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An Illinois farmer has experienced first-hand how Soy Excellence Centers are diversifying demand and increasing markets for US soybean exports. Mark Read of Putnam, IL recently traveled to Honduras, where the Illinois Soybean Association has partnered with Zamorano University to invest in an in-pond raceway system for sustainable production of tilapia.  “They use 100% United States Soybeans, which they feed to their tilapia. Then, they ship almost all the tilapia […]

In this episode of Managing for Profit, Scott Fenwick, technical director with Clean Fuels Alliance America, discusses the differences and similarities between biodiesel and renewable diesel, the benefits they bring farmers, and what’s on the horizon for the fuels. ...

Wisconsin has three new cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza, bringing the total number of affected premises to seven.  The state now has four non-commercial or backyard flocks and three commercial flocks affected by the virus. Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection officials say 20-thousand birds will be depopulated from a commercial turkey farm in Polk County.   Forty-four birds in Columbia County and 15 birds in Sheboygan County also […]

Soybeans finished the day mixed at on spread adjustments. Support to the complex mostly came to the nearby contracts with May futures leading the way. The complex came off a mostly higher close but sharp losses for soybean meal on Wednesday. Even so, strong crush values are keeping soybean meal supported at elevated prices. South American drought conditions are playing a strong role in supporting soybean prices with much of […]

May corn closed at $7.90 and 1/4, up 6 and 3/4 centsMay soybeans closed at $16.82 and 1/4, up 6 and 1/4 centsMay soybean meal closed at $461.40, up $3.20May soybean oil closed at $78.91, up 80 pointsMay wheat closed at $10.96 and 1/2, down 17 centsApr. live cattle closed at $140.67, up $.05June lean hogs closed at $118.47, up $.87May Class III milk closed at $25.46, up 29 centsMay […]

An economist with CoBank is not expecting any relief from tight fertilizer supplies and high prices. Kenneth Zuckerberg tells Brownfield, “More questions than answers at this point for the global fertilizer complex.” Zuckerberg just released an analysis on the industry, and he tells Brownfield he’s expecting fertilizer supplies to be adequate for now. “As of now, we’ve spoken with a lot of CoBank clients, and the co-ops appear to be […]

Farmers are mindful of extreme volatility as they develop marketing plans. For corn and soybean grower Mark Enninga in southwest Minnesota, he’s offsetting input purchases with crop sales and locking in margins. “That’s the best way that I can do that.” The Nobles County farmer tells Brownfield he’s also preparing for an eventual downturn in commodity prices. “Conserving cash and making sure I’ve got my powder dry for opportunities to […]

More than a dozen Iowa farms sustained damage as severe weather moved across the state Tuesday night. Iowa State Climatologist Justin Glisan tells Brownfield there were four EF1 tornadoes, two EF2’s, and two EF0’s. “So on the less extreme scale, but those EF2’s are significant (because) you can have 111 to 135 mile-per hour winds. So we had one EF2 go through Gilmore City, and we had 13 farms that […]

At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live cattle were mostly lower and feeder cattle were lower on profit-taking, watching corn, and waiting for any clean-up trade to trickle in. June live cattle closed $0.45 lower at $136.42 and August live cattle closed $.32 lower at $138.32. May feeder cattle closed $.17 lower at $161.77 and August feeder cattle closed $.07 lower at $174.35. A quiet Thursday for direct cash cattle trade.  […]