Warm and dry conditions allowed Iowa farmers to make significant planting progress last week. USDA’s latest crop update says corn is now 76 percent planted, eight days ahead of last year and three days ahead of the five-year average. Soybean planting advanced to 64 percent, 10 days faster than a year ago and five days…… Continue Reading
Capital improvement bill dies in MO Legislature
Missouri State Senator Rusty Black, from District 12, says a bill that would fund capital improvements across the state, including rural roads and bridges, is dead for now. “House Bill 19 is the part of the state appropriations process that deals with new construction projects throughout the entire state.” Black says he’s disappointed with what…… Continue Reading
Soggy week for Tennessee farm fields
More rain across Tennessee has added to an already full soil moisture profile. The USDA says topsoil moisture increased to a 26 percent surplus, and subsoil moisture supplies have a 19 percent surplus. Pastures have benefited from the rain with 70 percent rated good to excellent. The USDA says 76 percent of corn, 44 percent of soybeans,…… Continue Reading
Soybeans surge on temporary tariff cut
Soybeans were sharply higher on commercial and technical buying. The main source of support was the 90-day lowering of reciprocal tariffs between the U.S. and China. This is an agreement-in-principal and further negotiations are expected in the coming days. Old crop ending stocks were down on the month and the first look at new crop…… Continue Reading
Wheat streak mosaic virus outbreak spotted in Kansas
An assistant professor of wheat and forage crops says an outbreak of wheat streak mosaic virus could be impacting crop conditions in Kansas. Kelsey Anderson Onofre is with Kansas State University. “This year in parts of the state it appears to be a bit more severe than the last several years. Part of this can…… Continue Reading
China trade agreement good first step for soybean farmers
The president of the American Soybean Association says the trade deal in principle between the U.S. and China is a good first step. Caleb Ragland, a Kentucky farmer, says the deal will temporarily reduce tariffs levied by the countries on exported goods like U.S. soybeans. “There’s still a litany of details to get worked out,”…… Continue Reading
UK trade deal could boost Ohio ethanol production
The trade agreement in principle with the United Kingdom could be an opportunity for the state’s ethanol industry. Wendy Osborn says Ohio is currently the 7th largest producer of ethanol in the country. “There are seven plants here in Ohio for corn ethanol production,” she says. “Almost 40% of our corn goes into ethanol production,…… Continue Reading
USDA trims 2025 red meat, poultry, egg outlooks
The USDA has trimmed its expectations for red meat and poultry production this year. Beef is now projected at 26.423 billion pounds, a drop of 277 million because of import restrictions from Mexico due to New World screwworm and lower dressed weights, with an average steer price of $214.51 per hundredweight, a jump of $9,…… Continue Reading
Ag coalition calls for a protected full farm bill in reconciliation
The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition is urging Congress to prevent putting a new farm bill in jeopardy by at least maintaining USDA spending in the reconciliation process. Policy Director Mike Lavendar tells Brownfield it’s hard to quantify the ramifications of lost essential services if the House Ag Committee goes through with proposed cuts this week.…… Continue Reading
Gene-edited pigs approved for U.S. market
The chief operating officer at Genus PIC says pigs produced to be resistant to Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) have been approved for sale to U.S. consumers by the Food and Drug Administration. Matt Culbertson tells Brownfield it’s the latest step in bringing gene-edited pigs to market. “It doesn’t actually trigger the first sales…… Continue Reading
