January 7, 2025

An ag economist says farmers have expressed concern about how changes in ag policy could affect their operations in the latest Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer. Professor emeritus Jim Mintert says, “We’ve been asking people about some key factors that might have influenced their sentiment both before and after the presidential election, and respondents are […] The post Farmers concerned about impacts of ag policy in 2025 appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

A new red blood cell parasite, Theileria orientalis Ikeda, associated with the Asian long-horned tick has been detected in Kansas.  Gregg Hanzlicek, associate director of the Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory tells Brownfield a common symptom in calves is a yellowing of the mucous membranes. “Basically the body is starved of oxygen because we don’t […] The post Cattle parasite linked to Asian long-horned tick detected in Kansas appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live and feeder cattle were up, optimistic about this week’s direct cash business.  February live cattle closed $.37 higher at $195.57 and April live cattle closed $.50 higher at $197.77.  March feeder cattle closed $2.37 higher at $267.92 and April closed $2.27 higher at $268.47. Direct cash cattle trade was […] The post Cattle futures up, optimistic about direct business appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) will chair the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.  Boozman was formally named Chairman of the committee during Senate reorganization Tuesday.  In a statement, Boozman said, ““It is an honor to serve as Chairman” and “There are many pressing needs of agriculture producers that we will work to […] The post Boozman named Senate Ag Committee Chair appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

A market expert says higher beef prices are creating additional challenges for dairy herd expansion. Mike North with Ever.ag says dairy producers have been using sexed semen to get beef calves from dairy cows as cattle markets have notched record highs. “Some of these two and three-day-old calves are bringing as much as a thousand […] The post Replacement dairy heifer prices jump 69% as beef on dairy trend continues appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

The senior vice president of real estate operations at Farmers National Company (FNC) says he’s optimistic high demand will continue to offset pressures on the land market. Paul Shadegg tells Brownfield, “Industry wide, we are looking at about 25% decrease in available land for sale.”  He says, “The other side of that equation is that […] The post Supply and demand stabilizing farmland values appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Mar. corn closed at $4.58, up 1/4 centsMar. soybeans closed at $9.97 and 1/4, down 1/2 centMar. soybean meal closed at $303.50, down $3.80Mar. soybean oil closed at 41.25, up 92 pointsMar. wheat closed at $5.42 and 1/2, up 2 centsFeb. live cattle closed at $195.57, up 37 centsMar. feeder cattle closed at $267.92, up […] The post Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: January 7, 2025 appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Pictured: Iowa farmer Ray Gaesser (Photo by Brent Barnett/Brownfield) A southwest Iowa farmer says he’s hopeful Congress can replace the farm bill extension with a new five-year package in 2025. But, Ray Gaesser, who serves as a farm bill advisor for House Ag Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson, says the new Congress may begin the […] The post Farmer outlines 2025 farm bill advisory work appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

A southwest Iowa cow-calf producer says he’s been working hard to help protect his livestock from cold weather. Jeff Jorgenson from Fremont County says it’s been a bitter cold start to the month. “More feed is what it boils down to when you really lose that temperature. We try to make sure we have some […] The post Iowa cow-calf producer tackles cold conditions, praises strong market appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

A southwest Iowa farmer says early winter has been a busy time on the farm. Ray Gaesser is a corn and soybean farmer in Adams County. “We’re often times delivering some of the grain we harvested in the fall that we have stored on the farm,” he said. “We’re preparing equipment, purchasing inputs for next […] The post Winter work continues for Iowa farmer appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story