U.S. trade deficit expected to grow

An ag economist says the USDA is forecasting that the United States’ already record trade deficit will grow even larger in Fiscal Year 2025.   Scott Brown is a professor emeritus at the University of Missouri. “USDA is now saying for FY25, so what would have started October 1st of 2024, the trade deficit is…… Continue Reading

Federal agencies developing sustainable aviation fuel roadmap

Federal agencies are working together to help the sustainable aviation fuel industry grow. Valerie Reed with the U.S. Department of Energy says DOE, USDA, and the Federal Aviation Administration have released a SAF Grand Challenge Roadmap. “We signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop these technologies such that we can produce 3 billion gallons by…… Continue Reading

Soybean cyst nematode resistance an ongoing challenge

Soybean cyst nematode resistance is an ongoing challenge for farmers. Iowa State University professor Greg Tylka says two decades of heavy use of PI88788 soybean varieties built up resistant SCN populations, so more growers are turning to Peking varieties. “We see sometimes 20 bushel per-acre yield increases from switching from PI88788 resistance to Peking resistance,…… Continue Reading

Tyson Foods to close Emporia, Kansas processing facility

Tyson Foods has announced it will close its Emporia, Kansas processing facility in early 2025. In a letter to employees obtained by Brownfield, Vice President of Beef and Pork Operations Ernesto Sanchez said the closure will impact 809 employees. The company says the plant will cease operations by Feb. 14.   Brownfield has reached out…… Continue Reading

Cutting costs on farmer’s minds

An agricultural economist at the University of Illinois says low farm incomes have farmers looking at ways to save.                     Gary Schnitkey says income projections for the foreseeable future are not good. “And in fact, we’re projecting some negative incomes from many farms,” he says. He tells Brownfield applying nitrogen in accordance with university recommendations is…… Continue Reading

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