Ag Committee advances portion of reconciliation bill

The House Ag Committee advanced its portion of the budget reconciliation bill. Republican Derrick Van Orden from Wisconsin told the Ag Committee during Wednesday’s markup session farmers need certainty and this bill helps. “With reinvestment in our safety nets for our farmers, ag research advancements, tier one dairy cap increase, base acre adjustments, there’s just…Continue Reading

EPA insecticide strategy “workable”

The president of the Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association says farmers need to familiarize themselves with the EPA’s new insecticide strategy. KJ Johnson says it’s the agency’s next step in meeting court-ordered obligations under the Endangered Species Act. “I hear this many times, ‘With the new administration all this stuff is probably just going to…Continue Reading

Crop emergence ahead of normal in Iowa

Emergence is ahead of normal in the nation’s top corn-producing state. According to USDA, 30 percent of the corn planted in Iowa has emerged as of Sunday.  That’s four days ahead of last year and two days faster than the five-year average. Iowa Soybean Association research agronomist Shane Beck covers north-central and northeast Iowa and…Continue Reading

Farmland values holding in north Iowa

An ag real estate agent says farmland values are holding up in northern Iowa despite pressure from low commodity prices and high interest rates. Austin Charlson with Land Proz says farms that are productive and well-tiled still generate a premium. “I was at a sale earlier this winter and it was a piece that rolls…Continue Reading

Good week for new crop wheat export sales

New crop U.S. wheat export sales are solid. USDA data shows that even with the start of the new marketing year a couple of weeks away, new crop wheat sales are off to a hot start, boosted by a decline in price and the recent lower trend in the dollar. Unknown destinations was the big…Continue Reading

Northern IL planting went well

A northern Illinois farmer says planting season went well. Cassie Dumoulin, who raises corn and hogs 60 miles northwest of Chicago, says corn planting is complete. “I think that’s a big stress relief when it comes to farmers, to get all their corn in the ground.”  She says, “It’s long days, long hours and it’s…Continue Reading

Zeldin says permanent approval of E-15 needs to go through Congress

The administrator of the US Environmental Protection Agency says the most effective way to allow year-round E-15 sales is through Congressional action. Testifying before the Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday, Lee Zeldin told lawmakers, “That is the most durable and easiest solution to this issue.” Nebraska Senator Deb Fischer said her bill, the Nationwide Consumer…Continue Reading

Widespread rainfall brings relief, wildfires to Nebraska Sandhills Wednesday

Widespread rainfall has brought significant relief to drought conditions for some ranchers in the Nebraska Sandhills. Lemoyne Dailey of Thedford says his operation received an inch of rain Wednesday night. “With a little more rain, we can probably stay fully stocked this summer with proper grazing management.” But, he tells Brownfield, “There were at least…Continue Reading

Playlist