March 18, 2025

Corn rootworm is one of the most devastating crop pests. Syngenta U.S. insecticide technical product lead Kevin Langdon says growers have relied heavily on traits to control rootworm larvae and resistance has developed. “There are new trait technologies, which is great. But at the end of the day for best performance, we really need to […] The post Battle to control corn rootworm appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

The USDA is allowing pork and poultry processors to operate at increased line speeds. U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley tells Brownfield the announcement comes after trial studies determined worker safety was not being compromised for the sake of higher production. “So I think for the benefit of American agriculture and the quality and the price of […] The post USDA to allow increased pork and poultry processor line speeds appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

The director of global policy for Growth Energy says she has high expectations for U.S. ethanol exports this year. Emily Marthaler tells Brownfield exports ended 2024 on a high note. “We saw a record export year for U.S. ethanol at almost 2 billion gallons. That was a historical marker for the U.S. industry.” She says […] The post Growth Energy discusses state of ethanol exports appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

A central Illinois farmer says input costs haven’t been friendly to the budget this spring. “It’s ugly,” Derek Martin said. Martin says most of his purchases have been more expensive than last year. “They definitely didn’t decrease. From out standpoint, they are definitely on the higher end of things given the current economy and current […] The post Illinois farmer says input costs are “ugly” appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

An ag economist says he doesn’t expect any policy changes from the Federal Reserve during its March meeting this week. University of Missouri’s Ben Brown says several recent economic reports indicated weaker conditions, slowing consumer demand, and some softening in the job market. “My expectation is they will hold those interest rates constant,” he said. […] The post Will the Fed cut rates in March? Economist says not likely appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture is collaborating with government agencies in its efforts to combat highly pathogenic avian influenza. Senior director of public policy RJ Karney says the organization recently amended their policy to align with USDA’s national action plan. “That’s going to be focused on detection, surveillance response, and a plan that’s […] The post NASDA working on combatting HPAI appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Many producers are likely to see federal farm program payments this year. “ARC payments are likely in ‘25.” Paul Mitchell, director of the Renk Agribusiness Institute at the University of Wisconsin-Madison says many farmers were plagued by drought in 2024.   “There were some dry counties last summer in different parts of the nation.”  He […] The post County ARC payments likely in 2025 appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Across the Corn Belt, warmth has arrived in advance of an approaching storm system.  Chilly conditions linger, however, from the Dakotas into the upper Great Lakes region.  Farther south, Tuesday’s maximum temperatures will top 80°F in parts of the middle Mississippi Valley.  Warm weather in much of the western Corn Belt is allowing livestock producers […] The post Calmer weather (for now) across the Midwest; hazardous weather on parts of the Plains appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Michigan’s climate is ideal for growing higher protein food-grade soybeans. In this Pods for Profit, we’ll meet an edible soybean marketer with Star of the West Milling Company who will help explain more about the specialty crop and its supply chain. The post Eating Michigan Soybeans appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story