Farm News

Soybeans down, corn mixed, watching weather in South America

Monday, December 2

Soybeans were modestly lower on fund and technical selling. Development weather in most of South America continues to look non-threatening to favorable. Conditions in much of Brazil are nearly ideal and while some portions of Argentina have been a little drier, there is rain...

National Sorghum Producers chairwoman says crop is vital to U.S. biofuel production

Monday, December 2

The chairwoman of National Sorghum Producers says the group will continue to promote sorghum as an option to help meet biofuels production goals. Amy France says in terms of climate-friendly crops, sorghum ranks near the top. “As we look at 45Z tax credits for the ethanol world...

Winter-like cold prevails across most of the Heartland; Great Lakes snowbelts remain active

Monday, December 2

Across the Corn Belt, the coldest air of the season remains in place, with Monday’s Midwestern high temperatures expected to range from 15 to 32°F. Additionally, snow squalls continue downwind of the Great Lakes, while an atmospheric disturbance crossing the upper Mississippi Valley is...

Cash dairy prices mostly steady to higher Monday

Monday, December 2

Cash dairy prices were steady-to-higher except for block cheese Monday, following the four-day holiday weekend at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Dry whey prices were up $0.0175 at $0.7275. Three sales were recorded, ranging from $0.71 to $0.7275. Forty-pound cheese blocks were down $0.0050 at...

Cover crops working for central Illinois farmer

Monday, December 2

A central Illinois farmer is seeing the long-term benefits of cover crops. Kris Reynolds, who farms in Montgomery County, says he’s utilized the practice for over a decade. “It was kind of a way to reduce some chemical usage, you know, suppress weeds.” He...

Sorghum export inspections up on week, others down

Monday, December 2

The USDA says corn, soybean, and wheat export inspections as of the week ending November 28th remain ahead of the paces needed to meet projections for the current, respective marketing years. The 2024/25 marketing year began June 1st for wheat and September 1st for...

A gradual moderating trend in temperatures ahead from west to east across the Heartland

Monday, December 2

Looking ahead, the 6- to 10-day outlook calls for the likelihood of above-normal temperatures from the Pacific Coast to the Plains, while colder-than-normal conditions will prevail in most areas east of the Mississippi River. Meanwhile, wetter-than-normal weather across large sections of the northern, southern,...

ARC and PLC more prominent in 2025 risk management

Monday, December 2

A crop insurance specialist suggests Title I Commodity programs should play a bigger part in risk management in 2025. Cole Patrick with Compeer Financial says Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage are designed to be more effective when markets are down. “Where they...

Ear flex key to reducing plant populations

Monday, December 2

An agronomist with LG Seeds says some farmers may be looking to reduce plant populations in 2025 to save on the bottom line. Samantha Agnotti, who’s based in Wisconsin, says it’s a solid strategy when selecting the correct corn hybrid. “There’s gonna be hybrids...

Illinois farmers represented on EPA’s Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Advisory Committee

Monday, December 2

The director of conservation with the Illinois Corn Growers Association (ICGA) says her appointment to an Environmental Protection Agency advisory committee is a unique opportunity. Megan Dwyer tells Brownfield, “There’s a little over 20 people that come together that look at policy and regulatory...

“Definitely some concern” about Trump tariff threats among Minnesota Cattlemen’s Association members

Monday, December 2

Ag groups are anxious to see how the incoming administration handles trade policy. Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association executive director Kaitlyn Root says it’s unclear whether President-elect Trump will follow through on tariff threats made throughout his campaign. “We don’t know enough at this point,...

Improved Crop Protection

Monday, December 2

Corteva Agriscience Enlist field specialist Andy Carriger says flexibility is huge when it comes to managing weeds and insects. He tells Brownfield Enlist corn products offer multiple herbicide tolerances and better defense against above and below-ground pests. The post