A family with more than 200 years of farming heritage in Northeast Pennsylvania started over in Kansas, and is this year’s World Dairy Expo Dairy Producers of the Year. Ken McCarty tells Brownfield that in the 1990s, his parents recognized their 250-cow operation would probably not be able to support them and the next generation. …… Continue Reading
Veterinarian urges farmers to watch for livestock respiratory issues as temperatures shift
As the weather gets cooler, a veterinarian says it’s time to prepare for identifying and treating respiratory problems in livestock. Curt Vlietstra from Boehringer Ingelheim tells Brownfield the massive temperature swings with warm days and cool nights makes it difficult to prevent respiratory illnesses in cattle. “There’s quite often some heavy fogs and a lot…… Continue Reading
Mental health concerns grow as farmer suicides increase
Tough economic times have more U.S. farmers reaching out for help. Karen Endress with the Wisconsin Farm Center tells Brownfield more farmers are reaching out for mental health assistance. She says, “We’re busier than ever.” Endres says she was recently at a meeting with her counterparts from other states, and they are also dealing with…… Continue Reading
Soybeans rebound on trade hopes
Soybeans were higher on commercial and technical buying, rallying after early losses. The trade’s expecting generally solid harvest progress over the next several days. The lack of export demand from China to absorb some of that rising supply is the big bearish factor. However, there was a renewal of optimism about trade negotiations Wednesday after…… Continue Reading
Dairy Management product challenge helps students launch food industry careers
The coordinator for dairy checkoff’s new product competition says the program serves as a gateway to the workforce for college students. Dairy Management Inc. Vice President of Product Research Rohit Kapoor is also a former winner. “It gives them real-world experience, not only just getting their creative juices flowing to develop a new product, but…… Continue Reading
Dry soybeans and steady corn mark harvest start for eastern Iowa farmer
An eastern Iowa farmer says field conditions have been favorable this week for harvest activity. Dave Walton, who farms near the Mississippi River, says corn harvest has been a pleasant surprise. “We’ve done a little bit of corn, just getting the drying system up and running, and opening some fields,” he said. “Yields, they are…… Continue Reading
Cattle futures mixed, lean hogs lower on Wednesday
At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live and feeder cattle ended Wednesday session mixed on spread activity, the mixed midday move in boxed beef, and traders waiting for widespread direct business to get underway. Direct trade was light during the midweek session, but sharply lower than last week, which might be a sign concerns about beef…… Continue Reading
Cattle market strength rewarding but makes replacements costly, Iowa farmer says
A southwest Iowa farmer says strong cattle prices have been rewarding. Jeff Jorgenson is a cow-calf producer from Sidney… “We’re at about the top of the top,” he said. “I’ve never had cattle sell the way they have, or calves sell the way they have. That’s worked out really well.” He tells Brownfield the biggest…… Continue Reading
Farmers warn federal shutdown could cause cash flow, market challenges
Some farmers say the latest federal government shutdown makes a difficult economic situation even worse. “Basically, we’re kind of numb to it because we’re trying to get the crop in.” But, central Illinois farmer Rob Shaffer, says the uncertainty is piling up. “Is there anybody negotiating a China trade deal? What is this going to…… Continue Reading
Farmers face uncertainty amid farm bill delay and ongoing trade tensions
The executive head of Terrian says producers need additional risk management tools to help navigate the current farm economy. John Newton says, “We need to get a farm bill done and we could not get a farm bill done.” The U.S. Senate failed to pass a continuing resolution to fund the government on Tuesday night,…… Continue Reading
