The sudden termination of two USDA food programs has some producers seeking new marketing channels.  Federal officials ended the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program and the Local Food for Schools Program, which provided a direct marketing pathway for many meat, vegetable, and honey producers.  One of them is Mike Miles...

A line of corn hybrids popular with U.S. dairy producers is being discontinued.  In a statement to Brownfield, a Corteva spokesperson says the dairy industry is evolving and the company is focused on growing farmer demand for high-quality, high-tonnage silage hybrids.  Corteva has made the decisions to phase out Brown...

The director of the Gardner Agricultural Policy Program at the University of Illinois says the Trump administration’s freezing of USDA funding is having far reaching consequences. Jonathan Coppess tells Brownfield, “These are duly appropriated, constitutionally appropriated funds by Congress.”  He says, “The federal courts have been telling the administration to...

Bipartisan legislation has been reintroduced in the U.S. Senate to help improve risk management and financial resources for farmers. Senate Ag Committee Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar stressed the need to close crop insurance gaps for beginning farmers and veterans during a recent hearing. “Many small, diversified producers face challenges with...

May corn closed at $4.58 and 1/2, down 6 and 3/4 centsMay soybeans closed at $10.16, up 5 and 1/4 centsMay soybean meal closed at $305.90, down $1.20May soybean oil closed at 41.59, up 28 pointsMay wheat closed at $5.57, down 5 and 1/2 centsApr. live cattle closed at $203.17,...

Highly pathogenic avian influenza has been confirmed within a commercial pullet flock in Iowa. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship says the detection occurred in Buena Vista County and approximately 400,000 pullets will be depopulated. The department says this is the state’s sixth detection of H5N1 HPAI within...

Soybeans were modestly higher on short covering and technical buying, but not enough to pull contracts to a higher weekly finish. Soybeans are watching late development conditions in Argentina and harvest activity in Brazil. The USDA’s monthly supply, demand, and production numbers and CONAB’s updated outlook for Brazil are both...

At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live and feeder cattle were up watching the week’s direct business develop.  April lives closed $1.12 higher at $203.17 and June lives closed $1.07 higher at $199.35.  April feeders closed $1.22 higher at $281.20 and May feeders closed $1.12 higher at $282.65.  Direct cash cattle...

The Michigan FFA Star in Agribusiness says her journey to entrepreneurship started with volunteering. Montague FFA’s Grace Torsch tells Brownfield her garden maintenance business was born after establishing relationships with clients through a community service project who needed more help outdoors. “It just kept expanding,” she says. “I keep track...

Members of the Ohio Soybean Council are emphasizing the importance of export markets in the success of the state’s soybean industry. West central Ohio farmer Bill Bayliss says export markets drive demand for Ohio soybeans. “More than 60% of our soy ends up being transported overseas,” he says. “We’re over...

A farmer from northwestern Iowa says he’s concerned U.S. ethanol could be the target of retaliatory tariffs. Kelly Nieuwenhuis is a past president of both the Iowa Corn Promotion Board and Siouxland Energy Cooperative. He tells Brownfield Canada is the top destination for U.S. ethanol exports. “We worked really hard...

This year’s Michigan FFA Star Farmer says his Supervised Agricultural Experience has helped him better understand the business aspects of farming. Hopkins FFA’s Colby Tucker tells Brownfield, “My operation is a lot like my parents’ farm.” “We keep track of all the numbers, all the income, all the expenses, like...

The Michigan FFA Star in Agriscience has been studying the environmental impacts of hydraulic fuel since seventh grade. Chesaning FFA’s Sterling Tomac tells Brownfield he was inspired by his dad, who works as a contractor in highly sensitive environmental areas. “If a conventional hydraulic oil would get into the aquatic...

Many farmers are looking for ways to reduce costs without impacting productivity. But, Will Griffin, row crop segment manager with Valent U.S.A., says, “It’s really difficult to save your way to prosperity.” He tells Brownfield when farmers cut corners on inputs, they risk yield loss. “I don’t think you could...

Bipartisan legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House and Senate to protect the nation’s food supply from foreign entities. Congresswoman Ashley Hinson tells Brownfield the Securing American Agriculture Act would reduce the country’s reliance on markets like China. “China could pull that trigger at any time and decide to...