Soybeans were lower on profit taking and technical selling. Soybeans gave back some gains, watching the U.S. harvest and South American planting. At this point, the trade is waiting for more details on a potential trade aid announcement and the planned end-of-month meeting between President Trump and President Xi. The Pacific Northwest basis has moved…… Continue Reading
Demand grows for modern hog barns as pork industry rebounds
Pork producers continue to recover from historic losses in 2023. Compeer Financial certified appraiser Chester Donkers tells Brownfield negative margins resulted in many contract growers losing business. “Or just people struggling to find pigs to fill their barns. Now it seems like growers, if they have some more modern facilities, have been pretty sought after.”…… Continue Reading
Cattle futures up ahead of wide-spread direct business
At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live and feeder cattle were up, waiting on direct business to develop. Feeders were sharply higher on the continued tight market-ready supplies. December live cattle closed $1.02 higher at $239.90 and February live cattle closed $1.17 higher at $243.40. November feeder cattle closed $5.22 higher at $374.05 and January feeder…… Continue Reading
Agronomist says spatial fertilizer application helps farmers stretch input dollars
The technical agronomy lead with Advanced Agrilytics says elevated fertilizer costs may have some farmers considering cutting back on applications this fall. However, Jeremy Hogan says placing fertilizer through spatial analysis allows producers to maximize their input budget. “Not every acre requires the same critical level, and so we’re looking at different components within…… Continue Reading
Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: October 9, 2025
Dec. corn $4.18 and 1/4, down 3 and 3/4 centsNov. soybeans $10.22 and 1/4, down 7 and 1/4 centsDec. soybean meal $276.90, down $1.10Dec. soybean oil 50.94, down 54 pointsDec. Chicago wheat $5.06 and 1/2, down 3/4 centDec. live cattle $239.90, up $1.02Nov. feeder cattle $374.05, up $5.22Dec. lean hogs $84.35, down $1.75Nov. Class III…… Continue Reading
Southeast Nebraska farmers seeing standout soybean harvest
An agronomist covering southeast Nebraska says soybean yields have been the highlight of the harvest season so far. Trey Stephens with Beck’s Hybrids says the crop had near perfect growing conditions. “I had a feeling that soybeans were going to be good with all of the August rains. Everyone in the territory that has been…… Continue Reading
Midwest drought expands despite recent rainfall
Despite some recent moisture, drought conditions are expanding in the Midwest. The latest U.S. Drought Monitor shows drought intensifying in southwest Missouri, northeast into central and northern Illinois, northern Indiana and northwest Ohio. Moderate drought is also expanding from northern Minnesota to northwest Wisconsin. In southwest Missouri, cattle producer Josh Worthington tells Brownfield some livestock…… Continue Reading
Push for permanent E15 sales gains momentum as California joins in
A western Iowa corn farmer says a congressional solution for permanent, year-round sales of E15 would give producers more demand for their crop. Kevin Ross, who’s also a past president of the National Corn Growers Association, says there’s optimism that federal E15 legislation can get done now that California is allowing the blend to be…… Continue Reading
Vilsack warns continued tariffs could cause lasting damage to U.S. ag trade relationships
A former ag secretary at the USDA says he’s concerned the continued tariffs will cause long-term damage to trading relationships and demand for U.S. agriculture Tom Vilsack tells Brownfield “if you lose a customer to a Brazil, Argentina or some other country, how do you get that customer back once the retaliatory tariffs have been…… Continue Reading
Late season drought speeds up Ohio apple harvest, raises concerns for 2026
A northeast Ohio specialty crop grower says warm and dry weather has led to an earlier than usual apple harvest across parts of the state. Geauga County farmer Bill Patterson tells Brownfield, “From an apple standpoint, the drought came in late enough that it’s not affecting us significantly. We’re very concerned about next year’s crop…… Continue Reading
