Looking ahead, the 6- to 10-day outlook calls for the likelihood of near- or above-normal temperatures and precipitation across most of the U.S.  Cooler-than-normal conditions will be confined to the Northwest. Meanwhile, drier-than-normal weather should be limited to areas along and near the southern Atlantic Coast. ...      ... Continue Reading

A quiet weather pattern will gradually end during the second half of the week, as a pair of storm systems emerge from the western U.S.  Over a 4- to 5-day period, both systems will cross the central Plains before reaching the Great Lakes States.  Five-day precipitation totals should reach 1 to 3 inches or more across large sections of the Plains, Midwest, and mid-South, with locally severe thunderstorms accompanying the rain.  However, significant rain will bypass a few areas, including key winter wheat production areas of the central and southern High Plains. 

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Milk futures lower and cash dairy prices were steady to lower Tuesday on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.  May Class III milk was down $0.25 at $18.13.  June was down $0.32 at $18.22.  July was down $0.21 at $18.54. August was down $0.09 at $18.75.     September through November contracts ranged from three cents lower in November to ten cents lower in… ... Continue Reading

Tight supplies of U.S. beef create an opportunity to increase demand for underutilized cuts. Dan Halstrom with the U.S. Meat Export Federation says the Beef Checkoff program and the USDA are providing support to promote these products aggressively. “We’ve had quite a bit of success on the different cuts within the round primal, the knuckles,… ... Continue Reading

A livestock economist says he continues to look for any signs of herd expansion.  University of Missouri’s Scott Brown says cattle producers have been reluctant to expand their herds, and he’s looking for any indication that is changing. “Now we can have a little bit of chance to look at beef cow slaughter as well… ... Continue Reading

At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live cattle were mostly lower, and feeders were higher ahead of the week’s direct business.  June live cattle closed $.90 lower at $177.15 and August live cattle closed $.90 lower at $175.50.  May feeder cattle closed $.87 higher at $246.05 and August feeders closed $.92 higher at $259.40.  Direct cash… ... Continue Reading

The slow start to the planting season isn’t a concern for most fertilizer applicators. Kevin Johnson, president of the Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association, tells Brownfield… “We had a tremendous fall season last year, so I think most retailers are still ahead of the game going into the season.”  He says, “A lot of dry… ... Continue Reading

Wheat growers are welcoming last week’s one-billion dollar food aid announcement from the USDA and the U.S. Agency for International Development. Peter Laudeman with U.S. Wheat Associates tells Brownfield this is good for wheat farmers and for folks overseas that need food assistance, and orders should be coming soon. “With this announcement last week, we… ... Continue Reading

An official with Growth Energy says the biofuels industry needs answers soon on the modeling used to measure transportation emissions for sustainable aviation fuel. Jake Comer, vice president of market development, says the GREET model will provide critical opportunities for U.S. farmers to contribute to the SAF market. “We’re expecting some modeling announcements here shortly… ... Continue Reading

May corn closed at $4.43, up 3 and 1/4 centsMay soybeans closed at $11.67 and 1/2, up 6 and 1/2 centsMay soybean meal closed at $345.20, up 90 centsMay soybean oil closed at 45.31, up 27 pointsMay wheat closed at $5.85, up 14 and 3/4 centsJun. live cattle closed at $177.15, down 90 centsMay feeder… ... Continue Reading