Cattle futures up ahead of USDA’s On Feed report

At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live and feeder cattle were up, supported by higher boxed beef, ahead of this week’s Cattle on Feed report from the USDA. June live cattle closed $1.47 higher at $215.62 and August live cattle closed $1.85 higher at $210.50.  August feeder cattle closed $3.35 higher at $299.77 and September feeder…Continue Reading

Iowans warned of unintended consequences of carbon pipeline bill

Representatives of the Iowa Renewable Fuels and Iowa Corn Growers Associations are warning Iowans of unintended consequences if a bill limiting eminent domain for carbon pipelines is signed into law. Iowa Corn member Vic Miller, who farms in Fayette County, says it’s unfortunate the focus of the bill has largely been on private property rights.…Continue Reading

Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: May 22, 2025

Jul. corn closed at $4.63, up 2 centsJul. soybeans closed at $10.67 and 1/2, up 4 and 3/4 centsJul. soybean meal closed at $298.50, up $4.40Jul. soybean oil closed at 49.11, down 72 pointsJul. wheat closed at $5.44 and 1/2, down 4 and 3/4 centsJun. live cattle closed at $215.62, up $1.47Aug. feeder cattle closed…Continue Reading

Soybeans see higher finish, with corn, wheat mixed

Soybeans were higher on short covering and technical buying. Beans started the session lower but recovered, following bean meal, which was up on short covering and product spread trade. Bean oil was down on that product spread trade, the lower move in crude oil, and some questions about biofuels policy. The trade’s watching U.S. planting…Continue Reading

Metapneumovirus decimating Minnesota turkey industry

A new study details the economic impact avian metapneumovirus is having on Minnesota’s turkey industry. Minnesota Turkey Growers Association executive director Ashley Kohls says the virus resulted in the loss of more than 2.2 million turkeys from last spring to this spring, translating to an estimated $112 million in lost sales. “This study is Minnesota…Continue Reading

April red meat production down modestly on year

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

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