A fertilizer market expert says high prices are having an impact on farmers. Josh Linville is with StoneX Group and says, “They aren’t dealing with it well. This is already a year that most people will tell you farm economics don’t make a lot of sense. This is a survival year at best. Seeing these…… Continue Reading
Nebraska lawmakers debate updates to state brand law
A bill currently being debated in the Nebraska legislature could update the state’s decades-old brand law. The bill, introduced by state senator Teresa Ibach, would lower the brand inspection fee to a flat rate of $1,000 for feedlot operations in the brand inspection area. Currently, feedlot operators are charged $1 per head for their annual…… Continue Reading
Midwest farmland market solid
A farm real estate specialist says the farmland market is solid despite uncertainties in the ag economy. Jim Rothermich, vice president of Iowa Appraisal, says he expects higher land prices to stick around. “There’s a lot of bad news out there right now, but the market is just kind of shaking it off and rolling…… Continue Reading
Recent moisture improves conditions for spring planting in southeast Nebraska
A southeast Nebraska farmer says recent moisture has brought a little optimism ahead of spring planting. Logan Bredemeier tells Brownfield winter snowfall and rain from last night’s thunderstorms have improved drought conditions. “I would say there’s pockets where we’re at average to maybe on pace to meet average. There’s a couple of other pockets within…… Continue Reading
Nebraska lawmakers advance bill to ban lab-grown protein
Nebraska state lawmakers have advanced a bill that would ban the manufacturing and sale of lab-grown protein. State senator Barry DeKay of Niobrara introduced the bill at the request of Governor Jim Pillen and says the intent of the legislation is to keep the product off the shelves at grocery stores. The proposed law doesn’t ban…… Continue Reading
USDA announces disaster assistance in six Illinois counties
The USDA has announced disaster assistance in six Illinois counties due to a severe weather outbreak on February 14th, 2025. Producers in Alexander, Gallatin, Hardin, Massac, Pope and Pulaski Counties should check eligibility for low-interest emergency physical loss loans at their local USDA Service Center. The severe storms caused straight-line winds, flooding, landslides, and mudslides.…… Continue Reading
School meal funding emphasized during Senate’s whole milk hearing
A food service director says funding school meal programs is the best use of federal dollars. During Tuesday’s Senate Ag Committee’s hearing, Michigan’s Dan Gorman testified about federal school meal programs which provide nearly 30 million lunches and 15 million breakfasts daily. “Those 45,000,000 meals every day include fruits and vegetables grown by American farmers,…… Continue Reading
Indiana property taxes are a two-fold issue
An Indiana State Senator says the current property tax relief bill could provide much-needed assistance to the state’s farmers. Southern Indiana farmer Daryl Schmitt says rising tax rates have put financial strain on landowners. “The Tax Foundation ranks Indiana 5th in the nation and best in the Midwest for the most competitive property tax system,”…… Continue Reading
Prop 12 causing uncertainty for pork producers
Proposition 12 continues to create challenges for U.S. pork producers. Minnesota pig farmer Todd Selvik says California’s animal confinement law has caused uncertainty for the industry. “You’ve got some farms that are converting old units, some farms that aren’t. On my farm we chose not to convert ours, we didn’t see that there was enough…… Continue Reading
Tornado puts successful twist on farm business model
The winds of change have helped a Wisconsin farm family build a strong business model… literally. Edward Smith, his son, and young grandson operate Prairie Dairy Inc. The farm has been in the family more than 120 years, but the F5 tornadoes that struck Oakfield, Wisconsin in 1996 destroyed their dairy. The following year, Smith…… Continue Reading
