What happens with the Waters of the U.S. rule once the Supreme Court releases its decision on Sackett v. EPA? Mary Thomas Hart, chief counsel with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association says a favorable ruling doesn’t necessarily mean the Biden administration will reevaluate its WOTUS rule to write a new one that is more friendly to agriculture. “We’ve been in this season for a while now where the administration is […]
The head of the Michigan Corn Growers Association cautions patience as planting kicks up in some areas of the Corn Belt. Executive director Jim Zook tells Brownfield recent rains have helped replenish subsoil moisture deficits and muddy fields are quickly recovering across the state. “With the recent winds we’ve had, things are really drying out very quickly,” he says. Zook says he’s hearing reports of planting starting on sandy soils […]
Milk futures and cash dairy prices were all lower Friday on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. April Class III milk was down $0.06 at $18.62. May was down $0.26 at $17.69. June was down $0.20 at $17.99. July was down $0.21 at $18.53. August through February contracts ranged from nineteen cents lower in September to three cents higher in February. Dry whey was down $0.0075 at $0.3625. Six sales were recorded […]
An atmospheric scientist warns the recent summer-like weather won’t last. Eric Snodgrass with Nutrien Ag Solutions tells Brownfield the uncommonly high temperatures in the plains and upper Midwest have caused some river flooding because of snowmelt. “In the last two weeks, we saw such tremendous snowmelt if you talk about parts of northern Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. It shrunk down to probably about 20% of what […]
An agricultural banker says many farmers were able to pay down debt with last year’s stronger earnings, but farmers should consider an additional strategy now. Sam Miller with BMO Harris Bank tells Brownfield the overall financial condition of farmers this year is great, but the higher expected costs of production and shrinking margins mean farmers need to make their cash go farther, and putting cash into short-term money market accounts […]
Extreme winds, low humidity and dry lightening may have destroyed up to 120,000 acres of rangeland in the Nebraska Sandhills. The Nebraska Emergency Management Agency says eight wildfires across two counties began Thursday afternoon and were 85 percent contained Friday afternoon. The Cooksley Fire began in Custer County before rapidly spreading north into Blaine County with dry lighting sparking seven additional fires. Local fire departments reported no deaths, but outbuildings, […]
A meteorologist says while the U.S. is dealing with snow melt in the north and drought in the southwest, other countries are also experiencing weather-related challenges. Eric Snodgrass, an atmospheric scientist with Nutrien Ag Solutions, says he’s closely watching South America. “Brazil is still going great with rain, in fact, probably too wet in central Brazil but Argentina’s drought continues.” Eric Snodgrass And, he says, conditions in Australia and Europe are […]
Northeast Nebraska farmer Anne Meis says she’s patiently waiting to get planting underway. She tells Brownfield many neighbors have already started even though soils need to warm up. “Some farmers start with soybeans, but we start with corn. Studies have shown that it needs a certain soil temperature for that seed to grow, so we’re going to hold off for a week to 10 days.” She tells Brownfield the soil […]
A southern Illinois agronomist says farmers should prioritize their mid-April fieldwork based on what could bring them the greatest return. Ben Wiegmann with Beck’s Hybrids tells Brownfield it’s been an ideal week for fieldwork in his coverage area and as planters get rolling, local farmers need to keep the whole growing season in mind. “As we are sitting in the month of April here, I would be worried about burn-down […]
