A farmer in eastern Iowa says his area needs some rain. Matthew Willimack raises corn and soybeans in DeWitt near the Mississippi River. He tells Brownfield his farm has received a small amount of moisture this fall. “We had just a few days of downtime (during harvest) from weather,” he said. “It made for pretty…… Continue Reading
Midwest Farmers Prefer Brownfield Ag News; Latest research shows farmers choose and trust Brownfield over other radio options in the Midwest
Brownfield Ag News is proud to announce the results of the 2025 FMR/Eastlan Consumer Behavior Analysis Study, the only research of its kind measuring engagement specifically with farm programming rather than overall station audiences. The survey covers counties representing 68.7% of U.S. corn acres, 66.5% of soybean acres, and 58% of all growers with 500+…… Continue Reading
USDA cuts 2025 red meat and egg production forecasts, boosts broiler output
The USDA has cut its red meat, turkey, and egg production outlooks for 2025, while raising the broiler figure. Beef is seen at 25.756 billion pounds, falling 70 million from September on lighter weights and slower steer and heifer processing, with an average steer price of $225.97 per hundredweight, $2.59 lower, and nearly unchanged demand…… Continue Reading
Fall soil tests are key to optimize fertility in 2026
An agronomist says farmers should prioritize soil testing this fall before making any nutrient management decisions for 2026. Tim Beninga with LG Seeds says fertility plans should be based on each field. “You need a good baseline to start with to know what’s out there so you’re not overapplying or underapplying,” he says. He tells Brownfield…… Continue Reading
New study finds ample career opportunities in agriculture, food, and natural resources
A new study shows there are ample career opportunities for new graduates in agriculture, food, and natural resources. Christine Wilson, senior associate dean and director of academic programs at Purdue’s College of Agriculture, says the report from Purdue University and the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture forecasts nearly 105,000 job openings annually through…… Continue Reading
Fieldwork, 2026 financial planning prioritized post-harvest
Fall fieldwork is in full swing for eastern Iowa farmer Tim Meyer. The Henry County producer tells Brownfield weather conditions have been favorable. “We’re doing dirt work right now and I think it’s going to end up being a really good fall for us,” he said. “I think we’ll get everything done, which we didn’t…… Continue Reading
Ag law expert encourages preparedness for new Michigan CAFO permit rules
An ag law specialist says Michigan farmers should plan for final manure regulations for large livestock operations to go into effect this January. Brigit Rollins with the National Ag Law Center tells Brownfield the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy’s (EGLE) recent decision to move forward with revisions to the state’s Concentrated Animal Feeding…… Continue Reading
Economist says WASDE outlook offers few easy decisions for farmers
An ag economist says the recent supply and demand report creates more uncertainty for farmers looking to market grain. Dan O’Brien with Kansas State University says USDA left corn and soybean yields and production mostly unchanged. “We’re in a large crop harvest situation where there aren’t just ready profits to be made in any direction.…… Continue Reading
Superb soybeans, below average corn in eastern Iowa
An eastern Iowa farmer says late season disease pressure caused an earlier than expected start to his harvest season. Matthew Willimack, a sixth-generation farmer from DeWitt, says southern rust impacted the quality of his corn. “Southern rust was something new for everybody that we don’t normally see. We had some issues with that setting in…… Continue Reading
Farmers cautious about China following through on soy commitments
Some farmers say they are being cautious in their assessment of the U.S.-China trade framework. Ray Gaesser is a corn and soybean farmer in southwest Iowa… “Glad to see that there’s somewhat of an agreement with China,” he said. “We don’t know how well they will follow through. We just need to utilize the crops…… Continue Reading
