April 22, 2025

Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins has announced more than $340 million in assistance for farmers, ranchers, and rural communities impacted by natural disasters. The Secretary made the announcement at a stop in North Dakota on Tuesday.  Rollins says the administration is delivering critical aid through the USDA Disaster Assistance Fund that will provide immediate relief. More […] The post USDA announces disaster assistance appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Two Democratic members of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee say Republican proposals that would cut funds for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are a hurdle for a new farm bill. Nikki Budzinski (IL-13th) tells Brownfield, “A lot of us voted against a farm bill last year because there were $30 billion of cuts to […] The post SNAP a farm bill sticking point appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

The National Pork Board says it’s working with supply chain partners to help them achieve their sustainability commitments. Jamie Burr, NPB’s chief sustainability officer, says their We Care Ethical Principles give partners real on-farm data to build public trust. “We’re collecting data at the farm level. It’s very private. It’s producers’ data. We’re able to […] The post NPB highlights sustainability commitments during Earth Month appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Commercial beekeepers estimate they’ve lost more than 70 percent of their colonies nationwide. Michigan State University Extension’s Ana Heck tells Brownfield, “Beekeepers are usually able to split surviving colonies to recuperate losses, but the last year we’ve seen higher losses than what we’re used to.” “We really don’t have information yet on why the colony […] The post What’s behind this year’s honey bee losses? appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live and feeder cattle were up on the rally in the Dow, the higher boxed beef during the session, and ahead of widespread direct business.  June live cattle closed $2.52 higher at $206.27 and August live cattle closed $2.45 higher at $202.45.  May feeder cattle closed $1.40 higher at $286.92 […] The post Cattle futures higher following a sluggish start to the week appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

May corn closed at $4.75 and 3/4, down 6 centsMay soybeans closed at $10.35, up 5 and 1/2 centsMay soybean meal closed at $291.90, down $1.00May soybean oil closed at 47.58, down 24 pointsMay wheat closed at $5.35 and 1/2, down 3 centsJun. live cattle closed at $206.27, up $2.52May feeder cattle closed at $286.92, […] The post Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: April 22, 2025 appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Soybeans were modestly higher on fund and technical buying, ending the session near the middle of the day’s range. Beans followed the lead of crude oil, while watching U.S. planting progress, which is slightly ahead of average at 8% complete. The trade’s monitoring tariff talks for any signs of new non-China demand. There have been […] The post Soybeans up modestly as corn, wheat drift lower appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

A Michigan farmer says this season he’s been able to seed about 100 acres an hour with a new custom-built high-speed planter. Clint Hagen tells Brownfield the farm has a history of experimenting with equipment. “We just don’t ever seem to hesitate to tear something apart and put it back together,” he shares. “And, everybody […] The post Retrofitting to plant 100 acres an hour appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Some ag economists are concerned trade tensions with China could lead to a rise in inflation and have long-term impacts to ag exports.  David Widmar is with Agricultural Economic Insights. “If we’re putting a tariff or a tax on goods coming into the United States, that’s going to have an impact on consumer level prices,” he […] The post Tariffs could contribute to a rise in inflation appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

A southwest Iowa farmer says some growers have already finished planting in his area. Ray Gaesser raises corn and soybeans in Adams County and says, “Some folks around here are completely done with corn and beans. They started two weeks ago, probably near the first of April, and there was nice weather and they just […] The post Southwest Iowa planting pace has been rapid appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story