Succession plans curb the loss of family farms

A land transfer navigator says farm succession plans need action to work. Becky Huttenga tells Brownfield two common scenarios often break apart family farms if transition plans aren’t developed and implemented. “You can’t figure it out, and non-farming kids just want the value out of it and the farming kid can’t afford to buy them out,…Continue Reading

Ethanol exports pop higher

U.S. ethanol exports hit a more than four-month high last week. The U.S. Energy Information Administration says ethanol exports averaged 172,000 barrels per day, the highest since early April, rising 49,000 on the week and 90,000 on the year. Global demand for U.S. ethanol has been strong this year, with 2025 exports on pace to…Continue Reading

Where Did Summer Go?

Just like that, summer is winding down. School buses are back on the roads, kids are finding their routines again, and there’s a familiar crispness creeping into the morning air. Autumn is on its way—and many of us are left wondering, where did the summer go? At Brownfield Ag News, our team has spent the…Continue Reading

Rise in farmland values provides short-term benefits

An American Farm Bureau economist says record farmland values will help support farmers facing lower prices this year. Danny Munch tells Brownfield ag real estate values averaged $4,350 per acre in USDA’s latest survey, but the rise in prices is starting to slow. “Back in 2022, when you had record commodity prices, the 2021 to…Continue Reading

Boosting fungicide use with spray drone technology

An agronomist at Beck’s Hybrids says research shows aerial spray drone technology can help improve fungicide use. Luke Schulte says 2025 is the third year the company has tested fungicide use with spray drones. “We looked at a number of different ways to apply it from ground, helicopter, plane,” he says. “We’ve also done PFR…Continue Reading

Shifting weather pattern a welcome change

An agricultural meteorologist says a shifting weather pattern will be a welcome sight for most farmers. Greg Soulje tells Brownfield the corn belt should see less moisture and some cooler temperatures for a while. Soulje says the cooler pattern should not be a problem for plant maturity. “If we weren’t ahead of the game with…Continue Reading

New Iowa Corn president sees ethanol potential in India

The newly elected president of Iowa Corn says India could be a rising market for U.S. biofuels. Mark Mueller tells Brownfield ethanol could help provide India some environmental benefits. “India doesn’t use ethanol for fuel, but they use it for industrial purposes including cooking fuel. Right now a lot of meals in India, most of…Continue Reading

Cash dairy prices mostly lower Wednesday

Cash dairy prices lower except for cheese Wednesday at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.    Dry whey was down $0.0225 at $0.5675.  Seven sales were recorded, ranging from $0.56 to $0.5675.  Forty-pound cheese blocks were up $0.0175 at $1.8675.  Three sales were recorded, ranging from $1.8525 to $1.8675.  Cheese barrels remained unchanged at $1.81.  One sale was…Continue Reading

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