The USDA says Illinois farmers have been able to get some seed in the ground. Beck’s Hybrids agronomist Matt Montgomery, who’s based in central Illinois, agrees. “There’s actually a little bit of beans, more than I would have expected, in the ground.” He says, “I’m not going to say that it’s anything that rises above…… Continue Reading
Wet conditions put planting on hold in Michigan
Michigan fields are starting the growing season well saturated. Monroe Country farmer Doug Darling tells Brownfield he’s received nearly five inches of rain over the past 10 days. “We’ve gotten a lot of precipitation, so the fields are quite saturated,” he shares. “The corn planter’s hooked up to the tractor, the soybean planter’s hooked up…… Continue Reading
U.S. winter wheat rating lower than last year
The USDA’s winter wheat condition rating is below a year ago. 48% of the crop is in good to excellent shape as of Sunday, 8% less than last year, largely due to year-to-year differences in conditions during dormancy. 5% of the winter wheat crop has headed, matching the five-year average. 2% of corn is planted,…… Continue Reading
USDA says not much activity in Wisconsin fields yet
USDA has begun the weekly crop progress reports for the 2025 growing season, and thanks to the weather, there isn’t much to report in Wisconsin. Greg Bussler with the National Ag Statistics Service office in Madison says much of the state received rain, ice, or snow during the past seven days. He says while conditions…… Continue Reading
Cattle, hog futures lower to start the week
At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live and feeder cattle were lower as the market remains concerned about demand. June live cattle closed $4.02 lower at $194.17 and August lives closed $4.17 lower at $190.52. May feeder cattle closed $3.60 lower at $271.12 and August feeder cattle closed $3.00 lower at $278.05. Direct cash cattle trade…… Continue Reading
Southeast Indiana farmer getting ready for 2025 planting season
A southeast Indiana farmer says he expects his planting season to begin within the next few weeks. Roger Wenning farms in Decatur County. “There’s a lot of work to do,” he says. “Things are slow yet. We’ve still got manure to haul and fertilizer to spread. We’re just moving slow as usual.” He tells Brownfield…… Continue Reading
Nebraska farmer hopes to get planting underway soon
A Southeast Nebraska farmer says planting season is right around the corner. Randy Uhrmacher grows corn and soybeans near Hastings, and says he hopes to get started early next week. “Looking at the weather, (it’s still) a little bit chilly and hoping for a little rain. I’ve got to finish some odd and ends stuff.…… Continue Reading
Kansas farmer says winter wheat emergence in good shape
Winter wheat conditions are a mixed bag in the largest producing state in the U.S. Western Kansas farmer Clay Schemm says his winter wheat crop is starting to green up. “It’s getting after it. The one thing that we are dealing with a little bit on it is wanting to make sure that we don’t…… Continue Reading
Ohio farmer still prepping for spring planting season
A southwestern Ohio farmer says he’s still preparing for his spring planting season. Eric Tipton farms in Fayette County. “We just hooked the planners up today,” he says. “We’ve had them through the shop and everything, but now we’re actually hooking them up and being serious about the next stretch of weather. We’re still kind of…… Continue Reading
Lender says farm finances about the same as ‘24
An agricultural lender says the financial picture for most farms is a lot like last year. Roger Sinkula with Nicolet National Bank tells Brownfield they had about the same number of farmers come in for operating loans this year. Sinkula says there is one difference. “I’m seeing a better job of people that did some…… Continue Reading
