The president of Kansas Farm Bureau says water quality continue to be a challenge throughout the state. Joe Newland tells Brownfield the concerns are vastly different depending on location. “We’re doing some preliminary testing as far as water injection on the Tuttle Creek Reservoir by Manhattan to see if we can clean out some of…… Continue Reading
Pork producers still fighting Prop 12
The nation’s pork producers are still fighting for a Proposition 12 fix. Matthew Grill, senior director of Congressional relations with the National Pork Producers Council, says a new farm bill is the easiest fix for the California regulation that dictates animal husbandry guidelines. “We know in the House farm bill last year we had a…… Continue Reading
Uncertainty grows as farm bill stalls
Ohio Farm Bureau’s president says farmers are facing more uncertainty as Congress delays farm bill conversations. Bill Patterson says the lack of a farm safety net is concerning. “If we had a new farm bill two years ago, we would not have needed the financial aid or the financial assistance that we ended up needing…… Continue Reading
HPAI dairy cattle research lasers in on transmission points
A Michigan State University researcher says work continues to identify how highly pathogenic avian influenza transmission occurs in dairy cattle. Large animal veterinarian Dr. Zelmar Rodriguez in the College of Veterinary Medicine tells Brownfield, “The road that we know is playing a huge role is a cow-to-cow transmission, that plays within a herd, but also farm to farm.”…… Continue Reading
Family Farm and Small Business Exemption Act introduced in U.S. Senate
A bill to ensure farm families have access to higher education has been introduced in the U.S. Senate. Iowa Republican’s Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley introduced the bipartisan Family Farm and Small Business Exemption Act, which Grassley says would codify what the Education Department has already confirmed. “Farm and small business assets should be exempt…… Continue Reading
U.S. cotton, rice ending stocks projections rise
The USDA increased its domestic cotton and rice ending stocks estimates. U.S. rice stocks are now pegged at 47 million hundredweight, up 3.5 million from January on higher imports and lower exports, which canceled out a gain in the domestic and residual use guess. The average 2024/25 farm price was cut $.20 to $15.40 per…… Continue Reading
Signs U.S. economy slowing down
A University of Missouri extension economist says there are signs the U.S. economy is slowing down. Ben Brown says consumers purchasing less goods impacts farmers. “Meat, and meat demand, and how that could impact grain markets,” he says, “but also how fuel consumption could impact not only ethanol and gasoline consumption, but also movement of…… Continue Reading
USDA raises 2025 red meat outlook, cuts poultry, eggs
The USDA has raised its expectations for 2025 U.S. red meat production. Beef is now pegged at 26.565 billion pounds, up 775 million from January because of expectations for increased placements, slaughter, and dressed weights, with an average steer price of $201 per hundredweight, a jump of $5, and higher exports and consumption, with no…… Continue Reading
Court halts Trump funding freeze
A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to pause a funding freeze that affected certain farm programs. U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley tells Brownfield every program in the federal government is going under review. “To see if it’s needed and not wasting the taxpayers’ money. Obviously I don’t think the EQUIP program is one of…… Continue Reading
CAUV increases leading to higher property taxes
Increases in Ohio’s Calculated Agricultural Use Value could result in higher property taxes for farmers in 2025. Ohio Farm Bureau’s Associate General Counsel Leah Curtis says CAUV follows the state of the ag economy. “The increases are largely being caused by steady and relatively higher crop prices that we’ve had over the last seven years, as well…… Continue Reading
