Ag groups ask lawmakers for 2024 farm bill

Ag lobbyist Tom Sell says a new farm bill isn’t likely by the end of September. “I don’t think it’s realistic for House floor action. It’s certainly not realistic for Senate floor action, but at the end of the day, none of that is really needed,” he says. “You can still craft a package and…Continue Reading

China’s dairy purchases hard to predict

A dairy economist says recent milk powder sales to China are a good sign, but he’s not expecting China to be buying long-term. Chuck Nicholson with the University of Wisconsin says, “I’d say that’s probably a blip rather than some kind of an indicator of a long term that we’re going to see coming. Nicholson…Continue Reading

Interest building in central Illinois ag tech hub

Interest is building in a newly designated central Illinois ag tech hub.                  The Illinois Fermentation and Agriculture Biomanufacturing (iFAB) Tech Hub earlier this year received a $51 million Economic Development Administration (EDA) implementation grant.  Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski tells Brownfield… “One of the things I hear about from my farmers is they want access and the…Continue Reading

Wheat, corn export inspections up on year

The USDA says wheat export inspections during the week ending September 5th were more than what’s needed to meet projections for the current marketing year. The 2024/25 marketing year got underway June 1st for wheat and September 1st for corn, sorghum, and soybeans. The USDA’s next set of supply and demand estimates is out Thursday,…Continue Reading

Higher livestock revenue helps overall farm income

Ag economist Scott Brown says there’s been a shift in U.S. farm income.  “A lot of things are moving better for livestock,” he says. “Unfortunately, on the crop side, income is not moving in the same direction.” He tells Brownfield crop receipts have declined significantly. “Receipts are down $25 billion from where we were in…Continue Reading

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