Farm News

More cash cattle trade develops Friday

Monday, January 20

Chicago Mercantile Exchange live and feeder cattle futures were mixed, uncertain about how much higher cash and wholesale prices can go. February live was up $.15 at $196.75 and April was down $.17 at $197.50. March feeders were $.32 higher at $268.05 and April...

Corn farmers look to save with generic fungicides

Monday, January 20

An extension plant pathologist says some farmers are looking at fungicides for cost savings. Alison Robertson with Iowa State University tells Brownfield corn growers are concerned about input costs. “And I saw that there’s a lot of interest in generic fungicides. I think generic...

Soybeans, corn end week on solid ground

Monday, January 20

Soybeans were higher on fund and technical buying, pulling contracts to a higher weekly finish. Beans continued to monitor weather in South America. Near-term forecasts had at least some rain in dry parts of Argentina and southern Brazil, but coverage and totals were uncertain....

Main ingredients for soybean success

Monday, January 20

A professor of crop physiology at the University of Illinois says research has shown two primary management components of high yielding soybeans. Dr. Fred Below says farmers can’t manage the weather, but they can manage planting dates. “You get the leaf area out there...

Biodiesel plants shut down across Iowa

Sunday, January 19

Photo by Brent Barnett/Brownfield The head of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association says several biodiesel plants have idled across the state. Monte Shaw tells Brownfield the plants stopped production after the blenders tax credit ended on December 31st. “They were going to have all...

Study: Iowa pig farmers contribute $15.4B to state’s economy

Sunday, January 19

A new study from the Iowa Pork Producers Association reveals pig farmers are a vital component of the state’s economy. IPPA President Matt Gent tells Brownfield the pork industry contributed $15.4 billion in value added to Iowa’s economy in 2024. “Iowa produces 33%, so...

Don’t overlook market opportunities

Sunday, January 19

A co-founder of AgMarket.net says the current economic outlook means farmers need to take advantage of every opportunity. Matt Bennett, who also farms in central Illinois, says this month’s USDA supply and demand report was one of those. “They extracted a lot of stocks...

Third case of HPAI reported in Jay County, Indiana in 2025

Sunday, January 19

A third case of highly pathogenic avian influenza has been detected in a Jay County (east central), Indiana commercial turkey operation. Denise Derrer Spears with Indiana’s Board of Animal Health says more than 18,000 birds will be depopulated. “What’s really important in these situations...

KBS Long-term Agroecosystem Winter Summit assessing aspirational management

Sunday, January 19

Farmers and agricultural researchers are evaluating how ideal cropping systems are progressing as part of a long-term USDA research project. Phil Robertson says MSU’s Long-Term Agroecosystem Research project is one of 18 across the country that’s comparing traditional cropping practices to sustainable alternatives. “It brings...

Cash dairy markets mostly steady entering holiday weekend

Sunday, January 19

Cash dairy prices were mostly steady with light trading activity Friday on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Dry whey was unchanged at $0.7375. No sales were recorded. Forty-pound cheese blocks were unchanged at $1.89. No sales were recorded. Cheese barrels were also unchanged at $1.89. No...

Cyclical nature gives hope to ag equipment dealers

Sunday, January 19

Past cycles could shed light on how the ag equipment market will perform in 2025 and beyond. Kim Schmidt with Ag Equipment Intelligence suggests agriculture is cyclical, which she says is encouraging given the current slowdown in machinery sales. “That cyclicality of it is...

Drought concerns for Northern Plains and Upper Midwest

Sunday, January 19

A weather expert is concerned parts of the Midwest could experience a dry growing season. Bret Walts with BAMWX says long-term forecasts indicate regions where moisture has been more plentiful will continue in a wetter pattern. “Ohio Valley, Central Plains, (but) I’m concerned a...