Farm News

Harvest slowly starting in southern Wisconsin

Monday, September 9

A few farmers in southern Wisconsin have begun harvesting. Doug Rebout says he’s getting ready to combine some soybeans at his Janesville, Wisconsin farm. “We’ve got a couple of fields where the leaves have basically all dropped off of it. It was an early-day...

Cash rents predicted to drop in 2025

Monday, September 9

A farm management professor at the University of Illinois says cash rents are expected to decline in 2025. Gary Schnitkey says lower return on investment is a contributing factor. “For 2024, we’re projecting a negative $129 return for cash rent land in Central Illinois,” he says....

Once labor hits X, growers say they’re out

Monday, September 9

An apple grower says many U.S. specialty crops are phasing out as labor costs become unmanageable. Chris Kropf tells Brownfield farmers using the H-2A guest worker program have no idea what their labor costs could be from year to year with Adverse Effect Wage...

Hinson frustrated with farm bill delays

Monday, September 9

U.S. Congresswoman Ashley Hinson says time is running out for lawmakers to pass a new five-year farm bill. “I’m frustrated with the fact we haven’t been able to get that bill done,” she said. “It was due last year at this time. September 30th...

Agronomist hearing strong harvest optimism in Iowa

Monday, September 9

An extension agronomist says harvest could pick up steam in parts of Iowa as early as next week. Iowa State University’s Meaghan Anderson says some central Iowa farmers have high expectations for their corn and soybean crops. “The farmers I’ve talked with have pretty...

Iowa farmer discusses harvest plans at Farm Progress Show

Monday, September 9

A central Iowa farmer says he’s cautiously optimistic about his 2024 crop. Tim Bardole raises soybeans, corn, and hogs near Rippey in Greene County. “The soybeans are still plugging along and they look pretty good,” he said. “The corn is maturing and maybe just...

DEKALB named official corn seed of the Field of Dreams movie site

Monday, September 9

The Rahe Brothers of Dyersville, Iowa, have farmed the Field of Dreams movie site for more than 20 years. Andy and Adam Rahe plant DEKALB DKC64-64RIB in the fields surrounding the site of the iconic 1989 Field of Dreams baseball movie. Jamie Horton, DEKALB...

A 2025 Farm Bill means lost time

Monday, September 9

If a new farm bill isn’t completed this year, Jake Westlin with the National Association of Wheat Growers says it’s not likely Congress will address it quickly in 2025. “There’s going to be a new president. That person would have the opportunity to appoint...

Kansas 4-H livestock producers compete at Kansas State Fair

Monday, September 9

Kansas 4-H livestock producers were hard at work over the weekend as the 2024 Kansas State Fair kicked off. Eighteen-year-old Jacob Wendland won reserve champion in the middleweight division of the 4-H sheep show Saturday. “There is a lot of work that goes in....

Soybeans show promise at start of long-term ecological study

Monday, September 9

The director of a long-term agricultural research project says soybeans have shown the most profit potential when using more diverse rotations. Phil Robertson is with Michigan State University’s Kellogg Biological Station’s Long-Term Agroecosystem Project. “We know we can be profitable and even more profitable...

Specialty crop import increases reflect waning U.S. production

Monday, September 9

An ag economist says America’s dependance on foreign fruits and vegetables has quadrupled over the past four years. Michigan Farm Bureau’s Loren Koeman tells Brownfield the pace imports have increased is alarming. “We continue to import more and more fruits and vegetables, and that...

Ag groups ask lawmakers for 2024 farm bill

Monday, September 9

Ag lobbyist Tom Sell says a new farm bill isn’t likely by the end of September. “I don’t think it’s realistic for House floor action. It’s certainly not realistic for Senate floor action, but at the end of the day, none of that is...