A second-grade teacher in the Milwaukee Public School system, has been named the 2024 Wisconsin Outstanding Teacher by Wisconsin’s Agriculture in the Classroom program. Ag in the Classroom coordinator Beth Schaefer tells Brownfield Joshua Gonzalez helped River Trail School became Milwaukee’s first specialty agriculture school. “Mr Gonzales is a second grade teacher who has spearheaded…… Continue Reading
U.S. Senate passes Water Resources Development Act
The 2024 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) is on its way to the President’s desk to be signed into law. Soy Transportation Coalition executive director Mike Steenhoek says last minute passage by the U.S. Senate was a critical step in supporting the nation’s ports and inland waterway system. “There are two steps, step number one…… Continue Reading
Government funding agreement falls apart, shutdown looms, new deal emerging
Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski says the proposed Continuing Resolution to fund the government, extend the farm bill, and bring disaster aid to producers is stumbling. “I’m very concerned about the fact that an unelected billionaire like Elon Musk could basically dictate to my Republican colleagues to shut down a bipartisan agreement,” she says. The Illinois Democrat…… Continue Reading
USDA makes additional investments in fertilizer expansion
The USDA’s Fertilizer Production Expansion Program is awarding $116 million in grants to eight new projects. Michigan Rural Development Deputy State Director Valarie Handy tells Brownfield nearly 70 percent of this week’s funding announcement has been allocated to the Michigan Potash Company. “We’re helping them to be able to expand the manufacturing processing that’s going…… Continue Reading
Farm bill extension, aid for farmers up in the air
Congress is under pressure to keep the government open and extend the current farm bill after a bipartisan bill brokered by U.S. House and Senate leaders was squashed. Chairman of the House Ag Committee, G.T. Thompson, tells Brownfield the Continuing Resolution was very complex, which made getting support behind it more difficult. “I think going…… Continue Reading
Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: December 19, 2024
Mar. corn closed at $4.40 and 3/4, up 3 and 1/2 centsJan. soybeans closed at $9.63, up 11 and 1/4 centsJan. soybean meal closed at $284.10, up $4.60Jan. soybean oil closed at 40.01, up 46 pointsMar. wheat closed at $5.33, down 8 and 1/4 centsFeb. live cattle closed at $186.55, down $1.77Jan. feeder cattle closed…… Continue Reading
Additional cash cattle business develops Thursday afternoon
Chicago Mercantile Exchange live and feeder cattle futures were down sharply ahead of the USDA’s Cattle on Feed numbers, out Friday afternoon. Ahead of the report, on average, analysts expect all major categories to be below a year ago. February live cattle was down $1.77 at $186.55 and April was $1.87 lower at $188.60. January…… Continue Reading
Soybeans, corn both bounce off recent lows
Soybeans were higher on fund and technical buying. Contracts found some new interest near the recent mutli-year lows, helped out by good weekly sales and unknown destinations buying U.S. beans Thursday morning. The weekly total of 52.3 million bushels was up on the week, but lower than average, primarily to China and unknown destinations. Thursday’s…… Continue Reading
November milk production down slightly
USDA says milk production in the 24 major producing states was down 0.8% from a year ago. The November production totaled 17.2 billion pounds. Nationwide, production was down 1% at 17.9 billion pounds. The number of milk cows in the U.S. totaled 9.37 million head, 20 thousand more than a year ago, but down five…… Continue Reading
Ag banker predicting a credit culture shift for farm businesses
An ag banker says he expects a credit culture shift for farm businesses looking at renewals. Barry Benson, Vice President of Agribusiness Banking with Nebraska-based First National Bank of Omaha, tells Brownfield lower commodity prices have impacted balance sheets. “Some operators may be looking at lower liquidity, may be looking at increased debt service…… Continue Reading
