The USDA says as of Friday, there are now 283 poultry flocks affected by highly-pathogenic avian influenza scattered across 32 states. USDA says 171 of the flocks are commercial growers and 112 are backyard flocks. More than 37 million birds have been depopulated because of avian influenza. New cases this month include a backyard flock in Pierce County, Wisconsin (30 birds), a backyard flock in Bremer County Iowa (50 birds), […]
More ideal weather conditions are helping Arkansas farmers play catch up. Eighty-two percent of the corn crop has been planted, 9 points behind both last year and 6 points behind the 5-year average. Seventy-five percent is rated good to excellent. Fifty-nine percent of the crop has emerged. Rice planting is 57% complete, still well behind last year and the 5-year average. Thirty-two percent of the crop has emerged. Soybeans are […]
Fruit development has been slow for cherry growers in Michigan and one industry leader says that’s not a bad thing. “Typically, if we have late bloom we tend to have a decent-sized crop.” Cherry Industry Administrative Board Executive Director Heather Weber tells Brownfield the likely event of any frost or freeze damage is minimal at this point, but pollination is still reliant on the weather and bees. “Unfortunately, time will […]
Improved weather conditions helped Tennessee farmers plant a lot of acres in a short period of time. Corn is 64% planted, now 10 points behind last year’s pace and 8% behind the 5-year average. Twenty-five percent of the crop has emerged. Soybeans are 19% planted with 4% emerged. Cotton is 13% planted. Wheat conditions declined slightly, with 59% of the crop rated good to excellent and 98% is jointed with […]
Warmer and drier weather allowed Minnesota farmers to pick up the planting pace last week. USDA’s latest crop progress report says nine percent of corn is planted, compared to nearly 50 percent a year ago and the five-year average of 81 percent. Two percent of soybeans are planted, well off last year’s pace of 59 percent and 25 percent normally. Mike Landuyt of Walnut Grove in southwest Minnesota tells Brownfield […]
South-Central Nebraska farmer August Fishell says recent rainfall has put the brakes on planting but brought relief to on-going drought. “We’re getting here to the second week of May. It needs to dry out a little bit for us to get back in there.” Topsoil moisture is rated at 64 percent adequate-to-surplus and subsoil moisture is rated at 41 percent adequate-to-surplus. USDA’s latest crop progress and condition report says 39 […]
A farmer in southern Iowa is concerned about a shrinking window to spray for weeds. Jeff Jorgenson grows corn and soybeans near Sidney. “I think the pressure is going to be on herbicide application just because of how many windy days we’re having. I think that’s going to be a challenge going forward because obviously we can keep planting but the sprayers are definitely going to be behind.” He tells […]
More progress is being made by Michigan farmers despite less than three days suitable for fieldwork last week. The USDA says winter wheat condition remained steady at 45 percent good to excellent with 47 percent of the crop jointed, slightly ahead of the five-year average. Sugarbeets were 36 percent planted along with 33 percent of oats, eight percent of soybean, and four percent of corn. Apples, tart cherries, blueberries, and […]
A dairy economist says China’s latest dairy import numbers could be worrisome for prices. Nate Donnay with StoneX tells Brownfield as the largest dairy product importer in the world, a nearly 30 percent decline in March imports by China could be devastating to prices if the trend sticks. “They’re massive,” he says. “Every one percent change in China’s imports on an annual basis is about a one percent impact on […]
