January 16, 2025

A professor of agricultural economics at the University of Illinois says outlooks for 2025 commodity prices remain challenging. “The key question for Corn Belt agriculture is grain prices. How low? How long?” Scott Irwin says most balance sheets have seen some relief in recent months with a minor harvest rally and now supply and demand […] The post Commodity price outlook remains challenging; more corn acres expected in ‘25 appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

An Indiana based crop insurance agent says farmers need to be prepared for changes to federal crop insurance programs. Brad Westgate with Silveus Insurance Group tells Brownfield, “Guys need to look at ARC and PLC. How that’s going to affect their crop risk. They really need to sit down with somebody and right now, crop insurance agents are a lot […] The post Using the right crop insurance coverage appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

The director of agronomy with the Illinois Soybean Association says farmers have clear priorities for checkoff funded research.                  Abigail Peterson says ISA has well over a million dollars currently invested in a variety of soybean-centric research projects requested by member growers and then prioritized by the organization’s farmer board. “Soybean cyst nematode.  We get a […] The post Illinois Soybean Association focused on research appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

The interim director of Purdue Extension says the organization is working to expand its statewide impact in 2025. Angie Abbott says extension outreach programs provide tailored knowledge based on local needs. “We provide people with skills that they need to help move projects forward in their communities. We’re doing a lot in childcare, housing, clean […] The post Purdue Extension working to expand impacts in 2025 appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Trade is a priority for the Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. Minnesota Democrat Amy Klobuchar tells Brownfield there’s great value in ag exports. “The tariff talk, you know I believe in targeted tariffs (but) do get concerned if they’re across-the-board tariffs that could hurt our ag economy while (farmers) are already dealing with […] The post Trade a priority for Klobuchar appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

A farm business management instructor says some farmers are considering cuts to crop insurance. Kristina McVicker with South Central College in Mankato, Minnesota tells Brownfield it’s partly a reflection of very tight margins. “They’re really giving it a lot of consideration, and the crop insurance payments varied so drastically.” In 2024, she says losses in […] The post Farmers consider less crop insurance coverage appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

The 2025 Minnesota Legislative Session began this week and Minnesota Farm Bureau director of public policy Loren Dauer says the organization has several priorities. “This year with everything that’s going on, we wanted to take another stab at what really is affecting our membership on the ground level. And one of those priorities includes our […] The post Minnesota Farm Bureau legislative priorities include generational farming appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story