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

Check seed tags for germ quality

A soybean researcher is urging farmers to take another look at the fine print on the seed tags before planting. Shawn Conley with the Wisconsin Soybean Program says last year’s dry harvest conditions might have impacted the germ test. “Most of the time, when you harvest soybean seed at 14-15 percent moisture, handle it gently,…Continue Reading

Agronomist: crops can pull through in water-logged fields

An agronomist in Arkansas says there could still be good yield potential for flooded crops in the northeast part of the state. “There was already rice, soybeans and corn up before the flooding. Those are the first things to be evaluated,” says Stephen Leininger of Helena Agri-Enterprises, LLC. “We got planted early and for me,…Continue Reading

Solar research suggests economic and water benefits for farmers

Researchers at Michigan State University are studying how farmers can benefit from converting a portion of farmland into solar energy. Earth and Environmental Sciences doctoral student Jake Stid tells Brownfield the land use change does reduce food production somewhat, but growers significantly increase their economic resilience. “Across the board for almost all of the scenarios…Continue Reading

Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: April 29, 2025

May corn closed at $4.60 and 1/2, down 15 centsMay soybeans closed at $10.41, down 11 and 3/4 centsMay soybean meal closed at $290.50, up $3.50May soybean oil closed at 48.85, down 106 pointsMay wheat closed at $5.05 and 3/4, down 9 and 3/4 centsJun. live cattle closed at $210.20, up 60 centsMay feeder cattle…Continue Reading

Red meat exports to China hindered by retaliatory tariffs

The US Meat Export Federation’s vice president of economic analysis says China’s retaliatory tariffs have halted red meat exports to the country. Erin Borror says the disruption could be costly for U.S. beef and pork producers. “On the beef side, without that China bid, we’re looking at $150 to $165 per head industry loss,” she…Continue Reading

Soybean Innovation Lab spared through donation

The director of the Soybean Innovation Lab, at the University of Illinois, says its progress toward developing a global soybean value chain will continue. “It’s a lovely gift. It’s a miracle.” Peter Goldsmith says an anonymous $1.02 million donation averted a predicted mid-April closure and will fund the lab and core staff for another year.…Continue Reading

Minnesota FFA students commit to ag education

More than 20 Minnesota FFA students pledged to become ag teachers during the Minnesota FFA Convention Tuesday. Twenty-two Minnesota FFA members signed with nine universities and technical colleges during a ceremony to demonstrate the students’ intention to join the ranks of teachers who have instructed, coached, and mentored them. One of them is Glencoe-Silver Lake…Continue Reading

Rains delay corn planting

The recent rains have kept west-central Missouri farmer Ronnie Russell from wrapping up corn planting. “The last day I planted was this past Saturday and I was pushing it a little bit, because we’d had recent rains of about 1.5 inches.” He says a lot of corn in his area of the state was planted…Continue Reading

Corn, soybean markets monitor planting weather

An ag economist says the markets haven’t been impacted by planting delays in parts of the Midwest. University of Missouri’s Ben Brown says some areas have received a good amount of moisture over the last week. “People always want you to come out and say ‘we’re way behind and the market should be rallying.’ Don’t…Continue Reading

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