August 28, 2024

The Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers says farmland values in the state were down in the first half of 2024. Luke Worrell, chair of the organization’s Farmland Values & Lease Trends Committee, tells Brownfield the results of their mid-year survey were expected, primarily due to lower commodity prices. “We saw about […] The post Illinois farmland values soften in first half of ‘24 appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

The combined U.S. and Canadian hog herd is larger than last year. The USDA and Statistics Canada say the joint supply of 88.481 million head in June 2024 was up 1% from June 2023. That included a 2% rise in the market hog inventory, which canceled out a 3% decline in the breeding herd, with […] The post Combined U.S./Canada hog herd higher appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

CLAAS has announced new partner agreements with companies in Missouri and Wisconsin, following the closure of some Ziegler Ag stores. Daryl Theis tells Brownfield an agreement has been reached with Parallel Ag to provide parts and service for CLAAS combines in central Missouri. “Our urgency is paramount in terms of taking care of customers,” he […] The post CLAAS announces new partnerships for service, distribution appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Broiler sets and placements continue to move above year ago levels. The USDA says 247.583 million broiler-type eggs were placed into incubation, down 1.065 million on the week, but up 3% on the year, with average hatchability holding at 79.5%. Placements of broiler-type chicks into meat production were 193.576 million head, 403,000 higher than the […] The post Another year-to-year rise for broiler hatchery numbers appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Pressure is mounting to get a farm bill done yet this year.  “We’re going to give the Senate a great bill to be able to work with,” House Ag Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson said Wednesday at the 2024 Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa. Thompson tells Brownfield he’d like to see a House vote […] The post Chairman Thompson, Sec. Vilsack weigh in on continued farm bill uncertainty appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

The CEO of Sorghum United says there’s tremendous potential for sorghum to have a larger economic impact in rural America. Nate Blum says the cereal grain, which is popular in India and Africa, fits well into most farming operations. “If we can locate regional value additions to food, fuel and fiber products that are using […] The post Sorghum brings economic potential to rural America appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

The Corn Marketing Program of Michigan’s annual yield tour estimates are projecting a record crop for the Great Lakes state. Research and Agronomy Director Kristin Poley tells Brownfield corn farmers could see an average of 181 bushels to the acre. “We really have had quite the good year,” she says. “Consistent moisture has led to […] The post Between the Rows Crop Tour projects record Michigan corn appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

U.S. ethanol production dipped last week. The U.S. Energy Information Administration says production averaged 1.071 million barrels a day, down 27,000 on the week, but up 64,000 on the year. That year-to-year increase in production is driven by demand expectations and producer margins. Iowa State University’s Center for Agricultural and Rural Development says estimated operating […] The post Ethanol production, stocks down on week, up on year appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

A southern Ohio farmer says he expects to start harvest as early as next week. Greg Corcoran says it’s been a rough year. “We’re pretty deficient across all three counties that we farm in,” he says. “I’d like to get, I mean we could get a couple inches of rain and then it would, the ground […] The post Ohio farmer says he expects harvest to start early appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story