A new report from the Government Accountability Office suggests USDA’s Farm Service Agency could communicate better with dairy farmers about the Dairy Margin Coverage Program. The report published Thursday recommends USDA develop ways to measure how well its communication efforts are working so it can better help farmers. The GAO says dairy farmer groups identified…… Continue Reading
Critical time for moisture in Michigan
A Thumb-area Michigan farmer says growing conditions remain variable in his region. Chris Creuger tells Brownfield, “We’ve had quite a bit of heat and humidity lately here to catch up on GDU’s.” “I think in general, the growing season looks pretty good, but August also determines a lot of grain yields, so we’re hoping we…… Continue Reading
From coal mines to apple orchards
A group in Eastern Kentucky is turning reclaimed coal mines into apple orchards. Ryan Wilson, who manages the operation, says harvest is underway for AppleAtcha Orchard’s second commercial crop of Honeycrisp apples. “It’s 60 acres, 125,000 trees planted in a high-density orchard,” he says. The trees are planted on a trellis, 21 inches apart, and…… Continue Reading
Ample moisture for many Minnesota farmers this summer
There’s been ample moisture for farmers in northwest Minnesota this summer. Blair Hoseth grows corn, soybeans, and hay near Mahnomen. “We’ve had a pretty good run of moisture most of the summer, sometimes a little too much. So actually we’re sufficient for moisture, we could use a little bit more for the beans coming up.…… Continue Reading
Soybeans see modestly higher Monday finish
Soybeans were modestly higher on short covering and technical buying. Beans are oversold and there was help from a higher move in bean meal. Bean meal futures were up on the recent bump in global demand for meal, led by China. China remains officially out of the U.S. soybean market, continuing to focus on Brazil…… Continue Reading
Cattle, hog futures higher to start the week
At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live and feeder cattle were up ahead of the week’s direct business. October live cattle closed $.42 higher at $224.10 and December live cattle closed $.57 higher at $225. September feeder cattle closed $.52 higher at $334.45 and October feeder cattle closed $.55 higher at $332.40. Direct cash cattle trade…… Continue Reading
Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: August 4, 2025
Sep. corn closed at $3.87, down 2 and 1/2 centsSep. soybeans closed at $9.75 and 1/4, up 5 and 3/4 centsSep. soybean meal closed at $277.00, up $6.10Sep. soybean oil closed at 54.40, down 8 pointsSep. wheat closed at $5.16 and 3/4, unchangedOct. live cattle closed at $224.10, up 42 centsSep. feeder cattle closed at…… Continue Reading
Farmers clearing bins ahead of harvest
A grain market analyst says farmers are starting to clear old grain out of bins to prepare for the new crop as harvest gets closer. Don Roose with U.S. Commodities says farmers were waiting for a weather scare to affect the grain markets this summer, but that hasn’t happened. “They’re getting ready for harvest, clearing…… Continue Reading
73% of U.S. corn, 69% of soybeans good to excellent
Not a lot of changes for the USDA’s national crop condition ratings over the past week. Development weather continues to be seen as generally favorable in much of the Midwest and Plains. 73% of U.S. corn is called good to excellent, unchanged on the week, with 88% silking, 42% at the dough making stage, and…… Continue Reading
Kansas farmer says crops are in need of a timely rain
An eastern Kansas farmer says his crops could benefit from moisture this month. Daniel Anderes tells Brownfield his corn crop got off to a great start. “Now it’s kind of fell off the radar, but the corn itself is looking very good. We actually walked some fields the other day and we’re in dent stage…… Continue Reading
