Seth Blackstock is Brandon’s oldest son. He shared memories and six photos of him with his father. Continue reading…… Continue Reading
51% of Michigan corn, 53% of soybeans rated good to excellent
The USDA says corn and soybean condition ratings were mixed last week in Michigan. Monday’s crop progress report says corn condition declined to 51% good to excellent from the previous week’s 56%. Fifty-one percent of the crop is in the dough stage and 93% is silking. Soybeans were rated 53% good to excellent – two…… Continue Reading
Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: August 11, 2025
Sep. corn closed at $3.85, up 2 and 1/4 centsSep. soybeans closed at $9.91 and 3/4, up 24 centsSep. soybean meal closed at $280.80, up $4.20Sep. soybean oil closed at 53.19, up 48 pointsSep. wheat closed at $5.15, up 1/2 centOct. live cattle closed at $226.10, up 12 centsSep. feeder cattle closed at $340.60, up…… Continue Reading
Live cattle futures higher to start the week
At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live cattle were up, feeders were mostly higher ahead of the week’s direct business. Boxed beef was also higher during the session. October live cattle closed $.12 higher at $226.10 and December live cattle closed $.55 higher at $228.47. September feeder cattle closed $.22 higher at $340.60 and October feeder…… Continue Reading
Heavy weekend rains affected some Wisconsin crops
The heavy rainfall that caused flooding in southern Wisconsin and forced the early closing of the Wisconsin State Fair also impacted some crops. Mark Hoffmann raises corn and soybeans near Whitewater, about 20 miles southwest of Milwaukee. He tells Brownfield the rainfall amounts varied across the region, and the crops are so tall you don’t…… Continue Reading
72% of U.S. corn, 68% of soybeans good to excellent
The USDA’s national crop condition ratings generally declined over the past week. That followed another week of widely variable weather in many key growing areas, ranging from near ideal, to hotter and drier, with heavy rainfall and flooding in parts of the region. The USDA says 72% of corn is in good to excellent shape,…… Continue Reading
More improvements planned for Illinois State Fairgrounds
The director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture says more improvements are planned for the Illinois State Fairgrounds. Jerry Costello says this will be the final year the long-abandoned Building 29 will loom over the fairgrounds. “Which is the old dormitory building.” He says, “It’s probably been vacant for over twenty years, and has been…… Continue Reading
Importance of efficient ag equipment
A product specialist with CLAAS says farmers should utilize equipment that increases efficiency. Wes Wortmann says that’s especially important in today’s farm economy. “With commodity prices and machine prices where they are, we want to make sure we do a good job with efficiency,” he said. “We have low fuel consumption but making sure we’re…… Continue Reading
Kansas farmer says timely rains help soybean crop, increase disease issues on corn
A north central Kansas farmer says recent moisture has helped improve crop conditions. Shale Porter says his soybean crop may have turned a corner recently. “The hot weather last week, we did have a few spots in soybeans starting to show drought stress in the compaction areas and places like that. Overall, the beans look…… Continue Reading
Sen. Grassley touts Ethanol for America Act
A bill in the U.S. Senate aims to expand consumer access to E15 fuel blends. Republican Chuck Grassley tells Brownfield the Ethanol for America Act would require the U.S. EPA to finalize rulemaking from 2021 to make the E15 fuel label clearer and more consumer oriented. “E15 is going to help the oil companies and…… Continue Reading
