Looking ahead, the 6- to 10-day outlook calls for the likelihood of above-normal temperatures along and east of a line from eastern New Mexico to the Red River of the North, while cooler-than-normal conditions will cover the northern High Plains and the West. Meanwhile, near- or above-normal rainfall across much of the western and central…… Continue Reading
Be strategic when cutting costs
An extension ag economist says in a high cost, low margin era, farmers should be cautious about which costs they cut to stay profitable. Ben Brown at the University of Missouri says cutting crop protection and crop nutrition costs now can have long-term negative impacts. Hear more in the latest Managing for Profit. The post…… Continue Reading
Study finds early life nutrition affects health, performance, carcass traits
Research shows that beef-on-dairy calves can be healthier and more profitable with the right early-life nutrition. Iowa State Extension Beef Specialist Denise Schwab tells Brownfield their two-and-a-half-year study followed 120 calves focusing on the level of starch and fiber in the diet, and how that impacted performance later in life. She says they noticed some…… Continue Reading
Local farmland preservation groups say contracts are unamendable to state intervention
A land preservation advocate says policy changes by the State of Michigan are putting the longevity of farmland preservation credits in jeopardy. Ingham County Farmland and Open Space Preservation Board Director Stacy Sheridan-Byers tells Brownfield, “We have these landowners who are in limbo, who have been since the time of their easements closing, have been receiving…… Continue Reading
Cause of avian metapneumovirus spread remains a mystery
Minnesota turkey growers are struggling to protect flocks from avian metapneumovirus. Ashley Kohls with the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association says it’s unclear how the respiratory disease is being introduced. “There’s some speculation that it’s spread by wild birds, but wild bird testing has not indicated that it’s existing in wild birds. So we’re doing ongoing…… Continue Reading
Illinois Beef Association keeping producers up to date
The business operations manager with the Illinois Beef Association says despite relatively good times in the cattle industry, producers still face challenges. Olivia Hoots says biosecurity concerns are always a threat. “Today and in our modern time, with all the different issues that we’ve got going on, whether it’s ticks, or influenza, or the newest…… Continue Reading
An inconsistent 2025 planting season
An Ohio farmer says the 2025 planting season has been inconsistent. Eric Tipton says he’s finished planting on his farm, but that’s not the case for farmers in other areas. “We’ve got some folks 30 miles north of us and 30 miles south of us that just started planting Memorial Day weekend,” he says. “That’s…… Continue Reading
Simpson to lead National Council of Farmer Cooperatives
A policy expert with Bayer Crop Science will be the new CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives. Duane Simpson will start July 14. Simpson is a Kansas native who has spent 17 years at Bayer, leading state and federal government relations. Before joining Bayer, Simpson worked at the Kansas Grain and Feed Association…… Continue Reading
Words of wisdom for the grad’s next chapter
Commentary. Although the June solstice is still a couple of weeks away, many view the Memorial Day holiday as their official kick-off to summer. High school and college graduations are in the rear-view mirror. Proms and FFA banquets, field days and class trips are no more than memories and hundreds of photos on someone’s mom’s…… Continue Reading
Decent basis in southern Minnesota
A crop farmer in south-central Minnesota says local cash prices are decent. Tim Waibel of Courtland tells Brownfield the basis for soybeans is firming up. “Running a zero basis on the soybeans into ADM and CHS in Mankato.” He says the best corn basis is about 60 miles away. “That’d be an eight cent negative…… Continue Reading
