The chairman of the U.S. Grains and Bioproducts Council says an extended government shutdown could put vital trade outreach at risk. Mark Wilson, who farms in north central Illinois, says some of the organization’s main funding comes from the Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD) program. “We have a little bit of…… Continue Reading
SpeakAg Pioneer program helping state officers strengthen communication skills
A nationwide leadership initiative is helping the next generation of leaders strengthen and advance their communication skills. Lauren Agrotte with Indiana FFA says the Speak Ag Pioneer Program is teaching participants how to bridge the gap between producers and consumers. “During a Farm to Pizza event, we were able to teach elementary school students about how food gets…… Continue Reading
New initiative will help inform Federal Reserve about ag industry
A new initiative from the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City could help inform federal policy that impacts the ag industry. Nathan Kauffman says the Center for the Ag and Economy will include research and expertise from the ag sector. “We are looking to try to put together as much objective analysis as we can…… Continue Reading
Favorable weather accelerates South American soybean and corn planting
Planting conditions are favorable for South American farmers. Michael Cordonnier with Soybean and Corn Advisor says about a quarter of the Brazilian soybean crop is planted. “The big state of Mato Grosso, 43 percent (planted) and Parana 39 percent. Rainfall continues to favor southern Brazil, but it has started to pick up in central Brazil…… Continue Reading
Laureates say progress against global hunger has stalled
Past recipients of the World Food Prize are calling for bold action on food security. “Progress against hunger has come to a standstill,” said 2010 World Food Prize winner David Beckmann. Speaking to reporters at the 2025 Borlaug International Dialogue in Des Moines, Beckmann said severe hunger has dramatically increased globally. “Partly because violent conflict…… Continue Reading
Illinois cattle producers say Argentinian beef imports threaten markets and herd health
The executive vice president of the Illinois Beef Association (IBA) says the organization has concerns about the Trump administration’s efforts to lower beef prices. “We’re strongly opposed to the federal government getting involved in manipulating markets to deflate cattle prices.” Josh St. Peters tells Brownfield, “Especially in a situation where it clearly is going to…… Continue Reading
Milk production up more than 3% in August, pushing dairy prices down
Increasing milk supplies are pressuring dairy prices. Compeer Financial ag economist Megan Roberts says there’s more inventory year-over-year. “So as we look at the most recent September USDA milk production, report, we’re seeing a 3.3 percent increase in milk production during August 2025.” She tells Brownfield demand for dairy products is strong. “But it’s been…… Continue Reading
Farm policy expert warns ad hoc payments could destabilize ag markets
A farm policy specialist says the potential for ad hoc payments to become problematic is massive. Jonathan Coppess leads the Gardner Agricultural Policy Program at the University of Illinois. “It’s just a lot of, really strange kind of, uncertainty,” he says. He tells Brownfield farmer payments don’t solve market issues. “If payments are working against the…… Continue Reading
DEKALB Corn Traits
DEKALB corn traits are built on strong genetics and proven performance to deliver consistent results year after year. In this episode of Managing for Profit, DEKALB Asgrow Technical Agronomist Jim McDermott says the brand continues to provide trait packages that help farmers manage disease pressure, pests, and weather stress to protect yield. The post DEKALB…… Continue Reading
Missouri farmer says soybeans are key to sustainable food systems
A Missouri farmer says soybean growers are advancing soil health and sustainability through innovation and stewardship. Meagan Kaiser, who’s also a past chair of the United Soybean Board, says it’s critical to implement practices that reduce erosion and manage nutrient levels. “The nutrition that we provide in our soil, making sure that is then in…… Continue Reading
