At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live and feeder cattle were higher ahead of the week’s direct business. August live cattle closed $1.65 higher at $211 and October live cattle closed $1.80 higher at $209.20. August feeder cattle closed $2.92 higher at $301.75 and September feeder cattle closed $3.20 higher at $300.900. Direct cash cattle trade…… Continue Reading
An extension crops educator is encouraged with how Minnesota crops are rebounding from May weather challenges. Dave Nicolai with the University of Minnesota says corn, soybeans, small grains and sugarbeets endured abnormally warm conditions in early May, followed by cool, wet weather. “The corn looked and appeared very yellow, probably a lack of sunshine (and)…… Continue Reading
A Michigan farmer says he finished planting in record time. Sanilac County’s Dennis Gardner tells Brownfield a deep freeze during the winter helped set fields up with good soil conditions. “We did switch over to putting soybeans in after we planted some of our sugarbeets this year, just because I don’t like the fact of putting…… Continue Reading
Iowa farmers are busy spraying weeds as planting comes to an end. Mark Jackson grows corn and soybeans in the southeast part of the state and tells Brownfield conditions for herbicide applications have not been ideal. “It’s kind of always a hurdle chasing the windy weather, especially when we have temperature spikes that we’ve been…… Continue Reading
A northeastern South Dakota farmer says crops are looking good so far this spring. Ryan Wagner raises wheat, corn, and soybeans near Roslyn. He says spring wheat looks very good. “We’re mostly tillered out and close to the boot stage, and probably a couple of weeks away from starting to show some heads.” USDA says…… Continue Reading
Soybeans were lower on fund and technical selling. Beans were down on spillover from bean products while reacting to increased trade tensions over tariffs with China. U.S. planting and development conditions look favorable in most areas. The USDA says 67% of the crop is in good to excellent shape, with 84% planted and 63% emerged.…… Continue Reading
The USDA says Illinois farmers continue to make planting progress. Western Illinois farmer Brady Holst, who’s based in Hancock County, says his fields are off to a good start. “We got the corn in in less than a week before the end of April.” He says, “Then finished up the beans a little bit after…… Continue Reading
A southwestern Indiana farmer says wet weather continues to cause planting delays. Ben Kron raises corn and soybeans in Vanderburgh County. “We’re having issues with standing water in places and a lack of oxygen going to the plants,” he says. “There’s too much water and a lot of yellow spots out in the field. It seems…… Continue Reading
The president and CEO of R-CALF USA is requesting a federal investigation into a suspected false report that New World screwworm was detected in the U.S. Bill Bullard tells Brownfield that there is currently too much at risk in the markets. “We need to maintain the integrity of our markets, and we need to make…… Continue Reading
A northwest Ohio farmer says the slow start to the 2025 planting season could result in some acres switching from corn to soybeans. Justin Gravatt says he recently made the decision to just plant soybeans this year. “It was getting later in the spring, but we’re probably half done with beans now,” he says. “The biggest…… Continue Reading
