Farm News

Most Iowa farmers continue planting prep

Monday, April 14

Planting remains in the early stages across Iowa. USDA’s latest weekly crop report says most fieldwork has consisted of tillage, oat seeding, and fertilizer applications. Oats are 47 percent planted, three days behind last year but three days ahead of the five-year average. Six... Read More.

Wet conditions delaying start of planting season for Ohio

Monday, April 14

A southwest Ohio farmer says wet conditions are delaying the start of the 2025 planting season. Jim Percival raises corn and soybeans in Greene County. “It’s very, very wet,” he says. “We had 6 inches of rain there a couple weeks ago, and people... Read More.

Michigan remains cold and wet

Monday, April 14

Much of Michigan is still too cold and wet for farmers to get into fields. Presque Isle County’s Christian Tolllini tells Brownfield early field activities are about on pace for mid-April despite the massive ice storm that moved across Northern Michigan. “If we continue... Read More.

Wisconsin too cool and wet for most fieldwork

Monday, April 14

Cool and wet conditions continued to slow most Wisconsin farmers last week. USDA’s National Ag Statistics Service says northern Wisconsin still has some areas with frost in the ground, and most of the state is too wet for fieldwork. The exceptions are in the... Read More.

Minimal Illinois planting progress, so far

Monday, April 14

The USDA says spring rain allowed Illinois farmers to only make minimal planting progress last week. Ogle County farmer, and president of Illinois Farm Bureau, Brian Duncan says he’ll get started this week. “Spring work has gone at a record pace here, so spring... Read More.

Soybeans mixed to start the week

Monday, April 14

Soybeans were mixed, with nearby contracts down and deferred months up. Beans adjusted spreads, continuing to monitor tariff talks. Not a lot of public progress on that front recently, but negotiations with several nations are reportedly ongoing. Brazil’s harvest is nearing the finish, while... Read More.

West central Indiana farmer still a week out from planting

Monday, April 14

A west central Indiana farmer says he’s about a week away from starting the 2025 planting season. Kevin Cox farms in Parke County. “Not very excited about doing any planting this week,” he says. “This front’s coming in over the weekend and they’re talking... Read More.

4% of U.S. corn, 2% of soybeans planted

Monday, April 14

Early U.S. corn planting is a little bit slower than the past several years. The USDA says that as of Sunday, 4% of U.S. corn is planted, compared to the five-year average of 5%, with wet conditions delaying activity in some areas. 2% of... Read More.

Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: April 14, 2025

Monday, April 14

May corn closed at $4.85, down 5 and 1/4 centsMay soybeans closed at $10.41 and 3/4, down 1 centMay soybean meal closed at $297.10, down $2.50May soybean oil closed at 46.32, down 103 pointsMay wheat closed at $5.47 and 1/2, down 8 and 1/4... Read More.

Pritzker: Illinois FFA funding an investment

Monday, April 14

The governor of Illinois says he considers funding for FFA members’ dues safe. J.B. Pritzker says ensuring Illinois remains a FFA affiliation membership state is an investment in the state’s number one industry. “Many people who couldn’t otherwise become a member, because they just... Read More.

Precision-Guided Sterile SWD Technology moving through trials

Monday, April 14

Farmers could soon start testing the effectiveness of gene-edited technology to control Spotted Winged Drosophila with sterile males. Chief Commercial Officer of Agragen Matt Helms tells Brownfield, “We don’t have pipelines coming from big ag with new active ingredients and chemicals, and this is... Read More.

Turkey hatchery trend stays below a year ago

Monday, April 14

Turkey supplies will likely get tighter in the coming months. The USDA says 24.592 million turkey eggs were in incubation at the start of April, a drop of 6% on the year, partially due to de-population caused by the spread of highly pathogenic avian... Read More.