brownfield

New research confirms consumers have negative perceptions about early cow-calf separation. Hannah Thompson-Weeman with the Animal Agriculture Alliance says the study led by researchers at the University of British Columbia puts data behind a practice animal extremist groups tend to focus on. “This study looked at several different possible methods for handing dairy calves and ultimately, they found that people felt the most positively toward a system where calves were […]

A new monthly report from Purdue University is gauging consumer perceptions of the food system.   Jayson Lusk, director for the Purdue Center for Food Demand Analysis and Sustainability, says the latest survey took a closer look at food and agriculture policy. “There’s pretty broad support for things like increasing ag research funding, increasing conservation reserve programs, and even expanding SNAP benefits,” he says. He tells Brownfield this month’s Consumer […]

The Missouri Corn Growers Association has partnered with the Renewable Fuels Association on a campaign to educate off-road vehicle owners about the benefits of E85 fuel. RFA’s Robert White tells Brownfield the investment allowed them to help create a custom Can-Am X3 side-by-side that runs on E85 and showcase it on the TV show Hauk Machines. “We want to show the audience the power and performance of ethanol, especially at […]

An ag lobbyist says population losses in remote communities will reduce the rural flavor in Michigan’s legislature following this year’s redistricting. Jeff McAlvey with McAlvey Merchant & Associates says the main goal of redistricting was to balance partisan divisions while honoring communities of interest. “Many of the districts stretch out in what I would call funky ways,” he says. He says rural voters will likely be overshadowed by the mix […]

An extension entomologist is concerned about seedling pests thriving in cool wet conditions. Erin Hodgson with Iowa State University says cold temperatures and excess moisture are plaguing much of the Midwest. “That makes me think about delayed planting, or even if people are trying to plant that the seeds are just kind of sitting in the ground or growing very slowly. And that makes me think about some seed and […]

A protein analyst anticipates a resurgence of highly pathogenic avian influenza this fall. Brian Earnest is with CoBank. “We’ll likely see some lingering effect and impact in the fall. Now it may not be as severe as what we’re seeing now, but as those birds migrate back south they’ll continue to carry that HPAI with them.” He tells Brownfield the poultry industry is preparing for fall migration even as the […]

Wet and cool conditions are hindering planting progress for southwest Indiana farmer Mark Seib. “We haven’t done anything with our fields because of the amount of cold weather that has come into play and the rains that have come into play have held us off all the way up to this point,” he says. Seib says there was a window in March that allowed them to install field tiles, but […]

A Nebraska farmer says he’d like to see changes to insurance policies to better protect producers from natural disasters. Tim Rowe of Elwood says he applied starter fertilizer to several fields before a wildfire burned it off earlier this month. “When you have fertilizer spread out on the ground, there’s no coverage for that. We’ve got residue laying out there on the ground to protect the ground or feed or […]

Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts has signed a bill that allows the state to build a $500 million canal and reservoir system to protect water resources for farmers and ranchers. He says the Perkins County Canal will ensure that water flows from the South Platte River are maintained under a pact signed with Colorado in 1923.  “This is not about getting more water for the state of Nebraska. This is merely […]