December 17, 2024

An Extension educator says spray drone adoption has lagged for non-row crop farmers. Michigan State University Extension’s Michael Reinke tells Brownfield, “Because most of the research in the past and the adoption has been in the field crops, they are still on the fence waiting to see data, waiting to see efficacy projects.” Reinke spends […] The post Drone usage still in early stages for specialty crops appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live cattle were mixed, mostly lower ahead of direct business.  Feeders closed higher on the lower move in corn.  February live cattle closed $.22 lower at $189.75 and April live cattle closed $.17 lower at $191.57.  January feeder cattle closed $1.92 higher at $257.47 and March feeders closed $1.90 higher […] The post Cattle futures waiting for direct business to develop appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

A fertilizer market analyst says she expects a stable nitrogen supply in 2025. Veronica Nigh, senior economist with The Fertilizer Institute, tells Brownfield, “We’re well positioned from a production capacity on the nitrogen side to carry into 2025 with the ability to produce an increasing amount to nitrogen for the marketplace.” She says there are […] The post TFI economist assesses “stable” nitrogen supply appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Data from the USDA shows the number of farms in the U.S. is declining and a farm real estate specialist says he expects the trend to continue. Jim Rothermich, vice president of Iowa Appraisal, says it’s getting more and more expensive to run an operation. “We’ve seen such a run up in land values that […] The post Number of U.S. farms continue to decline appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

A farmer in Michigan’s thumb-area says favorable weather conditions led to a better-than-expected crop year. Carla Schultz and her family raise soybeans, corn, pigs, beef cattle, alfalfa, black and navy beans, and wheat. “We actually were above average for both soybeans and corn. That makes me feel good when input costs are high and commodity […] The post Michigan farmer recaps exceptional harvest season appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Mar. corn closed at $4.43 and 1/2, down 1 and 1/2 centsJan. soybeans closed at $9.76 and 3/4, down 5 and 1/4 centsJan. soybean meal closed at $287.20, up 30 centsJan. soybean oil closed at 40.62, down 110 pointsMar. wheat closed at $5.45, down 5 centsFeb. live cattle closed at $189.75, down 22 centsJan. feeder […] The post Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: December 17, 2024 appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Soybeans were lower on fund and technical selling, with January hitting a new contract during the session. South American crop conditions are mostly favorable, with some estimates rising for Brazil. AgRural projects the crop in Brazil at 171.5 million tons, with very early harvest activity getting underway. The USDA’s updated estimate is out January 10th, […] The post Soybeans, corn see more pressure from South America appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

The president of Kansas Farm Bureau says the organization is preparing for the 2025 state legislative session.  Joe Newland says water rights are always a priority for members. “We have to be careful about not just quantity, but the quality as well, where we get state funding to help take care of some of these […] The post Kansas Farm Bureau sets legislative priorities for 2025 appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

The Protect Our Produce Coalition is calling on the incoming administration to provide relief to farmers impacted by mandated H-2A wages. Greg Bird with the Michigan Vegetable Council tells Brownfield farmers want a two-year freeze on the Adverse Effect Wage Rate so the federal program can be modernized. “We have a petition that we’re going […] The post Dear President-elect Trump, Protect Our Produce appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

The supervisor of the Illinois & Iowa U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) office says the agency needs to hear from agriculture on the monarch butterfly. Kraig McPeek says public comment is now open on the insect’s proposed threatened listing under the Endangered Species Act. “Really encourage everyone to get into the Federal Register.”  He […] The post U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service seeks ag input on monarch proposal appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story