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Commentary. The Science Council defines science as the pursuit and application of knowledge and understanding of the natural and social world following a systematic methodology based on evidence. The Science Council tells us that scientific methodology includes the following: Objective observation: Measurement and data (possibly although not necessarily using mathematics as a tool) Evidence Experiment and/or observation as benchmarks for testing hypotheses Induction: reasoning to establish general rules or conclusions […]

A southeast Minnesota farmer marketing grain suggests patience is paying off. Ben Storm grows corn and soybeans near Dover. “Sure seems like the more days you wait to sell crops, the better off you are. We’re looking at old crop corn in that $7.80 to $7.90 range at Winona for this summer, and it’s just crazy to see what it’s done just since the first of the year even.” He […]

The USDA says export sales for several key commodities dropped during the week ending April 14th. That’s likely because of a combination of high prices due to tight supply and recent strength in the U.S. dollar, which makes U.S. goods less competitive on the export market. Wheat, pork, sorghum, and cotton all notched marketing year lows, while sales of corn, soybeans, soybean products, and beef posted week-to-week declines. The USDA’s […]

An agronomy professor says he’s not worried about planting delays just yet. Michigan State University’s Manni Singh tells Brownfield while planting progress is behind, soil temperatures need to be at least upper 40s for soybean planting and not too wet.  “We are still very much in the early phase of our planting window,” he says.  “If this weather stays for another week to 10 days—that’s when I will start getting […]

A Northeastern Michigan farmer says planting was over halfway complete at this time last year. Robyn Fogarasi tells Brownfield that’s not the case this year as an inch of snow this week has stalled any plans for starting. “It’s rough,” she shares.  “Are we nervous? Not quite yet.” In the meantime, she says they’re preparing mentally for some long nights ahead and, “We’re basically getting all of our equipment ready […]

The world’s largest biofuel producer says ethanol tax credits will boost access to lower-cost fuel options across the Midwest. Doug Berven, Vice President of Corporate Affairs with POET, says Nebraska recently passed a law that provides credits to retailers who sell E15 and E25. “States like South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio, Indiana – these states can see the success of E15 in Nebraska and they want to be successful as […]

Looking ahead, the 6- to 10-day outlook calls for near- or below-normal temperatures across much of the country, with the greatest likelihood of cool conditions focused on the Great Lakes States.  However, warmer-than-normal weather will prevail from southern California to the central and southern Great Plains.  Meanwhile, near- or below-normal precipitation should be observed nationwide, except for wetter-than-normal conditions from the northern Cascades to western North Dakota. ...

Across the Corn Belt, rain showers are gradually ending across the Ohio Valley and the lower Great Lakes region.  Elsewhere, extensive fieldwork delays continue, despite the brief return of mild, dry weather.  Thursday’s high temperatures will reach 70°F or higher across much of the southern Corn Belt.  To date, planting activities have been sharply limited by low soil temperatures or wet fields, or a combination of both, especially in the […]

A research project might soon bring some color to the calf barns and help farmers know when their animals need some extra attention. Dr. Sylvia Kehoe Dr. Sylvia Kehoe is a dairy researcher at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.  She tells Brownfield her team is just starting a new project evaluating calf urine as an indicator for metabolic acidoses, like what is being done to indicate health issues in a […]