May 7, 2025

USDA grants waiver for governor’s ‘Healthy Kids Iowa’ program

Federal officials are giving Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds the go-ahead for a pilot project that will supply boxes of food to some low-income families this summer. During the Biden Administration, Reynolds rejected a summer feeding program for low-income households with school children. It extended $120 worth of electronic benefits for grocery purchases. Reynolds instead proposed […] View Full Story

Sand management important to dairy farms

Sand management is an important consideration on many dairy farms. Renee Schrift with McLanahan Corporation says producers often source locally. “It’s going to do the job for their manure system setup. So if a dairy is not separating sand but they need to get that sand out to the fields, they’re going to use something […] The post Sand management important to dairy farms appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

National Guard shows off new central Iowa Readiness Center

The Iowa National Guard marked the opening of its new readiness center in West Des Moines today with a ribbon cutting. Iowa National Guard Adjutant General Stephen Osborn says it will be a key facility for keeping soldiers prepared. “This Readiness Center is a cornerstone for the Iowa National Guard, a place where training, preparation […] View Full Story

More cash cattle trade develops Wednesday

Chicago Mercantile Exchange live and feeder cattle futures closed lower on technical selling, waiting for direct cash business to get established in the north. June live cattle were down $1.15 at $212.52 and August was $1.00 lower at $208.37. August feeders were $.60 lower at $298.60 and September was down $.55 at $297.32. Cash cattle […] The post More cash cattle trade develops Wednesday appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Optimism about Ag Road funds as Wisconsin legislature begins work on budget details

The Wisconsin Legislature’s Joint Committee on Finance gets down to details on the next biennial budget Thursday. Farmer and Assembly Ag Committee Chair Travis Tranel tells Brownfield the state spends about 100-billion dollars over the two year period, but Governor Tony Evers has proposed spending 120 billion. “I think most people realize a twenty-percent increase […] The post Optimism about Ag Road funds as Wisconsin legislature begins work on budget details appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: May 7, 2025

Jul. corn closed at $4.49 and 1/4, down 6 and 1/4 centsJul. soybeans closed at $10.39 and 1/4, down 2 centsJul. soybean meal closed at $295.00, up $2.00Jul. soybean oil closed at 47.33, down 102 pointsJul. wheat closed at $5.34 and 1/4, down 1 and 3/4 centsJun. live cattle closed at $212.52, down $1.15Aug. feeder […] The post Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: May 7, 2025 appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Cheese prices up over last week

Cheese prices have gone up recently, and as of Monday, barrel prices exceeded block prices again. Market advisor Mike North with Ever.ag says barrel prices getting above block prices is becoming more common, but he says for both, prices are caught in a price range where neither buyers or sellers get what they want. “We […] The post Cheese prices up over last week appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Mixed midweek finishes for soybeans, corn, wheat

Soybeans were mixed, with nearby contracts down and deferred months up. The U.S. and China are scheduled to meet this weekend for tariff talks, but a lot of the early support tied to that news largely died out before midday, with a low probability of the situation being resolved quickly. New crop prices were firm […] The post Mixed midweek finishes for soybeans, corn, wheat appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Sen. Ricketts sees bright future for U.S. ethanol

U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts says the ethanol industry has a strong future. During a recent press call, he said the Trump administration has made biofuels a priority. “Our ag secretary, Brooke Rollins, says that biofuels are a part of American energy dominance. That’s fantastic to hear our ag secretary talk that way.” The Nebraska Republican […] The post Sen. Ricketts sees bright future for U.S. ethanol appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Strong stands in southeastern South Dakota

A South Dakota farmer says there were some planting delays on his family’s operation this year. Darren Hefty farms near Sioux Falls and says some widespread rains occurred during April. “I love that our early planted corn is already out of the ground and we still have some in the bag. The stuff in the […] The post Strong stands in southeastern South Dakota appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story