Trump names Chief Ag Negotiator nominee

President Trump has named Julie Callahan as the nominee for the chief ag negotiator in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. Callahan is currently the assistant USTR for ag affairs and commodity policy and ag groups are responding positively to the news. U.S. Meat Export Federation CEO Dan Halstrom says at a critical time…Continue Reading

Farm Bureau Pavilion unveiled during Michigan Livestock Expo

The first steps to renovate Michigan State University’s Livestock Pavilion were unveiled this week during the Michigan Livestock Expo. Michigan Farm Bureau President Ben LaCross tells Brownfield the facility has been renamed the Farm Bureau Pavilion as part of a gift agreement with the university. “A lot of our farmers use the pavilions for expos…Continue Reading

FDA to eliminate 18 “obsolete” dairy standards of identity

The Food and Drug Administration wants to eliminate what they call 58 obsolete and unnecessary food standards of identity, including 18 dairy products. Clay Detlefsen with the National Milk Producers Federation tells Brownfield the FDA wants to get rid of three categories within the standards of identity rules: Products no longer on the market, foods…Continue Reading

Farmers concerned about MAHA impacts

A southwest Indiana farmer says he’s concerned the next Make America Healthy Again report will impact U.S. agriculture. Phil Ramsey says he’s concerned misinformation could impact crop protection availability. “We need the chemicals to be able to control the weeds,” he says. “All of them have been through the EPA, they’ve been through the testing.…Continue Reading

Shellady: Farmers continue to face challenging soybean prices

A commodity market specialist says farmers continue to deal with sagging corn and soybean prices. Scott Shellady, also known as The Cow Guy, says November new crop soybeans are just off the $10 line. “We need to see the prices up around $11 really,” he said. “We’ve had weather that has not been threatening. Yes,…Continue Reading

Trade deal certainty needed

The board chair of the Soy Transportation Coalition says farmers need trade certainty. Mike Koehne says the recently announced trade agreements need to be finalized sooner rather than later. “We export 63% of our soybeans, so we’ve got to get rid of these beans somewhere along the line,” he says. “Every trade deal is important and…Continue Reading

Cash dairy prices steady to higher Thursday

Cash dairy prices were steady to higher Thursday on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.    Dry whey remained unchanged at $0.5725.  No sales were recorded.  Forty-pound cheese blocks were up $0.0150 at $1.64. Eleven sales were recorded, ranging from $1.63 to $1.64.  Cheese barrels remained unchanged at $1.65. No sales were recorded.  Butter prices were unchanged at…Continue Reading

Soybean product export sales up on week

The USDA says U.S. export sales were mostly down on the week, but there were still a few highlights. Soybean meal sales during the week ending July 10th were above a week ago thanks to strong feed demand from the Philippines, while bean oil sales were up, mainly to Venezuela, which imports most of its…Continue Reading

New World screwworm threatens entire U.S. cattle herd

Ag officials in the Upper Midwest are warning livestock producers not to ignore the threat of New World Screwworm. Minnesota State Veterinarian Dr. Brian Hoefs says many people falsley think the northern climate is a strong enough deterrent for tropical pests like NWS, but that’s not the case. Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association executive director Kaitlyn…Continue Reading

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