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The President and CEO of Valent USA says sustainability is a main focus for both their company and farmer customers. Matt Plitt tells Brownfield shifting dynamics in the ag economy and the increased cost of capital for growers has furthered underscored the need for sustainable solutions. “As you look at the cost of operations going up, commodity prices softening, that really means we’ve got to have products that work and […]

Michigan’s state climatologist says rains the past few days have brought the most significant precipitation the state has had since April. Ag meteorologist Jeff Andresen tells Brownfield, “Many areas picked up more than an inch, some spots more than two inches.” Unfortunately, he says moisture deficits remain up to six inches in the west-central region and southward. “An inch of rain, despite how needed it was, in the short term, […]

The CEO of an ag bioscience company is hopeful the COVER Act will be included in the next farm bill. Dr. Oliver Peoples with Yield10 Bioscience tells Brownfield the legislation incentivizes the adoption of cover crops. “Just for the environmental benefits of them, reducing nutrient runoff essentially protecting the water in the soil, managing soil organic carbon content. All of these become pretty important as you look at where we’re […]

A fuel economist says diesel prices have dropped to their lowest levels since Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022. Patrick De Haan with GasBuddy says prices are down nearly $2 per gallon year-over-year. “Part of the reason why diesel prices have plummeted so substantially,” he said, “is that demand for diesel has cratered compared to last year.”   Northwest Iowa farmer Kelly Nieuwenhuis says the farm economy is getting some […]

Milk futures prices continued to slide Wednesday, and cash dairy prices were mixed on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. July Class III milk was unchanged at $14.35.  August was down $0.13 at $15.04.  September was down $0.19 at $16.19.  October was down $0.17 at $17.14.  November through May contracts ranged from unchanged in March and May to fifteen cents lower in November. Dry whey was down $0.0125 at $0.2425.  Ten sales […]

The Michigan Beef Industry Commission wants producer feedback on a state checkoff during upcoming listening sessions. Executive Director George Quackenbush tells Brownfield the addition of up to $1 per head would be significant for Michigan promotion and education efforts. “This proposal would at least double our assessments, likely more than double it, but not quite triple it,” he says. The Commission will host virtual listening sessions on June 29th and […]

Nearly 50 food and ag groups are calling on Congress to support legislation that would enable the United States to negotiate a comprehensive trade agreement with the United Kingdom. John Bode, president and CEO of the Corn Refiners Association, says the Undertaking Negotiations on Investment and Trade for Economic Dynamism (UNITED) Act should move forward as it would benefit the industry. “CRA is really proud to have joined with American […]

U.S. ethanol production held steady last week. The U.S. Energy Information Administration says production 1.052 million barrels a day, unchanged on the week and up 1,000 on the year. Iowa State University’s Center for Agricultural and Rural Development says operating margins for the average Iowa plant improved a little, while staying just below the profit line. The Renewable Fuels Association says ethanol stocks hit a six-week high at 22.979 million […]

The CEO of Syngenta says weather extremes have shifted how the company advances research and product development.  “Instead of just trying to develop seeds and crop protection products to maximize yields under normal conditions,” Erik Fyrwald says. “Syngenta is trying to develop products that have the highest yield potential but also have resilience.” He says advancing high-performing traits into products is important, but Syngenta is also focused on developing better […]