Farm News

“Bean Binoculars” website offers farmers national insight

Friday, August 30

A North Carolina State University Extension soybean specialist says a new website allows farmers to keep up to date with emerging soybean issues as they happen. Rachel Vann says the “Bean Binoculars” map serves as an early warning network for agronomic issues. “With each...

USDA ag price indices down on month

Friday, August 30

U.S. farmers made and paid less in July than they did in June. The USDA’s index of prices received fell 2.7% on the month on declines in corn, soybeans, lettuce, and broccoli, which canceled out gains in cattle, market eggs, strawberries, and oranges. The...

Sen. Fischer concerned with downturn in ag economy

Friday, August 30

A U.S. Senator says she’s concerned about the downturn in the ag economy. Nebraska Republican Deb Fischer tells Brownfield… “People know that we have to weather these cycles, but they also know that we have to receive fair compensation, fair revenue for the products we...

California investigating possible H5N1 cases

Friday, August 30

California officials are testing dairy cows from three farms for possible avian influenza infections. The state’s Department of Food and Agriculture says samples from the three sites have been submitted to the state’s animal health and food safety lab for verification of the H5N1...

Clean Fuels Alliance partners with PepsiCo to meet decarbonization goals

Friday, August 30

Clean Fuels Alliance America wants to see an increase of lower carbon biofuels. Director of State Governmental Affairs Jeff Earl tells Brownfield… “We need good, strong policy to send that market signal and also provide any kind of incentive that might be necessary to help encourage...

Early signs of pressure in the ag economy

Friday, August 30

A senior economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City says she’s seeing more pressure on the ag economy. Cortney Cowley says farm income is declining. “We say early signs because the way we measure farm income is by asking agricultural lenders if farm...

Growth in farmland values is slowing

Friday, August 30

A senior economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City says growth in farmland values has slowed. Cortney Cowley tells Brownfield… “That means that you could buy a treasury bond or or invest in a lower risk entity and make more money on...

Bleak outlook for corn and soybean prices through harvest

Friday, August 30

A market analyst sees a bleak outlook for corn and soybean prices going into harvest. Jamey Kohake with Paragon Investments says a record crop is waiting to come online. “Saw big numbers from Pro Farmer (and) it looks like pretty much anywhere but southern...

CME cash dairy prices steady to higher Friday

Friday, August 30

Cash dairy prices were steady-to-higher entering the holiday Friday on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Dry whey was unchanged at $0.56. Two sales were recorded at that price. Forty-pound cheese blocks were up $0.1350 at $2.21. Three sales were recorded, ranging from $2.19 to $2.21. ...

Beck’s Hybrids expects good seed supply for ‘25

Friday, August 30

The central region business manager for Beck’s Hybrids says the company expects adequate seed supplies for 2025. Clint Prange tells Brownfield… “Seed production looks very good right now.” He says, “We even ramped up production that much more coming off of last year because...

First field trial for H5N1 cattle vaccine authorized

Friday, August 30

Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says the USDA will allow field safety trials of H5N1 vaccines in dairy cattle. Vilsack says he doesn’t expect the trials to disrupt trade. “The expectation is that there won’t be quite the level of concern as there is in...

Surprising start to harvest for southeastern Illinois farmer

Friday, August 30

A southeastern Illinois farmer says his corn harvest started Thursday with a surprise. Jeff Scates, who farms in Gallatin & Union Counties, tells Brownfield… “It was the first field that we had planted, and it was coming out at 15% moisture.” He says, “So...