The USDA says it will focus on three efforts to improve market fairness across the seed, meat and cattle sectors. The agency will soon take public comment on a new Packers and Stockyards Act rule to improve base prices for fed cattle purchasing agreements. The Price Discovery and Competition in Markets for Fed Cattle is…… Continue Reading
Export opportunities exist for dairy
A market advisor says U.S. dairy products are priced to attract cheese export sales. Katie Burgess with Ever.ag tells Brownfield cheese prices in Europe are higher than the U.S. “Even though our cheese prices are pretty high, if you look at our futures market for 2025, Q1 prices are still below $2.00 per pound, and…… Continue Reading
Minnesota farmer focused on break-evens
A northwest Minnesota farmer is building her marketing plan around cost of production. Theresia Gillie of Hallock says she uses an online tool from North Dakota State University’s website to identify her break- even point. “Put your last three years over your different expenses and stuff in, talk to your fertilizer and chemical guys (to)…… Continue Reading
Market analyst says don’t wait for even lower feed prices
A market analyst says livestock producers waiting for even lower feed prices should be very careful. Mike North with Ever.ag says when prices went down, other buyers also entered the market. “Those markets really started to respond from an export perspective when price got that low, and I think if we’re just sitting around waiting…… Continue Reading
Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: October 8, 2024
Dec. corn closed at $4.20 and 3/4, down 5 and 1/4 centsNov. soybeans closed at $10.16 and 1/4, down 17 and 3/4 centsDec. soybean meal closed at $323.00, down $1.00Dec. soybean oil closed at 43.09, down 148 pointsDec. wheat closed at $5.94 and 3/4, up 2 and 1/4 centsDec. live cattle closed at $187.87, up…… Continue Reading
Wheat manages mostly modestly higher finish
Soybeans were lower on fund and technical selling. Harvest is nearly at the halfway point, with favorable conditions in the forecast for many areas. The USDA’s updated supply, demand, and production numbers are out Friday, with the average guess calling for slightly lower production, yield, and domestic ending stocks. The trade is also watching planting…… Continue Reading
Clarinda farmer expecting record crop
The 2024 soybean harvest has nearly wrapped up for southwest Iowa farmer Lee Brooke. “There’s been a lot of neighbors that have just finished in the last couple of days, and we’ve got a little bit of corn done, but not a whole lot yet. So, we’ll have 10 days, two weeks of corn to…… Continue Reading
Soil moisture minimal across Midwest
A climatologist says he’s concerned about soil moisture levels across the Midwest. Eric Hunt with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln says, “We have very low soil moisture in the top part of the profile for pretty much everywhere in the central US north of I-70 and certainly West of I-35. Again, we are just really, really…… Continue Reading
Helping farmers navigate a difficult farm economy
The head of Syngenta crop protection says innovation can help farmers navigate a tighter farm economy. Vern Hawkins says it starts with understanding farm profitability levels. “The return on investments is a big part of the value that we bring when they choose to use one of our products,” he says. “Sometimes they have limited…… Continue Reading
Average to below average soybeans in NE SD
A famer in northeast South Dakota says soybean harvest is wrapping up soon and the crop is average to below-average. “We’re happy to stick a fork in the soybeans for 2024.” Jason Frerichs from Roberts County says it was a challenging planting season with wet fields, the plants struggled to get a good stand and…… Continue Reading
