Farm News

Thinking differently about livestock grazing

Thursday, September 5

Two regenerative ag consultants say adaptive grazing can help build healthy soils. Eric Fuchs with Understanding Ag says adaptive grazing for livestock looks different from conventional grazing. “The conventional model has cattle turned into a pasture, let them graze wherever they want, feed them...

Study shows alfalfa damage from field traffic

Thursday, September 5

A University of Wisconsin study shows that 49% of alfalfa plants are run over by machinery tires over the course of three harvests. Biological Systems Engineering professor Brian Luck tells Brownfield driving equipment through the field is necessary, but adjusting when and how...

CME cash dairy steady to higher Thursday

Thursday, September 5

Cash dairy prices were steady-to-higher Thursday on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Dry whey was up $0.0025 at $0.5675. No sales were recorded. Forty-pound cheese blocks were unchanged at $2.23. No sales were recorded. Cheese barrels were unchanged at $2.25. One sale was recorded at...

Ethanol production, supply down on week

Thursday, September 5

U.S. ethanol production dropped last week. The U.S. Energy Information Administration says production was the lowest since late June at an average of 1.061 million barrels per day, a decrease of 10,000 on the week, but an increase of 49,000 on the year. That...

Conditions are right for rapid drought development

Thursday, September 5

The associate director of the Midwestern Regional Climate Center says rapid onset drought is possible across several states in the next couple of weeks. Melanie Widhalm says that can cause problems during harvest. “It will help you get into the fields. It will help...

Consumers predict food inflation to get lower

Thursday, September 5

An ag economist at Purdue University says consumer estimates for food price inflation declined in the latest Consumer Food Insights Report. Joseph Balagtas with Purdue’s Center for Food Demand Analysis and Sustainability says this is the lowest level since early 2022. “From July 2024,...

Minnesota farmer combats crop diseases

Thursday, September 5

Many corn and soybean farmers faced significant disease pressure this season. Rob Tate farms near Cannon Falls in southeast Minnesota and says conditions suited plant pathogens. “We decided to spray a little more fungicide than maybe what we would’ve planned to do originally, generally...

USDA’s Bonnie concerned about solar farms

Thursday, September 5

A USDA official is concerned solar installations will take productive farmland out of production. Undersecretary for farm production and conservation Robert Bonnie tells Brownfield. “I hear it everywhere I go, and I worry about bringing prime agricultural land out of production. Of course we...

New center at Ohio State helps drive development of the U.S. rubber industry

Thursday, September 5

Researchers at the Ohio State University are working to increase domestic production of rubber. Professor Judit Puskas says a federal grant from the National Science Foundation will fund research from experts in engineering, biology, and agriculture. “Having seven partner universities, four core partners, and Ohio...

Identifying needs versus wants in a down economy

Thursday, September 5

With the downturn in the farm economy likely to continue, Barry Benson, an ag banker with First National Bank of Omaha (FNBO) says it’s more important than ever to be financially sound. He shares some tips about watching expenses, identifying spending habits and controlling...

K-State entomologist says corn leafhoppers could present a challenge for growers

Thursday, September 5

A Kansas State University entomologist says recent scouting efforts have confirmed the prevalence of corn leafhoppers in Kansas. Anthony Zucoff tells Brownfield the insect can spread corn stunt disease. “It’s important to know that the leafhoppers themselves need to feed on an infected plants...

Biden, Vilsack announce green energy grants to rural cooperatives

Thursday, September 5

Electric cooperatives in 23 states are getting more than 7.3 billion dollars in clean energy grants. President Biden and Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack are announcing the details at one of the Dairyland Power Cooperative project sites near Westby, Wisconsin Thursday. Vilsack says Dairyland is...