A new grain facility on the Wisconsin-Minnesota border means new marketing opportunities for farmers. Shortly after a merger that formed Alcivia Cooperative, farmers told the board they needed a way to sell grain to new markets and take a smaller basis hit on grain prices. After a year of construction, President and CEO Jim Dell…… Continue Reading
ECAP assistance expected to start next week
The USDA is expected to roll out the first round of Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) funds starting next week. Brooke Appleton, USDA’s deputy under secretary for farm production and conservation, says the funding was allocated in the Continuing Resolution passed by Congress last December. “The funding is there to help agriculture producers mitigate the impact…… Continue Reading
Cattle futures higher ahead of direct business
At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live and feeder cattle were up sharply ahead of the week’s direct business. April lives closed $1.85 higher at $201.40 and June lives closed $1.62 higher at $197.87. April feeder cattle closed $3.02 higher at $280.72 and May feeder cattle closed $2.92 higher at $281.87. Direct cash cattle trade…… Continue Reading
UNL study shows ethanol’s impact on economy
A new study from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln shows the ethanol and co-products industry is contributing billions of dollars to the state’s economy. Tim Meyer, associate professor of practice in the Department of Agricultural Economics, says the value of the state’s ethanol production is nearly $7 billion annually. “It corroborates what we knew about the…… Continue Reading
Ag transportation, river infrastructure a concern for Wisconsin farmer
A Wisconsin crop farmer says transportation issues have been one of his biggest concerns this year. “Living in west-central Wisconsin, we’re blessed to have the fifth coast of the nation with the Mississippi River,” Shane Goplin said. Goplin tells Brownfield infrastructure improvements are critically needed. “It’s a huge undertaking. The locks and dams were made…… Continue Reading
Skor says the time is now to authorize year-round E15
The CEO of Growth Energy says there’s been some positive signals in Congress for a federal E15 solution. Emily Skor tells Brownfield bipartisan legislation that would allow year-round sales of E15 has been introduced in the House and Senate. “They have reintroduced our bill that would allow us to fix the law once and for…… Continue Reading
Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: March 12, 2025
May corn closed at $4.60 and 3/4, down 9 and 1/2 centsMay soybeans closed at $10.00 and 1/2, down 10 and 3/4 centsMay soybean meal closed at $300.20, down $1.60May soybean oil closed at 41.68, down 25 pointsMay wheat closed at $5.54, down 2 and 3/4 centsApr. live cattle closed at $201.40, up $1.85Apr. feeder…… Continue Reading
Soybeans, corn see another round of losses
Soybeans were lower on fund and technical selling. Brazil’s soybean harvest has passed 60% complete and early activity is ongoing in Argentina. Domestic demand is solid, but export demand, especially demand from China, is limited by trade tensions and Brazil’s price advantage. ANEC projects Brazil’s March soybean exports at 15.45 million tons, up 4% from…… Continue Reading
Weather and economics could force some last minute planting changes
A southeastern Illinois farmer says he hopes to start planting around the first of April. Jeff Scates, chair of the Illinois Corn Marketing Council, says weather and commodity prices will be the driving force as his farm considers any last-minute changes to their planting intentions. “We’ll look at numbers again,” he says. “And figure that…… Continue Reading
Turkey hatchery numbers show HPAI impact
U.S. turkey hatchery numbers were down in February. Those declines came as poultry producers continue to get hit hard by the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza. The USDA says there were 24.517 million turkey eggs in incubation at the start of March, down 1% on the year, while the number of poults hatched during…… Continue Reading
