to be scouting for cutting from black cutworm.” She tells Brownfield cover […]

The chair of the House Ag Committee is asking USDA officials about new conservation program problems. Glenn GT Thompson told a subcommittee hearing Tuesday the SUSTAINS Act, which created public-private partnerships for USDA to fund additional conservation projects beyond the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), doesn’t appear to be helping farmers. He says, “Let’s not let bureaucracy kill that. You have the authority. President Biden signed that into law. We […]

The CEO of the largest agriculture cooperative in the United States says he optimistic about renewable diesel demand from California’s low carbon fuel standard and what that means for U.S. agriculture. Soybean oil can be used to make renewable diesel. Jay Debertin with CHS Inc. says the investments in soy processing will likely continue in the next few years. “Demand certainly seems to be there and there are other things […]

Tar spot is expected to be a problem in areas where corn farmers have seen the pathogen in the past. Mark Storr with BASF says crop diseases are hard to get rid of. “Once the disease is in an area it essentially becomes a permanent resident, at least diseases like tar spot. Because what they do is they overwinter on disease tissue.” He tells Brownfield the amount of pressure comes […]

A long-time no-till farming leader has died. Ohio farmer Dave Brandt of Fairfield County, 76, passed away from complications related to a car crash over the weekend. Retired Ohio State University faculty member Randall Reeder says Brandt was an early adopter of conservation practices, using multiple species of cover crops to build soil health.  He used his experience to educate others.  “His soil improved so much with more organic matter […]

Moisture has gone from too much to not enough in parts of west-central Minnesota. Kandiyohi County farmer Noah Hultgren says fieldwork started later than normal. “Dealing with spring snow and moisture, although now we haven’t really had significant moisture in probably a week and-a-half. It would actually be kind of nice to get a little bit as we’re finishing sugarbeets and corn.” He tells Brownfield they’ll be planting soybeans and […]

Bipartisan legislation recently introduced in the U.S. House would give farmers some relief on labor costs this year. Co-sponsor Representative Dan Kildee of Michigan tells Brownfield the Farm Operations Support Act would maintain 2022 wage rates in the H-2A seasonal guest worker program. “It’s simply a pause that would give some relief to those growers so they can get through this cycle, stay in business, stay viable while we continue […]