Tornadoes and heavy rains damage eastern MO crops

Farmers in eastern Missouri are assessing crop damage after EF0 tornadoes and heavy rains moved through Warren and Jefferson Counties earlier this week. “There are fields of corn laying down and the biggest thing was probably the 4 to 9 inches of rain in 45 minutes or less.” Eric Kopmann raises corn and soybeans in…Continue Reading

Very wet first half of growing season for Minnesota farmer

Nathan Collins is one of many farmers in the Upper Midwest who managed a very wet first half to the growing season. “We got rain showers on and off throughout the spring and got crop in when we could. Planted soybeans first this year just to try something different and hopefully improve conditions so corn…Continue Reading

Farm bill, farm bill, farm bill

Farm groups continue to call on lawmakers to finish the farm bill this year. Minnesota Soybean Growers Association president Darin Johnson tells Brownfield members are in Washington, D.C. this week. “Busy times out here given the election and everything, but for us the priorities are obviously still farm bill. Farm bill, farm bill, farm bill.”…Continue Reading

Cattle futures sharply lower Thursday

Chicago Mercantile Exchange live and feeder cattle futures were sharply lower, watching the direct markets and getting ready for Friday’s USDA Cattle on Feed report. There was also pressure from signs of slowing consumer beef demand. August live was down $2.02 at $182.25 and October was $2.55 lower at $183.02. August feeders were $2.32 lower…Continue Reading

Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: July 18, 2024

Sep. corn closed at $3.91 and 1/4, down 6 and 3/4 centsAug. soybeans closed at $10.98 and 1/2, up 1 and 1/4 centsAug. soybean meal closed at $337.20, down $1.90Aug. soybean oil closed at 46.45, up 24 pointsSep. wheat closed at $5.35 and 1/4, down 4 centsAug. live cattle closed at $182.25, down $2.02Aug. feeder…Continue Reading

Time to beef up cattle biosecurity

A veterinarian says outbreaks of avian influenza in dairy herds are a reminder for all cattle producers to examine their biosecurity plans. Dr. Joe Gillespie, senior professional services veterinarian with Boehringer Ingelheim, says start with the basics. “Biosecurity could start at the simple level of knowing what the traffic flow is on and off my…Continue Reading

Leave a check strip to check fungicide effectiveness

A plant pathologist is encouraging farmers to leave a check strip in fields receiving fungicide applications. Marty Chilvers is with Michigan State University. “If you don’t leave a check strip, you have no idea what that fungicide did for you,” he explains. “It doesn’t need to be the whole length of the field. It’s just…Continue Reading

Soybeans see modest gains after new export sale

Soybeans were modestly higher on short covering and technical buying, bouncing off the recent contract low. Weather looks favorable in most of the region, but the big month for soybean development is August. For now, consensus seems to be building that it will be a large crop, even with several months to go until harvest.…Continue Reading

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