A Michigan farmer says the input price outlook is his biggest concern heading into 2026. Matt Frostic farms 1,000 acres of corn, soybeans, dry beans, and sugarbeets in the state’s Thumb area. “Last year’s prices are even higher for next year,” he said. “Some of the early pre-buying numbers are 30% to 40% higher than…… Continue Reading
Creighton economist says farm machinery makers pressured by weak demand
An economist at Creighton University says farm machinery manufacturers continue to face economic pressures. Ernie Goss tells Brownfield many companies are dealing with decreased demand and lower order volumes. “It’s at the retail level, then it filters back to some of the wholesalers, and then it filters back to the manufacturers.” He says it’s led…… Continue Reading
USDA and Justice Department will evaluate ag inputs
Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins says high input costs are affecting farmers across the United States. “U.S. farm production inputs all cost so much more today than they did under the last Trump administration,” she says. “Seed costs up 18 percent. Fuel and oil up 32 percent. Electricity costs up 36 percent. Labor costs up 47…… Continue Reading
Recent rainfall delays start of harvest in south-central Indiana
A south-central Indiana farmer says his operation has been battling wet weather all year. Tim Gauck says recent rainfall has delayed the start of harvest. “We’ve been waiting for the rain to get the soybeans on a more even maturity level,” he says. “We will be in full swing when it dries off.” He tells Brownfield he’s optimistic…… Continue Reading
Xitavo Showcases Genetic Diversity at Farm Progress Show
Early on the first day of the 2025 Farm Progress Show, Brownfield’s Cyndi Young caught up with Colin Rogers, Seed Agronomist for the Xitavo® brand at BASF, beside the BASF soybean plot near Decatur, Illinois. Rogers emphasized that genetic diversity is a major strength of the Xitavo soybean lineup. With a wide range of genetics…… Continue Reading
New Indiana University program helping farmers connect with local buyers
A new program from Indiana University is helping the state’s farmers connect with larger wholesale buyers to increase local food sales. Founder and resilient food systems manager Jodee Smith says FARMWISE Indiana is focused on growing demand for agricultural products in rural communities. “Every rural community has an institutional buyer,” she says. “They all have…… Continue Reading
BASF’s Josh Putman Highlights Surtain Herbicide Success at Farm Progress Show 2025
At the 2025 Farm Progress Show, Brownfield’s Cyndi Young caught up with Josh Putman, Technical Marketing Manager for Corn Herbicides at BASF, while standing in the company’s corn field plot. Putman shared exciting results from the first season of Surtain® herbicide, a brand-new solution launched in 2025. As the first Group 14 herbicide labeled for…… Continue Reading
ASA disappointed in Argentina support as market access slips
The vice president of the American Soybean Association says the United States is quickly losing market share with critical trading partners. “It’s a three-alarm fire. It’s very concerning.” Scott Metzger, a farmer from Ohio, says the latest example was China recently purchased 20 shiploads of soybeans from Argentina after they suspended their export sales taxes. “The tariffs…… Continue Reading
Butter higher, cheese lower as cash dairy prices end week mixed
Cash dairy prices were mixed again Friday at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange as cheese prices fall, and butter continues to rebound. Dry whey was unchanged at $0.6475. No sales were recorded. Forty-pound cheese blocks were down $0.0125 at $1.6250. Three sales were recorded, ranging from $1.6050 to $1.6250. Cheese barrels were down $0.0225 at $1.6225. …… Continue Reading
Minnesota Farm Mediation notices triple in August, highest since 2019
The number of Minnesota farmers facing mediation because of financial crisis has risen dramatically. Minnesota Department of Agriculture Farm Advocate Steve Zenk says there were 144 notices issued in August, which is three times higher than August 2024 and the highest total since 2019. “We’re seeing right now people that are going to have difficulty…… Continue Reading
