A member of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee says the recently delayed release of the Quarterly Agricultural Trade report has raised concerns about data coming from the USDA. In a recent hearing with Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins, Rep. Shontel Brown, a Democratic member from Ohio, questioned why the report was delayed and abbreviated. “It had…… Continue Reading
May mixed for turkey hatchery totals
Turkey hatchery numbers for May were mixed. The USDA says 21.273 million poults were hatched last month, up 6% from April, but still down slightly from May 2024. That year-to-year decline was partially due to a smaller number of layers caused by highly pathogenic avian influenza in some commercial operations earlier in the year. 19.897…… Continue Reading
Domestic, international demand increases for U.S. ethanol
The chief economist for the Renewable Fuels Association says the outlook for U.S. ethanol production is favorable. Scott Richman tells Brownfield weekly production recently hit a record high at more than 1.1 million barrels per day. “It’s always nice to be able to point to record high volumes,” Richman said. “What’s going on is really…… Continue Reading
New Wisconsin FFA officers named
Wisconsin FFA State President Amalia Draxler – Photo courtesy Wisconsin FFA Wisconsin’s new FFA State Officers have been selected. Amalia Draxler of the Glenwood City FFA Chapter was elected to a year of service as the 2025-2026 President during the 96th Wisconsin FFA Convention. Draxler is a student at the University of Wisconsin Madison, working…… Continue Reading
Kansas farmer weighs in on ag economy uncertainty
A farmer in central Kansas says it’s already been a year of unprecedented volatility. Paul Penner says the administration’s tariff policy has made it more difficult to market grain and lock in input prices. “That’s not a good thing for agriculture. The instability reeks havoc with trying to make some sense out of markets and…… Continue Reading
This Award Just Broke Rhett Akins: ‘I Have Not Cried in 20 Years’
He was fighting back tears. Continue reading…… Continue Reading
Proposed fee to fund Illinois conservation districts fails to move
The executive director of the Association of Illinois Soil & Water Conservation Districts says a proposal that would have provided stable funding for local districts failed to move out of the General Assembly’s spring session. Eliot Clay says the bipartisan bill would have assessed a fee on any agricultural land taken out of production for…… Continue Reading
Ongoing certainty in the ag labor sector
Many in the agriculture industry have expressed concern about how the uptick in the Department of Homeland Security’s employment enforcement efforts is impacting farm labor. President Trump told reporters on Thursday that the raids are hurting farmers. “You know, they have very good workers,” he says. “They’ve worked for them for 20 years, they’re not…… Continue Reading
Short-term weather glance wetter and warmer
Brownfield ag meteorologist Greg Soulje says drought relief is in store for much of the Western Corn Belt. “Over the next three to five days there ought to be some multi-inch rainfall totals in some of the drier patches of southeastern and far southeast areas of the Dakotas, Nebraska, Iowa. Iowa really looking good.” He…… Continue Reading
Iowa farmer pleased with crop conditions amid lower prices
A southeast Iowa farmer says crop conditions have been a pleasant surprise. Tim Meyer tells Brownfield his area has received a number of rains this year. “There were some crops planted in late April that got replanted, especially to the south and to the east. But those are now all up. We’ve got pretty good,…… Continue Reading
