An extension agronomist says southern rust was an unexpected disease pressure for growers in 2025. Meaghan Anderson with Iowa State University says southern rust impacted a large portion of the Midwestern corn crop. “I think we were all caught completely off guard by how big of a problem it ended up being,” she said. “We…… Continue Reading
Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: January 5, 2026
Mar. corn $4.44 and 1/2, up 7 centsMar. soybeans $10.62, up 16 and 1/4 centsMar. soybean meal $299.90, up $3.99Mar. soybean oil 49.87, up 57 pointsMar. Chicago wheat $5.12 and 1/2, up 6 centsFeb. live cattle $235.87, down 12 centsMar. feeder cattle $358.97, up $2.87Feb. lean hogs $86.15, up $2.05Feb. Class III milk closed at…… Continue Reading
Producer says local push needed to support whole milk law
A Wisconsin dairy farmer says the task of getting whole and 2% milk back into schools now needs local support. Mike Yager milks cows near Mineral Point, Wisconsin. He tells Brownfield now is the critical time for farmers to approach their local school boards who make milk purchasing contracts. “We’re not going to change anything…… Continue Reading
Corn, soybeans bounce off recent lows as wheat ends session mixed
Soybeans were higher on short covering and technical buying. Contracts bounced off the recent lows, monitoring weather in South America. Central Brazil saw good rain over the weekend, while near-term, parts of Argentina could remain dry, potentially stressing the crop during early stages of development. Soybean export inspections were up on the week, down on…… Continue Reading
Allendale analyst sees more soybean acres next season
The director of brokerage for Allendale suggests there could be an increase in soybean acres during the 2026 growing season. Greg McBride tells Brownfield, “We’re still talking about 95 or 94 million acres planted in corn. On the soybean side, at this point I’ve got to think acres go back up to 84 or 85…… Continue Reading
ODA says it’s committed to helping preserve the state’s farmland in 2026
The director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture says the agency is committed to preserving the state’s farmland in 2026. Brian Baldridge says a new $1 million grant program will allow county governments to help farmers develop and implement land use plans. “In the last two decades, we’ve lost one million acres of productive farmland,”…… Continue Reading
The right way to cut costs in 2026
An ag economist at Purdue University says farmers should be considering more than cost when making input decisions for 2026. Michael Langemeier tells Brownfield, “You want to compare the benefits of making a change to the cost of making a change. If you think the impact is going to be relatively large, you could lose quite…… Continue Reading
ADAI relaunches Hot Chocolate Milk in Schools, emphasizing the importance of dairy to a balanced diet
The youth wellness manager for the American Dairy Association Indiana says a recently revamped school nutrition program is emphasizing the importance of dairy to a balanced diet. Sheri Shipp says milk is the cornerstone of all school meal programs. “A lot of students eat two out of three meals a day at school,” she says.…… Continue Reading
H-2A wage rule sets floor, not ceiling, as farmers prioritize retaining skilled labor
An ag labor specialist says many farmers who use the H-2A guest worker program are planning to offer wages above the new minimums set by the Department of Labor. Sarah Black with Great Lakes Ag Labor Services tells Brownfield it’s a common commitment she’s seeing from clients. “They have workers that have come back 10, 12 years every single year, and those are valuable members of…… Continue Reading
Corn and soybean payments lag as FBA program draws criticism from Illinois ag director
The director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture says the USDA’s recently announced Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program heavily favors southern crops over Midwestern producers. Jerry Costello tells Brownfield, “You’ve got payments that are three times as much going to crops like rice than what either soy or corn is being paid out.” He says,…… Continue Reading
