The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has declared the arrival of El Nino. El Nino is a climate phenomenon that is marked by warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, but its impact extends beyond the Pacific Ocean. Atmospheric scientist Matt Makens says the Plains and higher Plains will benefit the most this summer. “Any Plains that are right along the lee side of the […]
A farmer in eastern South Dakota says the hot, dry conditions aren’t bad for the corn and soybeans yet. Scott Stahl from Bridgewater says the crop is not at a critical point in the growth stage, but soil moisture is getting short and a few rains would be appreciated. “Obviously the roots are working hard to find nutrients and moisture needed to move along in the growth stages. It’s encouraging […]
The president of Missouri Farm Bureau is asking the Missouri Public Service Commission to respect the property rights of public landowners as they consider updates to a transmission line distribution project in mid-Missouri. Invenergy, a Chicago-based energy company, wants to build a 40-mile-long high voltage transmission line into central Missouri called the Tiger Connector. The Tiger Connector would send out power locally from the Grain Belt Express. The GBE is […]
A bill has been introduced in the US Senate that would create new regulations for feed additives to increase livestock efficiency, production, and increase sustainability. David Fairfield, senior vice president with the National Grain and Feed Association, says the bill would allow the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) bring products to market quicker. “It will provide them with a greater incentive to invest in research into these types of products […]
Farmers are less optimistic about farmland values will improve in the next 12 months, according to the latest Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy barometer. Jim Mintert is the survey’s principal investigator and director of Purdue’s Center for Commercial Agriculture. “This month, 19 percent of the people in the survey said they think farmland values are going down in the next 12 months. That was up compared to 14 percent who […]
The USDA is forecasting milk production to decline this year and remain flat in 2024. The agency is calling for farmers to pull back on milk per cow growth. In its June supply and demand report, the USDA raised its forecast for 2023 butter and nonfat dry milk prices because of recent price strength and strong demand, while cheese and whey prices were lowered. USDA is forecasting the Class III […]
A dairy analyst says several states are now dumping an oversupply of milk because dairy plants secured more than enough product this spring at lower prices and other issues have caused disruptions. Lucas Fuess with RaboResearch tells Brownfield spot milk prices have been sharply lower and it could take several months for the supply to contract. “We’re past the peak of that spring flush, but there’s still plenty of product […]
The USDA has increased expectations for 2023 beef production, while lowering projections for pork, broilers, and turkey. Beef production is seen at 27.086 billion pounds, 165 million more than in May on higher slaughter rates, with an average steer price of $171.70 per hundredweight, $5.20 above a month ago, slightly higher consumption, and steady trade numbers. Pork is estimated at 27.376 billion pounds, 5 million less than last month due […]
The USDA increased its cotton production and ending stocks estimates. This year’s crop is now seen at 16.5 million bales, up 1 million from May, on a higher harvested area guess, now at 9.41 million acres, 700,000 higher, which canceled out a lower yield projection of 841 pounds per acre, down 13. That increase in production mostly canceled out a lower old crop ending stocks figure and pushed the new […]
