Dec. corn closed at $4.31, up 3 and 1/2 centsJan. soybeans closed at $10.30 and 1/4, up 4 centsDec. soybean meal closed at $296.20, down $2.30Dec. soybean oil closed at 48.77, up 45 pointsDec. wheat closed at $5.72 and 1/2, up 1 centDec. live cattle closed at $183.70, down $2.12Jan. feeder cattle closed at $241.42,…… Continue Reading
Boozman: a farm bill is the priority
A U.S. Senator from Arkansas expected to be chairman of the 2025 Senate Ag Committee says getting a new farm bill is the priority moving forward. “This is at the top of the list,” he says. “This is all we’re going to be thinking about until we get it done.” John Boozman tells Brownfield time…… Continue Reading
Nebraska cattle producer says labor challenges are an ongoing concern
A western Nebraska cattle producer says the industry is facing headwinds as fewer generations return to the family farm. Jaclyn Wilson tells Brownfield finding qualified labor is becoming more challenging. “It’s about being competitively priced. It’s about pushing the lifestyle. It’s about, you know, offering opportunities that maybe they wouldn’t see in a corporate job,…… Continue Reading
Push for H-2A wage freeze persists
A specialty crop leader says there’s still hope the appropriations process can put a freeze on rising H-2A guest worker wages. Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board executive director Jamie Clover Adams tells Brownfield a nearly 40 percent rise in federally mandated H-2A wages over the past five years has pushed farmers to their financial limit. “We’ve…… Continue Reading
Grassroots efforts to develop markets for U.S. red meat
The head of the U.S. Meat Export Federation says the organization utilizes checkoff dollars from partner organizations to develop and bolster markets around the world. Dan Halstrom says Guatemala is a perfect example. “It wasn’t that many years ago where the prices reached a certain level, they stopped buying and they’d buy when the price…… Continue Reading
USDA makes upward sorghum revision on yield
The USDA raised its sorghum production estimate due to strong yield numbers. 2024 U.S. sorghum production is now pegged at 320.725 million bushels, up 16.115 million from October thanks to a 3.1 bushel per acre improvement in the average yield projection to 60.8, with no change to harvested area at 5.275 million acres. The final…… Continue Reading
USDA cotton estimate up slightly, rice steady
The USDA’s cotton production guess is up from October and rice is unchanged. The 2024 upland cotton crop is pegged at 13.71 million bales, 25,000 more than a month ago on a slight upward revision for yield to 779 pounds per acre and no change to harvested area at 8.443 million acres. For 2023, upland…… Continue Reading
October crop insurance prices remove market floor
An agricultural economist says the October crop insurance prices aren’t favorable for producers. Brian Basting, with Advance Trading, says the low averages of the December futures in October removed the market’s floor. “This year, the vast majority of producers are not going to get an indemnity.” He says, “Not all, but vast majority because the…… Continue Reading
INFB focused on water availability and property taxes in next legislative session
The president of Indiana Farm Bureau says the organization is prioritizing its biggest issues ahead of the 2025 legislative session. Randy Kron says members are concerned about water policy for ag use. “We had a task force study water go more in depth,” he says. “They came out with a couple of pretty good recommendations…… Continue Reading
USDA beef, poultry production estimates up on month
The USDA raised most of its 2024 protein production projections. Beef is seen at 27.025 billion pounds, 25 million higher, on heavier dressed weights and a faster cow slaughter, with an average steer price of $186.68 per hundredweight, up $.50, and increases in imports, exports, and consumption. Pork is estimated at 27.858 billion pounds, 90…… Continue Reading
