Missouri Ag Director Chris Chinn says America’s Heartland Packing will process 2,400 head of cattle each day, once fully operational. “I think their plan, when they get completely up and going, is to do 1,200 head per day of cull cattle: cows and bulls, and then, the other 1,200 will be finished cattle.” Chinn says…… Continue Reading
Minnesota net farm income sinks to lowest level this century
A new report shows net farm income in Minnesota has fallen to its lowest level this century. University of Minnesota Extension economist Pauline Van Nurden says the median income dropped to just under $22,000 in 2024. “Going back to the mid 1990’s, still the lowest median net farm income for Minnesota producers over that whole…… Continue Reading
Excessive rains flood Missouri Bootheel fields
Missouri Bootheel farmer Rance Daniels says some of his recently planted rice fields are underwater following the excessive rains over the last week. “We had 10.5 to 12 inches of rain in my area and north of me, up around Bernie and Dexter, I think they were closer to 14 inches of rain.” But Daniels,…… Continue Reading
Minnesota farmers limited by wet weather
Widespread rain and snow limited spring fieldwork in Minnesota last week. In its first weekly crop report for 2025, USDA says there were less than two days suitable for fieldwork. There were isolated reports of fertilizer and manure applications and tillage. Oat planting is two percent complete, two weeks behind last year and two days…… Continue Reading
Heavy rains and flooding likely to impact Arkansas’ crops
Northeast Arkansas farmer Derek Haigwood says he had a pretty decent start to this year’s planting season. “My family, all in all, probably had about 750 acres of rice planted and probably 900 acres of corn planted,” he says. According to the latest Crop Report from the USDA 15 percent of the state’s rice crop…… Continue Reading
Corn and rice planting gets started in MO
Corn and rice planting is underway in Missouri. In the first weekly crop progress report of the season, USDA says six percent of the corn is planted in Missouri, in-line with last year’s pace and three points ahead of the previous week. Rice planting is just getting started in Missouri at two percent complete, behind…… Continue Reading
Small grain planting underway in Iowa
Oat seeding is a little ahead of normal in Iowa’s first weekly USDA crop report for 2025. At 20 percent done, the pace is two days ahead of the five-year average but does trail last year by more than a week. Minimal fieldwork was done during the week because of cool, wet conditions, but some…… Continue Reading
Early spring for some SD farmers, dry conditions affect wheat
It’s been an early spring for some farmers in South Dakota. Chet Edinger farms in Davison County says the spring wheat got planted in March and some fertilizer has been applied. “We got a lot of stuff done and then, the rain came at the end of March and we’ve been shutdown since.” USDA says…… Continue Reading
Heavy rains and flooding delay planting progress
Planting delays are likely to continue as much of Kentucky continues to battle historic flooding. Caleb Ragland farms in the central part of the state. “I just hope that there’s some left for the critical growing season throughout the later spring and summer,” he says. “I guess time will tell.” According to the USDA’s weekly…… Continue Reading
Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: April 7, 2025
May corn closed at $4.64 and 1/2, up 4 and 1/4 centsMay soybeans closed at $9.83, up 6 centsMay soybean meal closed at $288.40, up $5.30May soybean oil closed at 45.15, down 69 pointsMay wheat closed at $5.36 and 1/2, up 7 and 1/2 centsJun. live cattle closed at $194.17, down $4.02May feeder cattle closed…… Continue Reading
