Celebrating the next generation

Commentary. During National FFA Week, many of us recall those years we spent wearing blue and gold jackets with the FFA logo emblazoned on the back. I still have mine, a hand-me-down from my sister, hanging in a closet somewhere in this old house. Throughout my career in farm broadcasting, I have had the opportunity…Continue Reading

Feeder cattle futures close sharply higher Tuesday

Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle were mixed ahead of the week’s direct business, while feeders were sharply higher thanks to technical buying. April live was down $.22 at $194.02 and June was $.05 lower at $190.40. March feeders were up $3.37 at $269.72 and April was $2.67 higher at $269.10. Tuesday was a quiet day…Continue Reading

Not everyone supports HPAI vaccination

Vaccinating livestock and poultry for the H5 series of avian influenza viruses does not have support from the entire ag sector. Friday, Zoetis announced USDA issued a conditional license for it’s killed virus-derived vaccine labeled for use in chickens.  The Congressional Chicken Caucus responded, saying vaccination in any poultry sector will jeopardize the entire export…Continue Reading

Minnesota to begin testing raw milk for H5N1

Minnesota will begin testing raw milk for H5N1. Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen tells Brownfield the USDA mandate goes into effect February 24th. “And those will be on (farms) that are already tested by the Department of Agriculture, so farmers won’t notice we’ll pull an extra sample to work through that. And we’ll be on a…Continue Reading

Another push for year-round E-15

A bill has been reintroduced in the U.S. Congress that would allow year-round E-15.  Kenneth Hartmann, an Illinois farmer and president of the National Corn Growers Association says the goal is to get that bill signed into law.  “We know that the administration, from what we understand, is positive on ethanol,” he says.  “So, we’re…Continue Reading

Estate tax relief eyed in Illinois

Farmers in Illinois could soon see estate tax relief.          Chris Davis, director of state legislation with Illinois Farm Bureau, says the re-introduced Family Farm Preservation Act would significantly change how estate taxes are calculated on farms. “It would enable family farms to change the valuation of the farmland in order to reduce the value of…Continue Reading

Playlist