At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live and feeder cattle were lower ahead of the week’s direct business and Friday’s cattle reports from the USDA. August live cattle closed $1.22 lower at $225.80 and October live cattle closed $1.35 lower at $222.15. August feeder cattle closed $2.62 lower at $328.90 and September feeder cattle closed $2.25…… Continue Reading
Corn ekes out gain as soybeans, wheat finish mixed
Soybeans were mixed, mostly modestly higher, adjusting spreads. Beans continue to monitor U.S. development conditions, which generally look favorable in much of the region. Still, the big test will be conditions during August and September. Domestic crush margins are solid, while it was a bearish week for export sales numbers. 2024/25 sales were considerably below…… Continue Reading
Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: July 24, 2025
Sep. corn closed at $4.01 and 3/4, up 3 and 1/4 centsAug. soybeans closed at $10.04 and 1/4, down 1 and 1/2 centsAug. soybean meal closed at $269.70, down $2.30Aug. soybean oil closed at 56.67, up 53 pointsSep. wheat closed at $5.41 and 1/2, up 1 centAug. live cattle closed at $225.80, down $1.22Aug. feeder…… Continue Reading
Virtual fencing can simplify herd management
A University of Wisconsin researcher says virtual fencing is a great way to manage grazing for cows, goats, and sheep. Stephanie Bowers is a dairy farmer and the University of Wisconsin’s regional dairy educator. She tells Brownfield virtual fencing uses cow collars and either satellites, cellular towers, base stations, or a combination of those, so…… Continue Reading
USDA Regional Food Business Centers terminated
The head of a USDA Regional Food Business Center says the agency’s decision to terminate programs ends a two-year process building collaborative resources and improved accessibility to funding. Jahi Johnson-Chappell tells Brownfield financial support for the Great Lakes Midwest Regional Food Business Center had stopped in December just before the grant process was to…… Continue Reading
June red meat production 1% below a year ago
Commercial red meat production during June was 4.224 billion pounds. The USDA says that was down 1% on the year, with beef 2% lower at 2.087 billion pounds due to a slower slaughter pace tied to tighter market ready numbers, a dip of 4% to 2.426 million head, while pork was up slightly at 2.123…… Continue Reading
Study looks at cover crop nitrogen credits
Research is underway to find out how much nitrogen credits can be gained from using cover crops. Chris Bandura with the University of Wisconsin Extension tells Brownfield the research being done now at ten farms to learn what nitrogen credits farmers can expect from different cover crop species as part of Wisconsin’s Nitrogen Optimization Pilot…… Continue Reading
MAHA on the mind
Some ag groups are cautiously optimistic about the next report from the Make America Healthy Again Commission. Krista Swanson, chief economist with the National Corn Growers Association, says the first MAHA report’s discussions of pesticides have agriculture taking notice. “A lot of the things in their report didn’t even have a reference.” She says, “Some…… Continue Reading
The importance of choosing the right succession plan
The founder of American Harvest Financial says having the right succession plan in place is essential to protecting the future of family farming operations. Heather Venenga says it’s important to understand all of the options. “Wills are one and done,” she says. “They say this is what’s going to happen. There’s no hold it in there…… Continue Reading
Trade barriers for specialty crop growers
The executive director of the Minor Use Foundation says a lack of standardized trade regulations around the world is creating challenges for specialty crop exports. Anna Gore says the patchwork of rules is making it harder to increase market access. “Fruits and vegetables over the past three years have represented more than half of all…… Continue Reading
