The USDA has announced disaster assistance in six Illinois counties due to a severe weather outbreak on February 14th, 2025. Producers in Alexander, Gallatin, Hardin, Massac, Pope and Pulaski Counties should check eligibility for low-interest emergency physical loss loans at their local USDA Service Center. The severe storms caused straight-line winds, flooding, landslides, and mudslides.…… Continue Reading
School meal funding emphasized during Senate’s whole milk hearing
A food service director says funding school meal programs is the best use of federal dollars. During Tuesday’s Senate Ag Committee’s hearing, Michigan’s Dan Gorman testified about federal school meal programs which provide nearly 30 million lunches and 15 million breakfasts daily. “Those 45,000,000 meals every day include fruits and vegetables grown by American farmers,…… Continue Reading
Indiana property taxes are a two-fold issue
An Indiana State Senator says the current property tax relief bill could provide much-needed assistance to the state’s farmers. Southern Indiana farmer Daryl Schmitt says rising tax rates have put financial strain on landowners. “The Tax Foundation ranks Indiana 5th in the nation and best in the Midwest for the most competitive property tax system,”…… Continue Reading
Prop 12 causing uncertainty for pork producers
Proposition 12 continues to create challenges for U.S. pork producers. Minnesota pig farmer Todd Selvik says California’s animal confinement law has caused uncertainty for the industry. “You’ve got some farms that are converting old units, some farms that aren’t. On my farm we chose not to convert ours, we didn’t see that there was enough…… Continue Reading
Tornado puts successful twist on farm business model
The winds of change have helped a Wisconsin farm family build a strong business model… literally. Edward Smith, his son, and young grandson operate Prairie Dairy Inc. The farm has been in the family more than 120 years, but the F5 tornadoes that struck Oakfield, Wisconsin in 1996 destroyed their dairy. The following year, Smith…… Continue Reading
Minnesota FFA Convention
Brownfield’s Mark Dorenkamp covers the 2025 Minnesota FFA Convention. The post Minnesota FFA Convention appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. … Continue Reading
Analyst: markets a “wait and see” for trade tariffs
A market analyst says it’s unclear which countries and products will be included in reciprocal tariffs from the United States and how those countries will respond. Don Roose is with U.S. Commodities. “Does it turn into a trade war? Does it turn into more of a cordial type of ‘this is a cap on the…… Continue Reading
Farmer sentiment declines due to ag policy uncertainty
An ag economist says trade concerns contributed to the decline in farmer sentiment in the latest Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer. Professor emeritus Jim Mintert says producers are less optimistic about current conditions. But, “Sentiment in the ag sector is still relatively strong, so it’s lower than the last couple of months,” he says. “When you look…… Continue Reading
Senators push for farmer contracts to be honored
Legislation is being introduced in the U.S. House and Senate to release funding for USDA-signed contracts and agreements. Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin tells Brownfield the Honor Farmer Contracts Act would restore past-due payments to farmers and reimbursements. “When you see these actions, some are unlawful, some are unconstitutional, and some are just really…… Continue Reading
The next in a series of early-Spring storms impacting Heartland, parts of the southern U.S.
Across the Corn Belt, heavy showers and locally severe thunderstorms are resulting in pockets of wind damage, large hail, and flash flooding. A sharp temperature gradient exists across the Midwest, with Wednesday’s high temperatures expected to range from near 35°F in the Red River Valley of the North to 80°F or higher in the lower…… Continue Reading
