July 30, 2024

A pair of young central Illinois farmers say relationships have been key to their early success.  Clint Gorden, who began his first-generation farm in Macon County five years ago, says he wouldn’t be farming without friendships. “In college started working for a group of guys selling seed on the side and these guys said, ‘Hey, […] The post Young farmers say relationships key to early success appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Soybean aphid populations are building in southern Minnesota. University of Minnesota Extension integrated pest management specialist Bruce Potter says it’s typical this time of year. “As soybeans get into the late R3, R4 stages, (aphid) populations tend to build up real rapidly. We believe that’s because the host quality increases, there’s a bigger canopy to […] The post Soybean aphid numbers rising in Minnesota appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

A new round of funding is coming for dairy farmers and processors under the Dairy Business Innovation Initiative. Rebekah Sweeney with the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association says a new round of 100-thousand-dollar grants will be open for application in mid-August. “A few times a year, we open up a grant application opportunity and together with […] The post A new round of Dairy Innovation funding ahead appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

A popular fungicide used by many fruit growers is under review by the Environmental Protection Agency.  The comment period expires July 31st at midnight for Captan, which is commonly used on apples, peaches, nectarines, cherries, and grapes. EPA is proposing a reduction in application rates for apples, peaches, and nectarines from four pounds to three […] The post Captan fungicide:  EPA comment period about to close appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

A south-central Nebraska farmer says it’s been a good growing season so far. “Id say crops around here are some of the best we’ve seen. Beans have really started coming around, so hopefully it stays like that.” Jay Reiners, who raises corn and soybeans, says there is some concern in the region about disease pressure. “Southern rust is […] The post Southern Nebraska farmers credit strong growing season thus far appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

The USDA is extending the comment period for its proposed new competition rule under the Packers & Stockyards Act by 15 days. Tanner Beymer with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association says the later deadline is welcomed news, but it’s not enough. “Because it has such wide-ranging wide sweeping impacts potentially on the industry, we need more than […] The post Comment period extended for proposed competition rule appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Heat stress management plans will be crucial for cattle feedlots during this week’s triple digit temperatures.   University of Nebraska Extension Beef Specialist Alfredo DiCostanzo tells Brownfield he wouldn’t hesitate bedding cattle on higher points of a feed yard. “For now they need a place to lay down, particularly if it’s not going to be a cool […] The post Keeping cattle cool during extreme heat appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

A new climate resilience study at Michigan State University aims to study what practices help field crops during weather extremes. Extension Field Crops Educator Monica Jean tells Brownfield she’s recruiting farmers for different levels of commitment over the next three years. “We’re hoping that they’ll be able to really compare what they’re doing to their […] The post Farmers needed for MSU field crops climate study appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

An Illinois-based company is teaming up with farmers nationwide to re-examine decades old soil fertility recommendations. Dale Koch, director of product in research & development at Precision Planting, tells Brownfield… “We are working with a number of partners to conduct new crop response trials and to build a database such that Radicle Agronomics users know […] The post Radicle Agronomics teaming with farmers on nationwide fertility study appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story