A new guideline from the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service encourages third-party verification of animal raising or environmental related claims found on food products at the grocery store. The agency says encouraging a third-party certification helps ensure the claims like “raised without antibiotics, grass-fed and free-range” are truthful and not misleading. The updated guideline…… Continue Reading
MO pesticide applicators will want to double check certifications for 2025
Missouri’s Ag Director says applicators who want to apply restricted use pesticides, like atrazine, next year will need a fresh certification. “Things are going to be different in 2025.” Chris Chinn tells Brownfield new rules for Missouri’s Pesticide Use Act will go into effect in January. EPA’s mandate has set a minimum age for certified…… Continue Reading
Global factors affecting cotton and rice markets
An extension economist with the University of Missouri says there are a few global factors affecting the current cotton and rice markets. Ben Brown says a decline in U.S. cotton production is being overshadowed by deteriorations in global cotton consumption and the export market. “We export a lot of our cotton to southeast Asia, China…… Continue Reading
Soybeans, corn end session in the red
Soybeans were lower on speculative and technical selling. There has been scattered rain in parts of the Midwest and while coverage was not widespread, it was generally welcome. It’s been a dry August for most of the region and there is the possibility of crop stress from the recent high temperatures, but the market largely…… Continue Reading
Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: August 28, 2024
Sep. corn closed at $3.65 and 1/4, down 2 centsSep. soybeans closed at $9.58 and 1/2, down 9 centsSep. soybean meal closed at $310.80, down $6.50Sep. soybean oil closed at 41.80, up 65 pointsSep. wheat closed at $5.14 and 1/4, up 6 centsOct. live cattle closed at $178.62, down 77 centsSep. feeder cattle closed at…… Continue Reading
Illinois farmland values soften in first half of ‘24
The Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers says farmland values in the state were down in the first half of 2024. Luke Worrell, chair of the organization’s Farmland Values & Lease Trends Committee, tells Brownfield the results of their mid-year survey were expected, primarily due to lower commodity prices. “We saw about…… Continue Reading
Combined U.S./Canada hog herd higher
The combined U.S. and Canadian hog herd is larger than last year. The USDA and Statistics Canada say the joint supply of 88.481 million head in June 2024 was up 1% from June 2023. That included a 2% rise in the market hog inventory, which canceled out a 3% decline in the breeding herd, with…… Continue Reading
CLAAS announces new partnerships for service, distribution
CLAAS has announced new partner agreements with companies in Missouri and Wisconsin, following the closure of some Ziegler Ag stores. Daryl Theis tells Brownfield an agreement has been reached with Parallel Ag to provide parts and service for CLAAS combines in central Missouri. “Our urgency is paramount in terms of taking care of customers,” he…… Continue Reading
Another year-to-year rise for broiler hatchery numbers
Broiler sets and placements continue to move above year ago levels. The USDA says 247.583 million broiler-type eggs were placed into incubation, down 1.065 million on the week, but up 3% on the year, with average hatchability holding at 79.5%. Placements of broiler-type chicks into meat production were 193.576 million head, 403,000 higher than the…… Continue Reading
Chairman Thompson, Sec. Vilsack weigh in on continued farm bill uncertainty
Pressure is mounting to get a farm bill done yet this year. “We’re going to give the Senate a great bill to be able to work with,” House Ag Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson said Wednesday at the 2024 Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa. Thompson tells Brownfield he’d like to see a House vote…… Continue Reading
