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Persistent drought in the US was one cause of a significantly large mature sheep harvest in 2021, making the current US drought scenario top of mind for sheep producers. American Sheep Industry Association Executive Director Peter Orwick tells Brownfield earlier this month, several of their producer members met with the Farm Service Agency Administrator in Washington DC. “You could certainly tell by the interaction between the producers and the agency, […]

At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live cattle were mixed ahead of widespread cash trade and Friday’s on Feed numbers.  Feeder cattle were pressured by the higher move in corn.  April live cattle closed $.45 lower at $140.05 and June live cattle closed $.72 lower at $136.35.  April feeder cattle closed $1.12 lower at $161.20 and May feeder cattle closed $1.70 lower at $165.75.  Direct cash cattle trade activity was quiet […]

The soybean complex closed higher to start the week. May soybeans closed 23 cents higher at $16.91, July soybeans up 26 and 1/2 cents at $16.72 and 1/4, May soybean meal closed $4.30 higher at $481.30 and soybean oil closed 142 points higher at $73.71. Soybeans are higher as Argentina has increased its tax rate on soy oil and meal two percent until the end of the year because of […]

US egg production increased slightly in February to 8.58 billion eggs.  Production included 7.39 billion table eggs and 1.19 billion hatching eggs.  The average number of layers in February totaled 390 million, down 1% on the year.  February egg production per 100 layers was up 2% on the year at 2,202 eggs. Broiler-type chicks hatched during February were down slightly on the year totaling 759 million. Breeders placed 8.20 million […]

May corn closed at $7.56 and 1/4, up 14 and 1/2 centsMay soybeans closed at $16.91, up 23 centsMay soybean meal closed at $481.30, up $4.30May soybean oil closed at $73.71, up 142 pointsMay wheat closed at $11.19 and 1/4, up 55 and 1/2 centsApr. live cattle closed at $140.05, down 45 centsApr. lean hogs closed at $100.62, up $1.22Mar. Class III milk closed at $22.40, up 1 centApr. ...

Supply chain issues continue to plague many aspects of the agriculture industry and the equipment industry has not been exempt.  Daryl Theis, head of sales and marketing with CLAAS says at any given point they have 5 to 10 percent of their annual production sitting outside their factories that are 99% complete. And like much of the world, he says CLAAS is just waiting on the arrival of parts to […]

A financial expert says the price of new and used agriculture equipment has become more volatile because of supply chain disruptions. Brent Verploeg with DLL – an entity of Rabobank – tells Brownfield equipment in the market is scarce because of missing parts. “Tires, certain plastic claps, certain computer chips and certain items that are missing to finish out that build. If you look at manufacturer’s lots, they’re full of […]

An egg market analyst says highly pathogenic avian influenza is already causing disruptions to both the global and domestic supply chains. Brian Moscogiuri with Eggs Unlimited says typically the US exports about 3 percent of total egg production.  “With what is happening in terms of bird losses, the US markets have started to rise,” he says.  “That potentially begins to price us out of some of those markets and then […]

Milk futures and cash dairy prices were mostly higher on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Monday. March Class III milk was down a penny to $22.40.  April closed up $.31 at $23.74.  May closed up $.47 at $24.54.  June was up $.43 at $24.62.  July through February contracts ranged from twelve to forty-three cents higher. Dry whey was down $.0050 at $0.7550.  One sale was recorded at that price. Cheese Blocks […]