The Trump administration has announced it is resuming payments to growers through the Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops program. Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins says a second round of support up to $1.3 billion will be used to assist growers with rising input costs and to expand domestic markets. The assistance program was created at the end of…… Continue Reading
Second crop corn conditions favorable in Brazil
An ag economist says demand has been strong for U.S. corn. Jim McCormick with AgMarket.Net says the corn market has been monitoring harvest in Argentina and second crop conditions in Brazil. “A big critical part is this safrinha corn crop,” he said. “From what I understand, they are getting the rain they need right now.…… Continue Reading
Criminal charges dropped against a South Dakota ranching family
The Trump administration has dropped criminal charges against a South Dakota family accused of improperly using Forest Service land. Ethan Lane with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association says the Maude family was a victim of an egregious overreach of power. “The fact that the Trump administration heard those calls from us, from the Public Lands…… Continue Reading
Rollins comments on workforce reductions, says USDA working on government efficiency
Photo by Brownfield’s Erin Anderson. Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins says the USDA continues to evaluate job cuts within the agency. “We are very focused on ensuring that the front line of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, whether it’s APHIS, whether it’s FSA, our rural development piece, whatever it is, that those positions are not rift…… Continue Reading
An overuse of Bt corn traits can lead to a lower ROI
Using corn rootworm traits for too long can lead to a lower return on investment. In this episode of Managing for Profit, Purdue University entomologist Christian Krupke explains what farmers can do to save money and prevent corn rootworm resistance. The post An overuse of Bt corn traits can lead to a lower ROI appeared…… Continue Reading
Lindberg addresses ag trade deficit during confirmation hearing
President Trump’s nominee for USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs says America’s ag trade deficit is impacting the entire U.S. economy. During a confirmation hearing before the Senate Ag CommitteeTuesday, Luke Lindberg, who is currently president and CEO of South Dakota Trade, says he supports free trade agreements that could help reverse…… Continue Reading
A pattern shift to warmer (early-season heat?) days ahead; a reversal of rainfall for some
Looking ahead, the 6- to 10-day outlook calls for the likelihood of above-normal temperatures in most areas east of the Rockies, while cooler-than-normal conditions will prevail across southern Florida and much of the West. Meanwhile, below-normal precipitation in most areas east of the Mississippi River should contrast with wetter-than-normal weather across Florida and from the…… Continue Reading
Another active day’s worth of weather for parts of the Heartland; heavy rain, storms for some
Across the Corn Belt, the threat of severe thunderstorms has shifted to the south and east, following Monday’s outbreak across the upper Midwest. Early Tuesday, a broken line of showers stretches from the lower Great Lakes region into the middle Mississippi Valley. Cooler air is overspreading the upper Midwest, where Wednesday’s high temperatures will remain…… Continue Reading
Wisconsin county group exposes students to ag career opportunities
A Wisconsin county is giving middle school students a chance to explore career paths in agriculture. The Kewaunee County Economic Development Corporation is working with Ebert Enterprises, a dairy and crop farm, to show students about agronomy, cropping, horticulture, animal nutrition, milk testing, cheese making, agriculture support services, technology, and the business of agriculture. Ag…… Continue Reading
Cattle futures higher on Tuesday
At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live and feeder cattle were higher ahead of widespread direct business. Feeders had additional support from the lower move in corn. June live cattle closed $.60 higher at $210.20 and August live closed $.35 higher at $205.67. May feeder cattle closed $2.22 higher at $294.02 and August feeder cattle closed…… Continue Reading
