January 8, 2025

U.S. ethanol production saw a week-to-week decline to kick off 2025. The U.S. Energy Information Administration says production averaged 1.102 million barrels per day, a four-week low and down 9,000 on the week, but up 40,000 on the year. Iowa State University’s Center for Agricultural and Rural Development says estimated operating margins for the average […] The post Ethanol production hits one-month low appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

The Ranking Member of the Senate Ag Committee is not concerned the farm bill will become an afterthought in the new Congress. Minnesota Democrat Amy Klobuchar tells Brownfield the aid package passed during the Lame Duck will help farmers through difficult financial times. “I think the farm bill is going to be at the forefront […] The post Klobuchar to keep farm bill at the forefront appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Soil moisture levels in Missouri are up on the year. The USDA says nearly 80% of top and sub soil in the state have adequate moisture reserves following a slightly wetter than normal December, but pockets of the state remain persistently dry. 69% of Missouri’s winter wheat crop is called good to excellent, compared to […] The post Missouri soil moisture levels rise on year appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

A farm management specialist at the University of Illinois says the average farmer will likely see negative 2024 returns even with the economic assistance payments that were included in the American Relief Act of 2025. Gary Schnitkey says the $10 billion in aid is spread over nine crops. “It’s gonna be roughly $42 per acre […] The post Aid payments help, but 2024 farm incomes likely still negative appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

December was a quiet month for many Minnesota farmers. The USDA says there are concerns about a lack of snow cover in parts of the state, with temperatures generally warmer than normal and precipitation near average. Livestock conditions are called generally good and fieldwork during the month was limited. The USDA’s weekly crop progress and […] The post Low snow cover a concern in Minnesota appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Conditions in much of Michigan were mixed during December. The USDA says statewide precipitation was above average, but most of that happened after Christmas, leaving topsoil saturated and subsoil with lower moisture levels than at the start of 2024. While those mostly dry conditions did slow winter wheat crop growth, color was good ahead of […] The post Mixed last month of 2024 for most of Michigan appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Drought conditions have improved in much of Kentucky. The USDA says that after two straight months of above normal precipitation, just the southeastern corner of Kentucky remains abnormally dry, and December 2024 was one of the warmest on record, with statewide temperatures averaging 40 degrees. Drought during the fall did lead to earlier than normal […] The post Drought conditions ease in Kentucky appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story