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NCGA representative hopeful for resolution to Mexico’s GM corn ban

A policy expert with the National Corn Growers Association says she’s hopeful the Mexican decree banning genetically modified corn imports will be overturned before the end of the year. Nancy Martinez says U.S. lawyers made good arguments at a June hearing to show Mexico’s...

The value of beef to a healthy diet

Work continues on the 10th edition of the Dietary Guidelines.  Shalene McNeill, the executive director of nutrition research at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, says the guidelines are updated every five years and will be for 2025 to 2030. The DGAs serve as the...

Hogs futures higher on stronger pork values during the session

At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live cattle were mixed, and feeders were mostly lower ahead of the week’s direct cash business. October live cattle closed $.05 higher at $179.05, and December lives closed $.20 lower at $178.05. September feeder cattle closed $.67 lower at...

Ag Economy Barometer slightly improves in June

According to the latest Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer, farmer sentiment improved slightly from last month. Jim Mintert with Purdue’s Center for Commercial Agriculture tells Brownfield the rise was surprising. “Given that we saw weakness, especially in corn and soybean prices from June to...

Dairy Distillery Alliance breaks ground on biofuel project

A new alliance plans to convert a milk byproduct into ethanol for sustainable aviation fuel. Canadian-based Dairy Distillery CEO Omid McDonald tells Brownfield this isn’t the first time the technology has been used. “In the ‘70s, there was a lot of focus on fermenting...

New Michigan Sugar facility doubles molasses processing

A new processing facility is helping Michigan sugarbeet growers capture additional returns from the same acres. Michigan Sugar Company’s Rob Clark tells Brownfield a Molasses Desugarization Facility at the company’s Bay City site is extracting additional sugar from what was previously a byproduct used...

New export facility can expand soybean meal opportunities

A Great Lakes shipping facility built only a year ago is looking to expand export opportunities for farmers.  The DeLong company opened a new bulk commodity loading facility last year at the Port of Milwaukee, and in its first season, shipped mostly dried distillers...

Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: August 6, 2024

Sep. corn closed at $3.88 and 3/4, down 2 centsSep. soybeans closed at $10.14, down 17 and 1/2 centsSep. soybean meal closed at $330.60, down $8.10Sep. soybean oil closed at 40.85, down 24 pointsSep. wheat closed at $5.43 and 1/4, up 3 and 3/4...

Cattle markets, input costs headline Rep. Hinson’s Women in Ag Roundtable

Some cattle producers say they are cautiously optimistic about the continued strength in the markets. Lisa Kubik of Traer tells Brownfield live and feeder cattle futures continue to trade near all-time highs. “Cattle prices the last couple of years have been great,” she said....

Fungicide and Nitrogen: Prioritize for Mid-Season Crop

Dan Emmert, a lead agronomist with Advance Agrilytics in southwest Indiana, tells Brownfield about how crops are progressing mid-season, as well as the impact tar spot has in the Corn Belt. Emmert says they are looking at several factors, including fungicide timing, pollination, and...

Milder weather forecast sends soybeans, corn lower

Soybeans were lower on speculative and technical selling. The USDA’s national soybean rating was up 1% on the week, holding above a year ago. Forecasts for this week are generally a little cooler, with rain in some areas. That’ll ease some of the recent...

Healthy soils fight crop stress

Farmers are finding healthier soil helps combat crop stress.                Southern Illinois farmer Granvil Travis has been focused on building the health of his Massac County farm for the past several years. “Four or five years ago, we started doing a lot of tissue samples...