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
Parker McCollum Warns George Strait That He’s Coming for Him
McCollum is coming for the crown! Continue reading…… Continue Reading
USDA resumes a portion of funding to growers
The USDA has announced it will release the first tranche of funding that had been paused after a review of the Inflation Reduction Act dollars. $20 million in payments will go to farmers who signed contracts under the Environmental Quality Incentive Program or EQIP, the Conservation Stewardship Program and the Ag Conservation Easement Program. In a…… Continue Reading
Midwest farmland values down 1% in 2024
Midwestern farmland values decreased one percent in 2024. Chicago Federal Reserve Bank policy advisor David Oppedahl says the district, which includes Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin, saw dips of two to three percent in every state except Wisconsin. “So we are not seeing everywhere that farmland values are down, but generally in most areas…… Continue Reading
Kansas Ag Secretary weighs in on Rollins’ vision for USDA
Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam says he’s uncertain how a new USDA initiative will impact Kansas farmers. “I’m hoping that it’s going to be putting an emphasis and maybe even resources towards enhancing our research efforts. We need to be at the forefront, because in the end, it usually relates to science and economics,”…… Continue Reading
Minnesota sees Netherlands as “gateway” to EU for ag exports
The Netherlands is seen as a gateway to the European Union for U.S. ag exports. Minnesota Department of Agriculture deputy commissioner Andrea Vaubel spoke to Brownfield after returning from a recent trade mission to the east European country. “They’re one of the largest importing countries in the EU (and) we’ve got a really strong relationship…… Continue Reading
