December 20, 2024

At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live and feeder cattle were higher ahead of the Cattle on Feed report.  The report didn’t have any major surprises.  February live cattle closed $1.85 higher at $188.40 and April lives closed $1.52 higher at $190.12.  January feeder cattle closed $1.12 higher at $255.60 and March feeder cattle close $1.25 […] The post Cattle, hogs higher to end the week appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

The director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture is preparing for the 2025 state legislative session.  Don Lamb says the recently completed loss of farmland study could shape movement in the statehouse. “It guides so much of our future and now as we think about what that did for us, it really helps us […] The post ISDA’s focus for 2025 appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

USDA’s recent decision to begin testing raw milk for the H5N1 virus has producers and processors asking questions. One of the big questions is who is paying for the tests?  Dr. Keith Poulsen with the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory tells Brownfield that cost is covered. “There is USDA money to pay for those samples. Now, […] The post USDA to pay for raw milk testing appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Egg production declined during November. The USDA says the total of 8.92 billion eggs was 4% lower than last year, with a 3% decline in the number egg laying hens to 375.752 million head and a 1% decrease in productivity to 2,374 eggs per 100 layers. The number of egg-type and broiler-type chicks hatched were […] The post Egg production down in November appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

The USDA says placements of cattle into U.S. feedlots during November were down on the year. The total of 1.796 million head was 4% below November 2023, partially due to a tighter calf supply because of more aggressive placements earlier in the year. The late-month restrictions on cattle imports from Mexico because of the detection […] The post November cattle placements fall 4% on year appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

A Wisconsin farmer says it’s worth the extra effort to manage and harvest triticale as a cover crop he can harvest for his dairy cows. Joe Bragger from Independence, Wisconsin says, “I’m a real firm believer in the feed quality that we get off of growing that triticale for forage.” Bragger tells Brownfield his nutritionist […] The post Dairy farmer says triticale’s feed value worth the extra effort appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

A University of Illinois extension specialist in agricultural safety and health says there’s a number of stressors adding up in the ag landscape. Dr. Josie Rudolphi says uncertainty over the economy, the weather, and even the holidays, can take a toll on a farmer’s mental health. “We’ve become a little hesitant in asking people how […] The post Economy, weather, holidays can take a toll on mental health appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

The post 2024 deer season check-in with Bill Winke appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

A veterinarian with Elanco Animal Health says effective treatment of winter lice in cattle can improve overall profitability. Dr. Wayne Ayers tells Brownfield if left untreated, cattle can become anemic. “With that severe anemia, obviously calves aren’t growing like they should be in the feedlot, or even backgrounded replacement heifers, which then potentially delays when […] The post Veterinarian says treating winter lice in cattle can improve profitability appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

A Warrick county Indiana farmer says he’s watching the state legislative session to see how it could impact young farmers. Logan Springstun says several of the topics were discussed during the recent 2024 Indiana Farm Bureau Annual Meeting. “They are all pretty relevant events of today in agriculture in Indiana,” he says. “One of the most […] The post Young people have an impact on ag policy appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story