The USDA has increased its new crop domestic cotton ending stocks projection while decreasing the outlook for rice. The new crop cotton carryout is now seen at 4.6 million bales, up 300,000 from June with lower beginning stocks more than canceled out by higher production. That larger production guess, up 600,000 bales to 14.6 million,…… Continue Reading
Indiana farmers committed to expanding soil conservation
The director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture says farmers continue to look for ways to implement additional conservation practices. ISDA director Don Lamb says a new report shows Indiana farmers planted 1.6 million acres of cover crops in 2025. “Indiana is a big state for cover crops, for conservation, and for soil health,”…… Continue Reading
Cash dairy prices mixed at end of week
Cash dairy prices were mixed Friday on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Dry whey was up $0.0050 at $0.5675. Two sales were recorded at $0.5675 and $0.5750. Forty-pound cheese blocks were down $0.0250 at $1.66. Six sales were recorded, ranging from $1.66 to $1.6775. Cheese barrels were down $0.0350 at $1.6750. One sale was recorded at…… Continue Reading
USDA sees smaller wheat crop in 2025
The USDA sees a decline in U.S. wheat production from 2024 to 2025. This year’s winter wheat crop is now pegged at 1.345 billion bushels, down 3% from June as harvest moves forward and less than 1% below last year’s total. The year-to-year dip is due to smaller planted and harvested area. The USDA’s average…… Continue Reading
Corn growers headed to DC
Corn growers from across the country are heading to Washington, D.C., next week. Garrett Hawkins, president of the Illinois Corn Growers Association, says the annual Corn Congress, an event organized by NCGA, is an opportunity to build on key legislative relationships. “Whenever you’re actually meeting face to face with your senators and congressmen and women,…… Continue Reading
USDA lowers corn, wheat ending stocks expectations
The USDA has tightened the balance sheets for U.S. corn and wheat, while raising the ending stocks guess for soybeans. New crop corn ending stocks are now pegged at 1.66 billion bushels, down 90 million from June on lower beginning stocks, a smaller crop because of acreage adjustments, and decreased feed use. The average 2025/26…… Continue Reading
Hyperlocal demand generates new markets for farmers
Demand for fresh-milled, local flour is creating new opportunities for some farmers. Shelby Kibler, co-owner of Field and Fire, sources many of his ingredients from a farmer partner 15 miles from his bakery in West Michigan. “His farm is ideally suited to meet our needs, and so we’re growing together, and it’s really exciting,” he…… Continue Reading
An unseasonably active pattern for parts of the Heartland, centered on the Great Plains, Midwest
Across the Corn Belt, showers and thunderstorms are maintaining mostly favorable soil moisture reserves for summer crops, some of which are entering or moving through reproduction. According to an overlay of crop production areas and the U.S. Drought Monitor, only 12% of the U.S. corn crop was growing in an area experiencing drought on July…… Continue Reading
Hawley: DOE will put a stop to Grain Belt Express
A U.S. Senator from Missouri says the U.S. Department of Energy Secretary will be putting a stop to the Grain Belt Express. On social media, Josh Hawley said he talked with Secretary Wright about it on Thursday. Earlier this week, Missouri’s Attorney General Andrew Bailey sent a letter to the department asking them to cancel…… Continue Reading
Rains help Nebraska pastures, weed management key for white clover
A pasture and land management specialist with Corteva Agriscience says recent rains have helped give pastures a boost across Nebraska. Abe Smith tells Brownfield, “We started off the season like a lot of folks a little bit drier. I think we were all stressed, but so far, we’ve seemed to have had better moisture here…… Continue Reading
