Agriculture

This week Illinois Soybean Association’s Public Policy Manager gives an overview of biodiesel production and use in Illinois, highlighting its benefits to the environment and Illinois soybean farmers. He also gives an update on checkoff investments toward biodiesel expansion including the B20 club. ...

All this week we’re highlighting how farmers in different aspects of the ag industry have been improving production practices to be more sustainable. Today, we’re taking a closer look at beef production. Mark Eisele is vice president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and a rancher from Wyoming. AUDIO: Healthy Living on beef sustainability ...

Southern Indiana Farmer Ben Kron says parts availability has improved ahead of the planting season. “So far we have been able to find everything we’ve needed so I think overall we’re in better shape than we have been in the last couple of years and we’re slowly catching up on that front a little bit,” he says. He tells Brownfield any delays have been somewhat minor. “Sometimes it’s a week […]

A livestock economist says he expects this week’s Cattle on Feed report to show more contraction in the cattle industry. University of Missouri’s Scott Brown tells Brownfield he expects On Feed numbers to be flat at best.  “For the first few months of this year we’ve been about flat for On Feed numbers, but that will be below year-ago levels,” he says.  Also out this week — the USDA’s Livestock […]

A little competition never hurt anyone.  Corn and Soybean researchers in Ohio are gearing up for a competition to see which crop should be planted first. In this Voice of Soy, Tom Fontana, Director of Research and Education for the Ohio Soybean Council talks about the competition and how it benefits Ohio’s soybean farmers. ...

North Central Indiana Farmer Scott Smith says corn and soybean planting will likely get underway by mid-week.   “As soon as this weather breaks. We held up planting because of cold temperatures coming in,” he says. “We were tempted to plant Saturday and then got a little rain that morning and looked at the forecast and decided not to. The Tipton County farmer tells Brownfield, “we’ll probably start out with soybeans. […]

Across the Corn Belt, a winter-like storm is producing wet snow and windy conditions across parts of the upper Midwest, including much of Wisconsin.  In fact, blustery, chilly weather throughout the Corn Belt is curtailing fieldwork, including spring planting preparations.  Meanwhile in the far upper Midwest, snow-melt flooding continues, despite the recent turn toward cooler weather.  The Minnesota River at Montevideo, Minnesota, is nearing a crest—more than 5.2 feet above […]

Looking ahead, the 6- to 10-day outlook calls for near- or below-normal temperatures nationwide, except for warmer-than-normal weather in southern Florida and the Desert Southwest.  The Midwest will have the greatest likelihood of experiencing chilly weather.  Meanwhile, near- or above-normal precipitation across most of the country should contrast with drier-than-normal conditions in the upper Midwest and parts of the Southwest, including southern California. ...