A livestock economist says the slowdown in beef cow slaughter could be a sign that herd liquidation is coming to an end. University of Kentucky’s Kenny Burdine says that through May, beef cow slaughter has declined 18 percent from this time last year. “We probably came into 2024 and 2025 with a little bit younger…… Continue Reading
Patience when dealing with downed corn
The agronomy education lead with Beck’s Hybrids says some crops have been hampered by recent storms. In a recent Illinois Soybean Association webinar, Matt Montgomery says vulnerable corn crops were the most impacted. “We did have some pretty windy events that knocked the crop around just a little bit and a lot of down corn…… Continue Reading
Eastern Corn Belt weather update
A regional climatologist says warmer temperatures could help improve crop conditions following a challenging start to spring. Melissa Widhelm with the Midwestern Regional Climate Center says early season rainfall has helped improve soil moisture levels. “If we look ahead to the next week, we are looking at less than an inch or 3/4 of an inch…… Continue Reading
Options for late-planted or replanted soybeans
The final crop insurance planting date for soybeans has passed in the Eastern Corn Belt, but an agronomist says farmers still planting have options. Ohio State’s Laura Lindsey tells Brownfield, “When you plant at the end of June or into July, we like to really emphasize the need for narrow row width. As planting is delayed,…… Continue Reading
Cheese prices continue falling Tuesday on cash dairy market
Cash dairy prices were mixed Tuesday on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, as cheese prices keep dropping. Dry whey was up $0.0025 at $0.5725. Two sales were recorded at $0.57 and $0.5725. Forty-pound cheese blocks were down $0.0550 at $1.5950. Twenty-five sales were recorded, ranging from $1.5950 to $1.6350. Cheese barrels were down $0.0425 at $1.6150. Five…… Continue Reading
GasBuddy: Corn Belt diesel prices increase amid Middle East conflict
(Brownfield file photo – Credit: Brent Barnett/Brownfield) A fuel economist says tensions in the Middle East have impacted the price of diesel in the U.S. Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, says diesel has jumped in recent days as crude oil has become volatile. “In fact, diesel prices very quickly jumped 20…… Continue Reading
Beef, pork exports down year-over-year amid U.S-China tariff dispute
The US Meat Export Federation says the trade dispute between the U.S. and China has impacted beef and pork exports. USMEF’s Joe Schuele says April beef exports were down 10% year-over-year and pork was nearly 15% lower. “Most of that decline was because exports to China basically hit a wall,” he said. “We were looking…… Continue Reading
11th Commandment of grain marketing
Farmers sitting on old-crop corn and soybeans might be facing some difficult decisions soon. South Central College farm business management instructor Pam Uhlenkamp says there are still a lot of bushels in bins across southern Minnesota. “Waiting for some magical price increase. So what are we going to do with that? Are we going to…… Continue Reading
Concerns remain after Senate parliamentarian blocks proposed SNAP cuts
The executive director of Feeding Indiana’s Hungry says the Senate parliamentarian’s decision to remove cuts from the Supplemental Nutrition Program out of budget recalculation could help protect access to food assistance. But, Emily Bryant says the ruling doesn’t eliminate all changes. “Shifting benefit costs to states risks creating funding gaps that hurt communities or force cuts to…… Continue Reading
Southern Illinois farmer switching acres; thankful for dry stretch
A southern Illinois farmer says 2025 will go down as the most challenging of his farming career. “You know, I don’t have much corn planted. This is probably the least amount of corn I’ve ever planted.” Granvil Travis, who has only half of his Massac County farm planted, says this week’s break in the weather…… Continue Reading
