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Crop development behind despite hot week in Minnesota

Crop development continues to lag in Minnesota despite a week of hot temperatures. USDA’s latest crop update says corn silking is 81 percent, eight days behind last year and five days off the five-year average.  Fifty-eight percent of the crop is rated in good...

Nebraska farmer says July rains helped his corn, soybeans

Recent rains have helped Nebraska crop conditions. Doug Saathoff, who farms in the south-central part of the state, tells Brownfield… “We’re looking really good,” he says. “Of course we had quite a bit of rain up to about the first week of July and...

Recent rainfall helps Kentucky corn crop, soybeans hold steady

Kentucky has had both above-normal temperatures and rainfall recently. The state’s corn crop condition improved slightly this week to 68 percent good to excellent.  Ninety percent of the crop is silking, 48 percent is in the dough stage, and 22 percent has dented.  Soybeans...

Wisconsin farmers harvesting small grains as row crops continue developing

Wisconsin’s warm and mostly dry week allowed for small grain harvesting and good row crop development.  USDA reporters say only six percent of the state’s topsoil and three percent of the subsoil is short of moisture. Seventy-two percent of the state’s corn is silking...

Crop conditions decline in South Dakota

In South Dakota, USDA says corn and soybean condition ratings declined 2 to 3% the last week of July. Corn is rated 67% good to excellent with 72% of the corn is in dough stage, in-line with the average. Soybeans are now rated 68%...

A dry week for Arkansas crops

A dry week allowed Arkansas farmers to get more fieldwork finished.  The National Ag Statistics Service says most of the state saw no rain. Topsoil moisture levels show just 4% of the cropland has surplus moisture, with 49% adequate, 37% short, and 10% very...

Warm temps, low rainfall cause MO crop conditions to decline

USDA says Missouri’s corn and soybean conditions declined slightly in the last week of July, likely due to the above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall. Missouri’s corn condition is rated 77% good to excellent with 22% of the corn dented. Soybean condition is...

Cattle futures sharply lower to start the week

At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live and feeder cattle were sharply lower, pressured by the broader markets, waiting for direct business to develop.  October live cattle closed $3.07 lower at $179 and December lives closed $3.95 lower at $178.25.  September feeders closed $6.90 lower...

AGCO cuts hit Precision Planting

AGCO has confirmed that an announced restructuring has led to layoffs at Precision Planting. In a statement to Brownfield, the company says its reductions announced in June, and recently carried out, are in response to continued weakening demand in the agriculture industry and long-term...

Majority of Iowa crops remain in good to excellent condition

More than three quarters of Iowa’s corn and soybean crops are in good to excellent condition. USDA’s latest weekly crop update says 77 percent of corn and 76 percent of soybeans are rated good to excellent.  More than half of corn has reached the...

Dryness across Ohio leaves crops to struggle

A district sales manager for AgriGold Hybrids says it’s been a rough year in the field. Scott Bugg says dryness across the state hasn’t benefited the crops. “Some pretty rough looking crops out there. Some areas, they just have not been able to win...