U.S. commercial red meat production dropped in February as winter weather in some areas limited movement. The USDA says red meat production totaled 4.233 billion pounds, falling 7% from the record monthly high in February 2024 with reduced slaughter levels more than canceling out heavier live weights. In addition to the winter weather, production was…… Continue Reading
PACE Act to expand loan limits reintroduced
Legislation to expand federal loan limits for ag producers has been reintroduced in both the U.S. House and Senate. Minnesota Congressman Brad Finstad says the Producer and Agricultural Credit Enhancement, or PACE Act, addresses concerns about the increasing cost of farming. “And some of our traditional farm programs that USDA offers haven’t kept up with…… Continue Reading
Feenstra hopeful tariffs will benefit U.S. farmers
A U.S. Congressman is hopeful tariffs will benefit American agriculture. Randy Feenstra says the Trump administration has done a good job of leveraging the trade tactic with Canada and Mexico. “However, we’ve got to make sure Mexico keeps buying our corn. We have to make sure Brazil treats us right, Brazil has an 18 percent…… Continue Reading
Ohio issues temporary poultry ban to limit HPAI spread
The Ohio Department of Agriculture has issued a temporary ban on the movement of poultry in the western part of the state. Brian Baldridge says Ohio is still in the middle of an outbreak. “We don’t want any movement,” he says. “If we were allowing birds to come into a geographical area, let’s say in…… Continue Reading
An update on drought conditions
The associate director of the Midwest Regional Climate Center says recent rainfall has helped ease drought conditions in parts of the Ohio River Valley. Melissa Widhelm tells Brownfield, “We have some soil moisture that is below what we would like to see,” she says. “We just weren’t getting the rainfall in the central U.S. that…… Continue Reading
Cash dairy prices mostly steady-to-higher Thursday
Cash dairy prices were steady-to-higher Thursday except for nonfat dry milk on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Dry whey was up $0.01 for a third straight day at $0.48. One sale was recorded at that price. Forty-pound cheese blocks were up $0.0150 at $1.62. Four sales were recorded, ranging from $1.6050 to $1.62. Cheese barrels were…… Continue Reading
Economist says risk management crucial as prices continue to hit record high levels
A livestock economist says the unprecedented price levels cattle producers are currently seeing could move even higher in 2025. Oklahoma State University’s Derrell Peel says herd expansion will make a difference. “Once we start heifer retention, and depending on how aggressive it is, that’s going to further squeeze the tight supplies that are driving these…… Continue Reading
Expanding market access with South Korea
Indiana ag officials are looking for new opportunities to grow exports with Asia-Pacific countries. Indiana director of agriculture Don Lamb tells Brownfield South Korea is the 7th largest U.S. trading partner. “The way that we buy good technology from them, and we sell great food to them, I just think that’s one of the best examples…… Continue Reading
Fool’s Spring?
Happy National Agriculture Week! As the old saying goes, Spring has sprung! The question on the tip of the tongue of many people I’ve spoken with recently is “Do you think we are going to get any more wintry weather?” Thoughts about Fool’s Spring, the common alternative term used to describe the deceptive warmth of…… Continue Reading
New marketing year lows for pork, wheat export sales
U.S. pork export sales notched a marketing year low for the second week in a row. The USDA says most of the usual weekly buyers made purchases during the week ending March 17th, with Mexico leading the way, but there were some reductions to those purchases, and there were no new sales to China. Wheat…… Continue Reading
