Farm News

Indiana native recipient of NAFB Foundation scholarship

Monday, November 25

Marnie Schwartzkopf, daughter of Jeff and Mary Schwartzkopf of Hope, Indiana is the recipient of the Cyndi Young Scholarship, sponsored by Brownfield Ag News and presented by the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) Foundation. Schwartzkopf is currently a senior at Purdue University pursuing...

Trump names Rollins next Secretary of Agriculture

Saturday, November 23

President-elect Donald Trump has tapped Brooke Rollins of Texas to serve as the 33rd US Secretary of Agriculture. Rollins was part of Trump’s 2016 Economic Advisory Council and has helped develop and manage the President-elect’s domestic policy agenda. In a post on X,...

Kansas animal health commissioner says H5N1 vaccine getting closer

Friday, November 22

The animal health commissioner for the Kansas Department of Agriculture says a vaccine could be available soon to guard against H5N1 in dairy cattle. Justin Smith tells Brownfield… “It’s not available yet, it’s efficacy hasn’t been proven, but we’re on the way,” he says. Four...

How to maximize profitability in a tough ag economy

Friday, November 22

A market development agronomist at WinField United says growers should use a whole-acre approach to maximize their yield potential in the tough ag economy. Isaac Anderson says farmers should be cost aware. “Having a comprehensive plan creates predictability,” he says. “When we’re in a...

California’s avian influenza outbreak escalating

Friday, November 22

The President of the California Poultry Federation is concerned about the speed highly pathogenic avian influenza is spreading in his state. “If it doesn’t slow its pace in the next month, we’re in serious trouble.” Bill Mattos tells Brownfield California has been able to...

Operation Food Search bringing fresh local food to Thanksgiving

Friday, November 22

A government program, a non-profit group, and local farmers are teaming up to help those less fortunate this Thanksgiving. Brian DeSmet, program operations manager for Illinois EATS with Operation Food Search, a food bank serving 23 counties in Illinois and Missouri, says local food...

Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: November 22, 2024

Friday, November 22

Dec. corn closed at $4.25 and 1/2, down 1 and 1/4 centsJan. soybeans closed at $9.83 and 1/2, up 5 and 3/4 centsDec. soybean meal closed at $289.20, up $1.50Dec. soybean oil closed at 41.77, down 41 pointsDec. wheat closed at $5.44 and 1/4,...

Soybeans up Friday, still down on week

Friday, November 22

Soybeans were higher on short covering and technical buying but posted a week-to-week decline. Beans continue to monitor the generally favorable development conditions in most of South America. Unknown destinations bought 198,000 tons of 2024/25 U.S. beans, the third day in a row with...

Wyffels Hybrids agronomist pleasantly surprised by Iowa’s harvest season

Friday, November 22

Pictured: Wyffels Hybrids agronomy manager Eric Wilson at the 2024 NAFB Convention in Kansas City (Photo by Brent Barnett/Brownfield) An agronomy manager with Wyffels Hybrids says the 2024 harvest season went better than expected in most areas of Iowa. Eric Wilson tells Brownfield it...

Farm Labor Survey under question

Friday, November 22

A farm labor specialist is analyzing how the USDA conducts its Farm Labor Survey and how farmers using the H-2A guest worker program are impacted. Michigan State University’s Zach Rutledge tells Brownfield crop and livestock farmers are surveyed four times a year on the wages they pay...

Egg production down 4% in October

Friday, November 22

U.S. chicken egg production saw a year-to-year decline in October. The USDA says the monthly total of 9.192 billion eggs was down 4% on the year, on a 3% decrease in the number of laying hens to 377.045 million head and a 1% reduction...

U.S. cattle placements climbed 5% in October

Friday, November 22

The USDA says 2.286 million head of cattle were placed into U.S. feedlots in October 2024. That’s an increase of 5% from October 2023, implying larger market ready cattle supplies starting this spring. October marketings were 1.845 million head, also up 5% on the...