Agriculture

A farmer says it’s important to let lawmakers know what is important to their operations.  Sandy Larson Sandy Larson from Larson Acres near Evansville, Wisconsin tells Brownfield it was necessary for her to take part in the Dairy Business Association’s Dairy Day at the Capitol and make face-to-face contact with her elected officials about agriculture issues. “I came today to make a contact with the people that represent me in […]

The Netherlands is hosting a USDA agribusiness trade mission this week. Shane Frederick with the Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance is on the trip and tells Brownfield it’s lead by Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis Taylor. “It’s an opportunity for a lot of different people in U.S. agriculture to go to a market to learn about different opportunities and challenges, as well as for some agribusinesses […]

An extension educator says cover crops should not be thought of as a standalone fertilizer replacement. Michigan State University’s Christina Curell tells Brownfield cover crops also need good management to be successful. “Remember, a cover crop is a CROP—it needs fertilizer,” she says.  “It may not decrease the actual nutrients that you put on the farm because you might have to put out nutrients for your crops,” she says. Curell […]

Milk production was up half a percent in March because of a larger, more productive herd. USDA says production in the U.S. totaled nearly 20 billion pounds with production per cow up three pounds from last year.   The herd size increased by 31,000 head on the year and 6,000 from the previous month.  South Dakota and Iowa producers alone added 28,000 dairy cows in the last year. South Dakota […]

The CEO of Growth Energy says the EPA needs to issue an E15 emergency waiver quickly if the fuel is going to be available this summer. Emily Skor says the EPA allowed E15 last summer, because of the volatility to the U.S. fuel supply, combined with environmental and cost benefits. She says those dynamics are still at play, “It’s still very much kind of a factor and top of mind, […]

At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live cattle were lower, and feeders were mixed ahead of widespread direct cash business and Friday’s On Feed numbers from the USDA. June lives closed $1.60 lower at $163.60 and August lives closed $1.30 lower at $162.75.  May feeders closed $1.02 lower at $210.47 and August feeder cattle closed $.70 higher at $226.77.  There was a light to moderate direct cash cattle trade that took […]

May corn closed at $6.72 and 1/4, down 5 and 1/4 centsMay soybeans closed at $15.06 and 1/2, down 12 and 3/4 centsMay soybean meal closed at $454.40, down $6.70May soybean oil closed at 55.02, down 34 pointsMay wheat closed at $6.81 and 3/4, down 16 and 1/4 centsJun. live cattle closed at $163.60 down $1.60May feeder cattle closed at $210.47, down $1.02May lean hogs closed at $78.77, down 5 centsMay […]

A field crops educator says the current cold front will keep farmers out of fields in Michigan for at least a few days. Eric Anderson with Michigan State University Extension tells Brownfield… “Soil temperatures dropped way down again and air temperature obviously, so I would say in the next two-three days we should be able to start getting back into the field,” he shares. Anderson says the cool down also […]

Soybeans were lower on fund and technical selling. Soybeans are watching U.S. planting weather and expecting delays in parts of the Midwest and Plains. It’s still hypothetical, but any significant delays in corn planting could prompt some producers to switch to soybeans. Brazil’s record harvest is nearly 90% complete and they continue to control the export market. The USDA’s weekly U.S. sales numbers are out Thursday morning. Brazil’s crop continues […]