The deputy director of the Illinois Stewardship Alliance says several groups are working to ensure a state program aimed at strengthening local food systems continues. Liz Rupel says the Local Food Infrastructure Grant (LFIG) has helped farmers expand and brought more economic resilience to communities. “Nineteen projects across the state.” She says, “All the…… Continue Reading
Broiler sets, placements larger than last week, last year
Another week, another week-to-week and year-to-year rise for broiler sets and placements. The USDA says 251.651 million broiler-type eggs were set into incubation, up 891,000 on the week and 1% on the year, with average hatchability remaining at 79%. 193.577 million broiler-type chicks were placed into meat production, 817,000 above a week ago and 1%…… Continue Reading
Ethanol production lowest in more than a year
U.S. ethanol production hit a more than one-year low last week. The U.S. Energy Information Administration says production averaged 993,000 barrels per day, a decline of 27,000 from the previous week and 7,000 from a year ago. That’s the lowest daily average since the week ending May 3rd, 2024. Iowa State University’s Center for Agricultural…… Continue Reading
Ragland tells Senate Committee China trade dispute is impacting soybean farmers
The president of the American Soybean Association says the on-going trade dispute with China could have severe impacts on the industry. Testifying before the US Senate Finance Committee Wednesday morning, Kentucky farmer Caleb Ragland said US soybeans are still facing a duty into the largest export market. “If the retaliatory tariffs return or escalate after…… Continue Reading
Central Illinois farmer optimistic 2025 can be profitable
A central Illinois farmer says he’s optimistic that 2025 can still be a profitable growing season. John Klemm, who grows corn and soybeans in DeWitt County, says there’s a lot of time left in the marketing year. “The price of commodities may be down today, but we don’t know what our final year return is…… Continue Reading
Senator says UK, China agreements could lay groundwork for more market access
A US Senator from Kansas says he’s cautiously optimistic that recent trade agreements in principle could expand market access for ag producers. Roger Marshall tells Brownfield the deal with the UK could help lay the groundwork for additional agreements with other countries. “We would like to be able to sell beef in Europe and of…… Continue Reading
Vilsack says threats to global food system are increasing
The CEO of the World Food Prize Foundation says the hunger crisis continues to expand. Tom Vilsack, who’s also a former governor of Iowa and former U.S. Ag Secretary, says there are increasing threats to the global food system. “It’s unacceptable that we have 733 million people in the world today who are food insecure,”…… Continue Reading
Northern Minnesota farmer finishes planting
A northwest Minnesota corn, soybean, and wheat farmer finished planting this week. Austen Germolus of Borup says he started seeding wheat April 18th. “Which is plenty early for us, ground conditions were good. But we ended up getting around two inches of rain the end of April, and we had finished wheat so we had…… Continue Reading
House Ways and Means signs off on tax portion of the budget reconciliation bill
The tax portion of the budget reconciliation bill that will benefit farmers and ranchers has moved out of the House Ways and Means Committee this morning. Chairman Jason Smith of Missouri says the provisions included in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act would provide much needed certainty for the U.S. ag community. “This bill makes…… Continue Reading
Farmers for Free Trade welcomes UK trade agreement
The executive director of Farmers for Free Trade calls the recent trade announcement with the United Kingdom a step in the right direction. Brian Kuehl tells Brownfield. “One of the things we’ve asked the Trump administration for is improving market access to economies around the world for U.S. food and ag products.” He says that’s…… Continue Reading
