A forage specialist recommends relying on soil tests to determine a budget-friendly fertilizer investment this year. Kim Cassida with Michigan State University says grid sampling forages and determining a field’s pH level has the best returns for fertility management. “If you haven’t got your pH right, you’re kind of wasting your time putting other nutrients out there,” she says. Cassida says if the pH is off, plants can’t absorb the […]
A southwest Minnesota farmer anxious to begin planting is waiting for the ground to warm up. Bill Gordon of Worthington tells Brownfield soil temperatures are between 30 and 40 degrees. “There are a few farmers scratching (the dirt) and talking about putting some beans in, with the replant protection coming with the seed treatment. But not a lot of corn going in the ground yet.” He says while some fields […]
Many in the cattle industry are in agreement that increased transparency in markets is needed, but how to get there remains under debate. During a Senate Ag Committee hearing on Tuesday, William Ruffin, a cattle producer from Bay Springs, Mississippi said the Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act of 2022 is the best way to do that. “If the packers do have to buy cattle off the negotiated cash market, […]
The Iowa Legislature has passed a bill to establish an E15 standard. The 2022 Biofuels Access Bill, which was introduced in January by Governor Reynolds, is now headed to her desk for signature. The legislation guarantees E15 access statewide by 2026 and updates the E15 promotion tax credit to nine cents per-gallon year-round through 2025. Iowa Farm Bureau president Brent Johnson says their members have long advocated for this measure […]
The EPA is investing $50 billion in rural water infrastructure through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. EPA Administrator Michael Regan tells Brownfield the investment will improve management of wastewater, storm water and drinking water. “That is so critical,” he said. “Especially for our rural communities that don’t have the tax space to do these upgrades.” Regan said the rural infrastructure investments will also spur economic development. “Every business has conversations with […]
A Midwestern farmer is hesitant to market more new crop corn and beans despite strong markets. Nathan Alpers in central Missouri tells Brownfield he doesn’t want to overmarket grain when he’s always two weeks away from drought conditions. “That’s getting a little worrisome,” he said. “Not having any [crops] planted, how much do you sell early if you can’t raise it if we turn off dry.” The Cooper County farmer […]
May corn closed at $8.03 and 1/4, up 3 centsMay soybeans closed at $17.05 and 1/4, up 1 and 3/4 centsMay soybean meal closed at $444.80, down $7.60May soybean oil closed at 85.29, up 255 pointsMay wheat closed at $10.83 and 1/4, up 21 and 1/4 centsApr. live cattle closed at $140.00, up 90 centsJune lean hogs closed at $111.17, down $2.85May Class III milk closed at $24.70, up 2 […]
Soybeans were mixed, mostly modestly higher, adjusting spreads. Domestic crush demand is strong and China and unknown destinations both bought U.S. soybeans ahead of the open. Unknown picked up 133,000 tons, 78,000 for 2021/22 and 55,000 tons for 2022/23, while China purchased 133,000 tons, all for 2022/23. That pushes the two-day running total to 799,000 tons, most of that new crop. There are concerns about long-term demand from China due […]
Investigations into dicamba complaints in Minnesota show applicators are struggling to follow the label. Joshua Stamper with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture says their ongoing work reveals a pattern of label violations. “A lot of what growers are struggling with is measuring wind speed at boom height, not attending the dicamba-specific training, just not necessarily paying attention to what is downwind when they make an application.” Applicators are also failing […]
