Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: February 21, 2025

Mar. corn closed at $4.91 and 1/4, down 6 and 3/4 centsMar. soybeans closed at $10.39 and 1/2, down 6 centsMar. soybean meal closed at $294.80, down $1.20Mar. soybean oil closed at 46.81, down 45 pointsMar. wheat closed at $5.90, up 4 and 1/2 centsApr. live cattle closed at $193.95, up 15 centsMar. feeder cattle…Continue Reading

January cattle placements see year-to-year rise

The USDA says 1.822 million cattle entered U.S. feedlots during January 2025. That was an increase of 2% from January 2024, towards the low end of the range of pre-report estimates. Weather was likely a factor. Most of those cattle weighed less than 800 pounds. Overall placements could continue to rise in the coming months…Continue Reading

National FFA Officer stops in MO for FFA Week

The Western Region Vice President of National FFA Organization says there is a place for everyone in the FFA. Abby Jacobsen says “to carry our world into its next era, we’re going to need all types of people to move people forward as we continue to feed the world.” Jacobsen is from the central valley…Continue Reading

Milk production down in January, 5% of dairies closed in 2024

U.S. milk production was up fractionally in January as dairy farmers worked to grow their herds. Production in the U.S. totaled more than 19 billion pounds with production per cow down seven pounds from last year. USDA says farmers increased the dairy herd size by 40,000 head from last year and 10,000 from the prior…Continue Reading

Bright future for MO FFA

The president of Missouri FFA says the future of agriculture is bright. Andi Belt from northeast Missouri tells Brownfield “these kids just getting started in the organization have a really good future ahead and it gives me confidence we’re in good hands the next few years.” Belt says not only has she been meeting with…Continue Reading

Bill banning lab-grown protein dies in SD Senate

A bill that would have banned the sale of lab-grown protein for 10 years in South Dakota has failed in the Senate. A second vote was considered after a tie vote on Wednesday, but lawmakers decided not to consider the measure again. In a statement, bill sponsor and representative John Sjaarda told Brownfield he was…Continue Reading

John Deere confirms 119 layoffs in Ankeny, Iowa

John Deere is planning a workforce reduction at its Des Moines Works plant in Ankeny, Iowa. In a statement to Brownfield, Deere says 119 employees are losing their jobs as part of a three-group layoff throughout March and April. The company says the layoffs are occurring because of reduced demand for the products produced in…Continue Reading

How a budget year could impact Ohio agriculture

Photo by Brownfield’s Erin Anderson. An Ohio state representative says he’s concerned about how the governor’s budget proposal will impact the state’s ag industry. District 65 Representative David Thomas tells Brownfield, “We have to use some of our state sales tax and income tax dollars to help property owners and give that relief. We used…Continue Reading

ODA: Ohio has become a hotspot for avian flu

Ohio’s director of ag says the state has become a national hotspot for highly pathogenic avian influenza this year. Brian Baldridge says more than 11.5  million birds have been depopulated because of the virus. “As we’ve seen the numbers in Ohio, we’ve heard the poultry industry and them coming together to say we have to do…Continue Reading

Verslues to retire

The CEO of MFA Incorporated, a farm cooperative based in Missouri, will be retiring this fall. Ernie Verslues has been at MFA for nearly 40 years and has been leading the cooperative for a decade. MFA says the Board of Directors is currently conducting a search, considering both internal and external candidates. The post Verslues…Continue Reading

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