The future of ag lending in 2025

An ag banker says the ag economy is making the lending environment more challenging for producers. Jeff Rodibaugh with Indiana-based First Farmers Bank and Trust says it’s largely dependent on grain marketing decisions made in 2024. “Those that would have experienced the significant downturn in commodity prices with the 2023 crop are really the ones that…Continue Reading

Kansas Cattlemen CEO not too concerned about USDA layoffs at NBAF

The CEO of the Kansas Cattlemen’s Association says he doesn’t expect recent layoffs within USDA’s National Bio and Agro Defense Facility (NBAF) to disrupt day-to-day operations. Matthew Steele tells Brownfield not much has been released publicly about the layoffs. “My understanding was there were some folks that were working with high path that they reassigned.…Continue Reading

Some forage concerns heading into spring

A central Illinois beef producer says his forage levels are holding up through the winter. Doug Hanson, who’s family operation is based in Iroquois County, says 2024 was a good year for feeding cattle. “The last eight months forages have been pretty plentiful.”  He says, “We had much better grazing across the whole Midwest and…Continue Reading

Marketing Soybeans in Mexico and Panama

In this Spotlight on Soybeans, Board Member Robert Alpers highlights the value of marketing missions to importing countries and talks about their most recent mission to Mexico and Panama. He emphasizes trust and product interest through face-to-face interactions and personal connections. The post Marketing Soybeans in Mexico and Panama appeared first on Brownfield Ag News.…Continue Reading

A big change in weather: unseasonably mild air expands across the Heartland

On the Plains, dramatically warmer weather prevails.  In South Dakota, Mobridge notched a daily-record high temperature of 63°F on Sunday, up from a daily-record low of -30°F just 5 days earlier, on February 18.  In fact, warmer-than-normal weather prevails throughout the Plains, with Monday’s high temperatures expected to range from 70 to 85°F across the…Continue Reading

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