June 13, 2025

Many in the agriculture industry have expressed concern about how the uptick in the Department of Homeland Security’s employment enforcement efforts is impacting farm labor. President Trump told reporters on Thursday that the raids are hurting farmers. “You know, they have very good workers,” he says. “They’ve worked for them for 20 years, they’re not […] The post Ongoing certainty in the ag labor sector appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Brownfield ag meteorologist Greg Soulje says drought relief is in store for much of the Western Corn Belt. “Over the next three to five days there ought to be some multi-inch rainfall totals in some of the drier patches of southeastern and far southeast areas of the Dakotas, Nebraska, Iowa. Iowa really looking good.” He […] The post Short-term weather glance wetter and warmer appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

A southeast Iowa farmer says crop conditions have been a pleasant surprise. Tim Meyer tells Brownfield his area has received a number of rains this year. “There were some crops planted in late April that got replanted, especially to the south and to the east. But those are now all up. We’ve got pretty good, […] The post Iowa farmer pleased with crop conditions amid lower prices appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

A central Nebraska farmer says the quality of the first cutting of alfalfa hay was extremely poor to do high weevil pressure. Clay Govier tells Brownfield, “It was getting pretty bad. I feel like the last big rain really slowed them down and then it got cold.” He says the hay crop rebounded slightly after […] The post Alfalfa weevils impact Nebraska hay crop appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

A central Illinois farmer says his 2025 growing season is off to a good start. “Crops are moving right along, progressing right along.  They look good.” Jeff Smith, who grows corn, soybeans, and wheat on about 2,500 acres in Mason County, says most of his crops were planted timely this spring. “We still have our […] The post Central IL crops off to good start; market uncertainty concerning appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

The EPA has set Renewable Volume Obligations for the next two years. Minnesota Biofuels Association executive director Brian Werner says RVO’s for 2026 were supposed to be finalized last fall. “So we’ve been pretty delayed on getting a Renewable Volume Obligation rule out, much less finalized. So we’re certainly pleased to see that EPA is […] The post EPA proposes 2026 and 2027 Renewable Volume Obligations appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

A Wisconsin Congressman has asked Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins to address milk labeling issues. Third District Republican Derrick Van Orden says milk substitutes made from things like almonds and oats are not milk according to USDA’s own definition, and they shouldn’t be called milk. “To get this done, we introduced a bill in the last […] The post Van Orden asks Ag Secretary to address milk labeling issues appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Michigan food banks and farmers are warning state lawmakers about the impact federal nutrition funding and local food purchasing cuts are having across the state. Michigan Department of Education Director for the Office of Nutrition Services Deanne Kelleher says the termination of federal local food purchasing programs has left a $30 million void, “For getting […] The post State Senators hear impacts of federal food & farm program cuts appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

The dean of Purdue University’s College of Veterinary Medicine says a national shortage of veterinarians continues to impact rural communities. Dr. Bret Marsh says an increase in animals needing care and limited access to resources is making is harder for veterinarians to meet their client’s needs.  “We’ve had significant shifts in our animal populations,” he says. […] The post The challenges of addressing veterinary shortages appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story