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2025 drought concerns looming

Early indicators are pointing to an increased risk of drought in 2025. Eric Snodgrass, chief atmospheric scientist with Conduit Ag, says he’s closely watching La Nina and the Bermuda High. “We had a pretty epic fall drought.”  He says, “What happened in those years...

Rapid food safety testing could be a year away

Researchers are about a year away from developing rapid tests to detect some foodborne illnesses. Michigan State University Nano BioSensor researcher Vangie Alocilja is leading a project to develop a test kit for poultry producers to quickly detect traces of salmonella before birds are...

MSU Innovation Center bringing research solutions to farmers

Connecting research to ag start-ups, the Michigan State University Innovation Center serves as a link to find solutions for agricultural challenges. AgBio Technology Manager Julia Miller tells Brownfield, “Most of the technologies have not been developed to the point where a company’s commercializing them,...

Unprecedented uncertainty around farm bill

It’s an unprecedented time in farm bill discussions. Jonathan Coppess leads the Gardner Agricultural Policy Program at the University of Illinois. “I’m not sure when we’ve seen this level of uncertainty.”  He says, “A two-year failed reauthorization effort following on the last two farm...

AgroLiquid to acquire Monty’s Plant Food Company

AgroLiquid has announced it plans to acquire Monty’s Plant Food Company to help expand its innovation in agricultural crop nutrition. Monty’s Plant Food is a Louisville-based specialist in soil health and plant nutrition technology. AgroLiquid CEO Nick Bancroft says both companies share some similar...

Michigan Farm Bureau members encouraging deer donations

Michigan Farm Bureau is among the many state farm groups across the Great Lakes who are raising concerns about deer damage. Director of the Public Policy and Commodity Division Matt Smego tells Brownfield members want to know how the state is managing the population...

Tax policy could change in 2025

2025 will be a big year for tax policy. ​The 2017 Tax Cut and Jobs Act is set to expire next year. The director of government affairs at the American Farm Bureau Federation Dustin Sherer says there are a couple of provisions they want...

Midwinter-like cold for most; some moisture developing on the southern Plains

Across the Corn Belt, cold, dry weather prevails, although winds have diminished.  Early Friday, temperatures again dipped below -10°F in parts of the upper Midwest, including much of northern Minnesota and northern Wisconsin.  Livestock producers in the western Corn Belt are preparing for an...

Wolf and deer depredation legislative priorities for Minnesota Cattlemen

Wolf and deer depredation are legislative priorities for the Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association in 2025. President Jake Thompson says they’ve been telling state lawmakers about damage from deer and elk for two years. “We’re going to still work really hard towards that, try to...

Mid- Winter-like cold for most; some moisture developing on the southern Plains

Across the Corn Belt, cold, dry weather prevails, although winds have diminished.  Early Friday, temperatures again dipped below -10°F in parts of the upper Midwest, including much of northern Minnesota and northern Wisconsin.  Livestock producers in the western Corn Belt are preparing for an...