A young farmer says some families may need to diversify their operations to retain the next generation. Tera Baker tells Brownfield additional entities were necessary to support coming back to the family’s crop farm. “That’s led us to diversifying, starting the pumpkin patch, starting the you-pick flowers,” she shares. “We also started a precision ag dealership…… Continue Reading
2025 Hard Red Winter Wheat Tour underway in Kansas
A wheat and forage specialist says the first day of this year’s hard red winter wheat tour didn’t bring many surprises. Romulo Lollato is with Kansas State. “What we’ve seen so far has been a fairly variable crop as we left Manhattan and went north and west. There was some good yield potential. We did…… Continue Reading
Collegiate Farm Bureau experience shaping lives
The president of the Southern Illinois University Collegiate Farm Bureau says the organization has changed his life. Chase Howell, from Peoria County, tells Brownfield, “The Farm Bureau group for me was the group that was welcoming.” He says, “That’s where I found my friends and my community at SIU. As a thank you to that,…… Continue Reading
Morris named Administrator of USDA’s Ag Marketing Service
Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins has named Erin Morris as the next administrator of the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service. Morris has spent more than 25 years advancing the work of AMS, and Ag Secretary Rollins says she has a strong track record of leadership, technical knowledge, and dedication to the agricultural industry. Morris will succeed Bruce…… Continue Reading
Cash dairy prices down Tuesday
Cash dairy prices were mostly lower Tuesday on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Dry whey was down $0.0125 at $0.53. One sale was recorded at that price. Forty-pound cheese blocks were unchanged at $1.78. No sales were recorded. Cheese barrels remained unchanged at $1.77. No sales were recorded. Butter was down $0.0075 at $2.3425. Two sales…… Continue Reading
Hay harvest starts early in Iowa
The hay harvest is off to an early start in Iowa. USDA’s latest weekly crop progress report shows the first cutting of alfalfa at six percent, compared to the five-year average of one percent. North central Iowa farmer Austin Charlson says his crop is ready. “My wife Angie had our dogs running in the hay…… Continue Reading
ISA continues market development efforts
A farmer-director with the Iowa Soybean Association says the industry continues to seek new export opportunities. At-large director Brent Renner, a farmer from Klemme, says China’s interest in U.S. whole beans has leveled off due to declining population growth and increased whole bean export competition from Brazil. “We’re really focused on growing markets,” he said.…… Continue Reading
Ohio rainfall continues to delay the 2025 planting season
A northwest Ohio farmer says persistent rainfall has delayed the start of the 2025 planting season. Justin Gravatt raises corn and soybeans in Union County. “I don’t have anything planted other than a half day that we worked in the middle of April,” he says. “We haven’t been able to get back in.” He tells Brownfield…… Continue Reading
Planting progress varies from western to eastern Minnesota
Planting progress varies widely between western and eastern Minnesota. While many corn and soybean growers in the western half of the state have been finished for a week or more, southeast Minnesota farmer Les Anderson tells Brownfield he’s still working on soybeans. “Cool and wet (spring), but it finally turned around and we’ve got pretty…… Continue Reading
Grassley supports action to protect U.S. livestock from New World Screwworm
U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley supports the administration’s decision to suspend Mexican live cattle imports because of the continued northward spread of New World Screwworm. “At least on a temporary basis they’re prohibiting it, and I think they’ll find a process in the next couple weeks of screening. Yeah, we ought to protect (our livestock from…… Continue Reading
