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IL Soybean Association stressing need for new farm bill

The director of government relations with the Illinois Soybean Association says he’s disappointed the U.S. House has adjourned for the August recess without further movement on a new farm bill. Andrew Larson tells Brownfield… “There’s certainly a lot of concern that a farm bill...

Delta crops look good as growing season progresses

Timely rains have benefited growers in the Delta region. Justin Payne, a Helena product manager based in Arkansas says precipitation at this point in the growing season takes some pressure off of farmers. “Margins are tight at the farm gate you know so that’s...

St. Louis area returns to close-to-normal water levels

Rivers around the St. Louis area have returned to more normal levels.  Josh Hastings, ADM’s Commercial Manager of the St. Louis and Cairo harbors, says the recent high-water levels north of St. Louis slowed barge traffic.  “What that did was it impacted our ability to go above lock 17 on the...

Upper Midwest farmers resilient amid flood recovery

Some Upper Midwest farmers remain resilient after inclement weather events recently impacted their operations. South Dakota farmer Darren Hefty, who also co-hosts Ag PhD Radio, says several flooding records were broken this summer after 8-to-10 inches of rain fell over a three-day period around...

Price pressure continues for grains

A commodity broker says weather continues to be one of the biggest challenges facing commodity markets.  “There’s no doubt about it, we’re on a slippery slope right now.” Jody Lawrence, founder of Strategic Trading Advisors says there’s potential for the U.S. to deliver another...

Ag PhD Field Day underway in South Dakota

The 2024 Ag PhD Field Day got underway Thursday near Sioux Falls, South Dakota. South Dakota farmer Brian Hefty, who also cohosts Ag PhD Radio, says they bring a range of industry experts to their operation to help farmers with management decisions. “We have...

A hot, humid pattern ahead; diminishing rainfall chances for most of the Heartland

Looking ahead, the 6- to 10-day outlook calls for the likelihood of near- or above-normal temperatures nationwide, except for cooler-than-normal conditions in southern Texas.  Meanwhile, below-normal rainfall across much of the western half of the country should contrast with wetter-than-normal weather in Deep South...

Cattle futures mostly lower ahead of direct business

At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live cattle were mostly lower, and feeders were lower waiting on wide-spread direct business.  August lives closed $.60 higher at $186.90 and October lives closed $.15 higher at $186.27.  August feeders closed $1.62 lower at $257.12 and September feeders...

Colorado mandates milk testing to curb H5N1

The Colorado Department of Agriculture is implementing mandatory milk tank testing to curb the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza. The state veterinarian’s executive order requires weekly tests to be collected by certified samplers at all licensed dairy herds and positive dairies will be...

MO Bootheel rice farmers allowed to use a special insecticide on armyworms

The Missouri Ag Department says 11 counties in the Missouri Bootheel are allowed to apply Intrepid 2F Insecticide to mitigate armyworms in rice. A crisis exemption went into effect late last week and University of Missouri Extension’s Justin Chlapecka says the insecticide isn’t typically...

First cutting of alfalfa a flop

Consistent rains have made alfalfa harvest challenging for farmers in parts of the Great Lakes. “It’s been a difficult year, that’s putting it mildly for our first cutting.” Michigan State University Extension’s Phil Kaatz tells Brownfield up to 10 inches of rain in July...

Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: July 24, 2024

Sep. corn closed at $4.03 and 3/4, up 1 and 1/4 centsAug. soybeans closed at $11.11, down 6 and 1/2 centsAug. soybean meal closed at $343.40, up 70 centsAug. soybean oil closed at 46.02, down 64 pointsSep. wheat closed at $5.47, up 4 and...