The vice president of agriculture for American Crystal Sugar Company says warm temperatures have been a nemesis for sugarbeet farmers as the full harvest campaign begins. Steve Rosenau says farmers are limited to harvesting the sugarbeet crop in the morning. “We’re not able to store them long-term if they come...

A market analyst says the Federal Reserve’s recent 50-point cut in the interest rate might bring more investors into the commodities markets. Mike North with Ever.ag tells Brownfield current conditions might invite more investment funds back into ag commodities. “It’s not an automatic lay-up that they’re just going to rush...

The head lobbyist for Syngenta says tax reform will be one of the top priorities for the next Congress. Mary Kay Thatcher says, “This is really the Super Bowl of tax bills that we’ve ever done.” She says the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that was passed in 2017 expires...

The director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture says the state is investing a fourth round of funding to expand local meat processors. Brian Baldridge says 51 operations will receive grants. “Funding will be used on upgrading their facilities, whether that’s new and improved equipment to make it more efficient...

The new president of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) says the organization is focused on several key trade opportunities. Kenneth Hartman, Jr., a fifth-generation farmer from southern Illinois, tells Brownfield… “We definitely need to work on trade agreements.”  He says, “I know USMCA has been a great agreement. You...

Across the Corn Belt, dry weather is promoting corn and soybean maturation and harvesting, despite slightly cooler conditions in the wake of a cold front’s passage.  Scattered frost was reported this morning in the upper Great Lakes region.  Meanwhile, producers in the lower Midwest have begun to sow winter wheat,...

Cash dairy prices were mixed Monday on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.  Dry whey was unchanged at $0.6050.  No sales were recorded.  Forty-pound cheese blocks were unchanged at $1.9475.   No sales were recorded.  Cheese barrels were down $0.0225 at $1.9325.  No sales were recorded.    Butter was up $0.0250 at $2.7125.  Six...

Direct cash cattle trade activity is off to a typically quiet start to the week as buyers and sellers are preparing for the week’s business ahead.  Bids and asking prices have yet to surface. Significant trade volume will likely hold out until sometime Thursday or Friday. Last week live deals...

Milton is likely to become a major (Category 4 or 5) hurricane before reaching Florida’s Gulf Coast on Wednesday.  Currently a small hurricane, Milton is expected to become larger and accelerate eastward, with potentially deadly and damaging impacts across Florida’s peninsula due to storm surge, high winds, and flooding rains. ...

Looking ahead, the 6- to 10-day outlook calls for near- or above-normal temperatures nationwide, with the western and central U.S. having the greatest likelihood of experiencing warmer-than-normal weather.  Meanwhile, near- or below-normal precipitation across most of the country should contrast with wetter-than-normal conditions across Florida’s peninsula and the Pacific Northwest....

Missouri Soybeans Merchandising Council Chairmen Mark Lehenbauer says education about the checkoff does a better job of telling the story to the owners of the checkoff. Lehenbauer also says being on the board has helped him understand that these funds are being spent for to further research, demand, and education....

The USDA says that as of the week ending October 3rd, corn and wheat export inspections remain ahead of the respective paces needed to meet projections for the current marketing year. The 2024/25 marketing year began June 1st for wheat and September 1st for corn, sorghum, and soybeans. The USDA’s...

Under pressure

A central Illinois farmer says green stems are causing challenges in the soybean harvest. David Mool, who grows corn, soybeans, and cattle in McLean County, says the beans are ready, but the plants are not. “The beans are dry.”  He says, “The stems are gonna cut a little hard, but...

A Purdue Extension corn specialist says farmers should be on the lookout for ear rot prior to entering the field this harvest season. Dan Quinn says harvest timing is key. “You look at a year like last year where we kind of lagged behind on temperature and we were delayed...