U.S. commercial red meat production saw a year-to-year dip during April. The USDA says 4.601 billion pounds of red meat were produced in April 2025, down 1% from April 2024, with a 3% decline for beef to 2.242 billion pounds against a 1% rise in pork to 2.343 billion pounds. That decrease in beef was…… Continue Reading
Pennycress commercialization continues
Work continues to commercialize pennycress into a viable biofuels feedstock. Dr. Win Phippen at Western Illinois University has spent the past 15 years developing pennycress from a roadside weed into a domesticated commercial crop. “We want a plant that a farmer can confidently plant in the fall, get it well established in the fall, survive…… Continue Reading
Net farm income surges, challenges remain for some producers
Net farm income is expected to increase in 2025, but an ag economist says that’s not the reality for all producers. David Widmar, with Agricultural Economic Insights, says it’s a tale of two ag economies. “Where we have crop production, they’re at some of the lowest levels that we’ve seen” he says. “When you look at…… Continue Reading
Cash dairy prices higher Thursday
Cash dairy prices were higher Thursday on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Dry whey was up $0.0075 at $0.5425. No sales were recorded. Forty-pound cheese blocks were up $0.0125 at $1.9475. Five sales were recorded, ranging from $1.9325 to $1.95. Cheese barrels were up $0.0075 at $1.87. Five sales were recorded, ranging from $1.8525 to $1.87. Butter…… Continue Reading
Clean Fuels letter asks EPA to boost RVO levels
The CEO of Clean Fuels Alliance America says the U.S. EPA needs to significantly increase Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) under the federal Renewable Fuel Standard. Donnell Rehagen tells Brownfield the organization has sent a letter to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin asking for RVOs to be set at no less than 5.25 billion gallons in 2026.…… Continue Reading
Persistent rainfall frustrating for farmer trying to finish the 2025 planting season
A south-central Ohio farmer says he’s not as far along with the 2025 planting season as he would like to be for this time of year. Greg Corcoran raises corn, soybeans, and wheat in Ross County. “We’ve obviously had a really wet spring in our area, and we’ve gotten a lot of rain,” he says. “Some…… Continue Reading
Local UAN fertilizer supplies could be tight
A sales representative with Helena Agri Enterprises says some fertilizer supplies remain tight across parts of the Corn Belt. Spencer Breckenridge tells Brownfield UAN availability is a major concern especially in northeast Nebraska, northwest Iowa and parts of South Dakota. “I’m sure the tariffs probably slowed some of this stuff down from coming from overseas.…… Continue Reading
Agronomist concerned about weed control
An agronomist says the long dry spell was good for planting but gives weeds an advantage over crops. BASF’s Nick Roysdon says in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin, it was very dry until recently. “It’s been easy to get planted. The trouble is a lot of people went out and sprayed their pre-emergence herbicide application,…… Continue Reading
Farmers face continued soybean market weakness
Farmers are facing the prospect of little to no opportunity to sell soybeans at a profit this year. Southeast Nebraska farmer Kurt Ohnoutka says continued market weakness is concerning. “We need to get these commodity prices, especially soybeans, up. We knew going into this year we were going to be farming for a loss on…… Continue Reading
MAHA report targets ultra-processed foods, Rollins says farmers part of the solution
Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins says the Make America Healthy Again Commission report doesn’t demonize American agricultural practices. “What I have been very encouraged by is that Secretary Kennedy, when we were in Texas together and our dozens and dozens of conversations, that none of this will compromise the ability of our American agriculture to do…… Continue Reading
