Soybeans, corn end week on solid ground

Soybeans were higher on fund and technical buying, pulling contracts to a higher weekly finish. Beans continued to monitor weather in South America. Near-term forecasts had at least some rain in dry parts of Argentina and southern Brazil, but coverage and totals were uncertain. Conditions are generally more favorable in central and northern portions of…… Continue Reading

Main ingredients for soybean success

A professor of crop physiology at the University of Illinois says research has shown two primary management components of high yielding soybeans. Dr. Fred Below says farmers can’t manage the weather, but they can manage planting dates. “You get the leaf area out there quicker.  I’m making full use of that sunlight.”  He says, “When…… Continue Reading

Study: Iowa pig farmers contribute $15.4B to state’s economy

A new study from the Iowa Pork Producers Association reveals pig farmers are a vital component of the state’s economy. IPPA President Matt Gent tells Brownfield the pork industry contributed $15.4 billion in value added to Iowa’s economy in 2024. “Iowa produces 33%, so right at one-third, of all the pigs raised in the U.S.…… Continue Reading

Biodiesel plants shut down across Iowa

Photo by Brent Barnett/Brownfield The head of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association says several biodiesel plants have idled across the state. Monte Shaw tells Brownfield the plants stopped production after the blenders tax credit ended on December 31st. “They were going to have all of these tax credits expire and then go into this new…… Continue Reading

KBS Long-term Agroecosystem Winter Summit assessing aspirational management

Farmers and agricultural researchers are evaluating how ideal cropping systems are progressing as part of a long-term USDA research project. Phil Robertson says MSU’s Long-Term Agroecosystem Research project is one of 18 across the country that’s comparing traditional cropping practices to sustainable alternatives. “It brings stakeholders and researchers together to talk about the problems of the…… Continue Reading

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