At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live and feeder cattle were higher, getting ready for widespread direct business. April live cattle closed $2.47 higher at $209.55 and June live cattle closed $2.77 higher at $205.80. April feeder cattle closed $1.67 higher at $287.55 and May feeder cattle closed $1.35 higher at $286.52. Direct cash cattle trade…… Continue Reading
2025 shipping going well so far
A cooperative leader says so far, the flow of agricultural products is going smoothly this spring. Joshua Grunnet with Alcivia Cooperative tells Brownfield they’ve been able to move fertilizer all winter. “We’ll take inbound rail and we’ll take as much as we can off the Illinois River.” Grunnet says when marketing grain, having access to…… Continue Reading
Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: March 27, 2025
May corn closed at $4.50, down 1 and 1/4 centsMay soybeans closed at $10.16 and 3/4, up 15 and 3/4 centsMay soybean meal closed at $294.50, up 90 centsMay soybean oil closed at 44.27, up 163 pointsMay wheat closed at $5.32, down 3 and 1/4 centsApr. live cattle closed at $209.55, up $2.47Apr. feeder cattle…… Continue Reading
Soybeans up, corn down on more pre-report positioning
Soybeans were higher on commercial and technical buying. Beans followed bean oil, which was supported by global demand expectations. Soybean oil was one of the few major commodities to see an improvement in the week export sales report and nearing the halfway point of 2024/25, the pace is considerably faster than 2023/24. That’s largely because…… Continue Reading
Tariffs likely to cause shifts in livestock rations
The retiring head of the Wisconsin Agribusiness Association and former feed mill manager says the new tariffs on Canadian products that start in April will likely cause a shift in livestock feed use. Tom Bresner tells Brownfield canola meal has been a low-cost protein source popular with producers, but that’s likely to change. “As far…… Continue Reading
Black Sea uncertainty, tariff threats impacting wheat
An ag economist says the wheat markets have been hesitant amid some Black Sea uncertainty. University of Missouri’s Ben Brown says, “There was a lot of talk around the Russia-Ukraine situation. The U.S. was in Saudi Arabia with Russia trying to broker a peace deal. It seems like there’s some movement happening in that market…… Continue Reading
Hinson remains optimistic on new farm bill
A U.S. Representative from Iowa says she’s encouraged by farm bill progress in Congress. Republican Ashley Hinson tells Brownfield she’s optimistic a new five-year farm bill can get completed before the current extension expires in September. “We’re talking about the need to make sure certainty is in place with crop insurance programs, the trade expansions…… Continue Reading
U.S. hog inventory below a year ago
The U.S. hog herd got a little bit smaller over the past year and could see further declines. The USDA says the domestic hog and pig inventory on March 1st, 2025 was 74.512 million head, slightly below March 1st, 2024, when many analysts had been expecting an increase. That included a 1% decline in the…… Continue Reading
HPAI hits Indiana again, this time in Kosciusko County
Another case of highly pathogenic avian influenza has been detected in Indiana. The state board of animal health says HPAI was found in a commercial table egg pullet facility in northeast Indiana. Denise Derrer Spears says additional cases could impact efforts to rebuild the state’s poultry sector. “The illness is quick and severe and just within a couple…… Continue Reading
MO Farm Bureau health plan advances
The Missouri Senate has advanced a bill that would bring Missouri Farm Bureau another step closer to offering a health plan to its members. Senate Bill 79 provides an exception in statute for the non-profit membership organization to offer a health plan, outlined as a priority for the farm group. The bill will now be…… Continue Reading
