Farm News

Soybeans, corn, wheat up on last day of 2024

Wednesday, January 1

Soybeans were higher on short covering and technical buying. The trade’s keeping an eye on chances for a drier pattern in parts of Argentina. It’s early, but a sustained warmer, drier pattern at this stage of development could still trim yield potential. That also...

Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: December 31, 2024

Wednesday, January 1

Mar. corn closed at $4.58 and 1/2, up 6 and 1/4 centsJan. soybeans closed at $9.98 and 1/4, up 16 and 1/4 centsJan. soybean meal closed at $307.60, up $5.00Jan. soybean oil closed at 39.78, up 6 pointsMar. wheat closed at $5.51 and 1/2,...

Prop 12 and Question 3 stir uncertainty for pork producers in 2025

Wednesday, January 1

State livestock confinement laws continue to create uncertainty for the hog industry. National Pork Producers Council president Lori Stevermer says California’s Proposition 12 and Massachusetts’ Question 3 open the door for a patchwork of regulations. “So as a producer, how do I go forward...

Generic chemicals should bring more scouting trips

Wednesday, January 1

The outreach agronomist with the Illinois Soybean Association says farmers that are turning to generic chemicals as a cost-saving measure should plan to increase their scouting trips. Stephanie Porter tells Brownfield, “A recent study just came out from Iowa State with fungicides.” She says,...

USDA ag price indices up in November

Wednesday, January 1

Farmers made and paid more in November than October. The USDA says the index of prices received jumped 6.8% on the month thanks to gains in market eggs, grapes, lettuce, and broccoli, which canceled out losses for soybeans, milk, hay, and onions. The dairy...

ACE has reservations about EPA nominee Zeldin

Wednesday, January 1

The biofuels industry is preparing for new leadership at EPA. American Coalition for Ethanol CEO Brian Jennings says the nomination of former New York Congressman Lee Zeldin raises some concerns. “Look, as a congressman from Long Island Lee Zeldin had a really bad record...

Illinois budget woes could impact ag

Wednesday, January 1

The director of governmental affairs and commodities with the Illinois Farm Bureau says the state’s looming budget issues could impact agriculture. Kevin Semlow tells Brownfield, “The biggest problem they got is their revenue projections are about $3.2 billion below what they anticipated on their...

Meat exporters already reacting to potential port strike

Tuesday, December 31

An export group leader says the potential work stoppage at U.S. ports in mid-January is already affecting markets. Joe Schuele with the U.S. Meat Export Federation tells Brownfield the industry has known about the January 15th, 2025 port worker contract deadline for several months,...

Cash dairy prices steady to lower Tuesday

Tuesday, December 31

Cash dairy prices were steady-to-lower except for cheese barrels Tuesday on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Dry whey prices remained unchanged at $0.75. No sales were recorded. Forty-pound cheese blocks were unchanged at $1.91. Two sales were recorded at that price. Cheese barrels were up...

More moisture across the eastern Corn Belt; much colder air on-the-move

Tuesday, December 31

Across the Corn Belt, light precipitation is moving into areas east of the Mississippi River, in conjunction with a fast-moving storm system. With uncharacteristically warm air accompanying the system, nearly all the precipitation is falling as rain. In the storm’s wake, cooler, breezy weather...

Central Illinois farmer prepping for 2025

Tuesday, December 31

A central Illinois farmer says he’s been busy preparing for the 2025 growing season. Lance Muirhead, who farms in Macon County, tells Brownfield, “We’re getting there.” He says, “We got everything cleaned up for the most part and put in the shed. Doing a...

HPAI confirmed at large Ohio poultry operation

Tuesday, December 31

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been confirmed at a large Ohio commercial poultry operation. Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Brian Baldridge tells Brownfield it involves nearly a million birds at a laying facility in southwest Ohio. “We’re hopeful this is an isolated case....