Michigan FFA’s state advisor says the Challenge 24 Teacher Academy is addressing educator shortages. Mark Forbush tells Brownfield National Teach Ag Campaign’s State Teach Ag Results (STAR) program in Michigan workshops with high school students who are serious about the profession. “We’re now having more and more students,” he says. “We have the largest group…… Continue Reading
President Biden has signed a stopgap bill extending the deadline to fund USDA and several other agencies through March 8th. Congressman Eric Sorenson of Illinois tells Brownfield it’s time to put politics aside… “Does our Speaker of the House have good faith to be able to want that bipartisan path forward?” He says, “One political…… Continue Reading
Congress has sent a stopgap bill to the President that would extend the deadline to fund USDA and several other agencies through March 8th. Congressman Eric Sorenson of Illinois tells Brownfield it’s time to put politics aside… “Does our Speaker of the House have good faith to be able to want that bipartisan path forward?” …… Continue Reading
Sign-ups for USDA risk management programs are open, and a Farm Service Agency official says offices have been busy. Greg Biba is the Chief Program Specialist for FSA in Wisconsin, and he says, “Our offices have definitely seen activity, for sure.” Biba says farmers have been making appointments at local offices. “I know they’re calling to…… Continue Reading
Across the Corn Belt, light precipitation, including some wet snow, is falling in the middle Mississippi and lower Ohio Valleys. Dry weather covers the remainder of the region, with warmth returning across the upper Midwest. In fact, Friday’s high temperatures will range from 60 to 75°F in South Dakota—but will remain mostly below 50°F in…… Continue Reading
A wet spring slowed planting for Joe Sullivan and his family farm near Franklin in west central Minnesota in 2023. He tells Brownfield John Deere’s AutoPath helped during replant and they ended up with a pretty good crop. … … Continue Reading
Looking ahead, the 6- to 10day outlook calls for the likelihood of above-normal temperatures across the eastern half of the U.S., while colder-than-normal conditions will prevail in the West. Meanwhile, near- or below-normal precipitation from the northern Rockies to the upper Great Lakes region should contrast with wetter-than-normal weather across the remainder of the country.…… Continue Reading
February ended with a widespread outbreak of severe weather and wild temperature swings across the Midwest. Eric Snodgrass, chief science fellow at Nutrien Ag Solutions, says… “There was quite a bit of hail damage across the state of Illinois, especially in the northern part of the state, but then we also had stronger storms that…… Continue Reading
A new bill introduced into Congress aims to find a balance between the solar industry and production agriculture. Congressman Eric Sorenson of Illinois says the Securing and Understanding Our National Renewable Agriculture Yields for Energy, or SUNRAY, Act calls on USDA to identify and make publicly available the best practices for implementing solar on agricultural…… Continue Reading
Regulations impacting agriculture remain a major topic at this year’s Commodity Classic. Southeast Minnesota corn and soybean grower Darin Johnson says state and federal regulatory issues are a constant battle. “Try to make sure farmers are able to farm the way that they have and will continue. Obviously conservation and stewardship is (top of mind),…… Continue Reading
