July 17, 2025

A new study aims to help Minnesota farmers improve nitrogen efficiency. University of Minnesota researcher Emerson Souza says they are updating the pre-side dress nitrate test to account for growers in the state. “We saw that we are going to need a lot of collaboration because we need data to conduct a study like that.” […] The post Pre-side dress nitrate test study appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

The latest Rural Mainstreet Index found that lower farm commodity prices have pushed bank loans to a record high. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says the July survey of rural bank CEOs revealed some concerns about farmer profitability. “We asked the bankers what the number one issue facing their local economy is. By far it […] The post Rural bankers pessimistic about economic growth appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

An agronomist with Brevant Seeds says weather conditions have been mostly favorable for Iowa corn farmers. John Long tells Brownfield the state has received adequate amounts of moisture for pollination. “Cool nights with plentiful moisture,” he said. “It’s a tremendous looking crop right now. As of right now, I would tell you in my 33 […] The post Favorable corn crop across Iowa, agronomist says appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

A dairy economist says herd size and milk production are growing. Corey Geiger with CoBank tells Brownfield, “It’s growing because dairy farmers are culling less dairy cows.” Geiger says that means milk margins are favorable for most producers.  He says if you look at the past 96 weeks, dairy farmers have collectively culled 700-thousand fewer […] The post Dairy herd, milk production growing appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Sep. corn closed at $4.02, down 3 and 1/4 centsAug. soybeans closed at $10.21 and 1/2, up 8 centsAug. soybean meal closed at $268.70, up 30 centsAug. soybean oil closed at 56.22, up 140 pointsSep. wheat closed at $5.33 and 1/2, down 7 and 3/4 centsAug. live cattle closed at $223.67, down 22 centsAug. feeder […] The post Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: July 17, 2025 appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange,  live and feeder cattle futures were mixed, watching direct business start to develop. August live cattle $223.67 down $.22 and October was $.42 lower at $220.32. August feeders were $.57 lower at $325 and September was down $.42 at $325.42. Direct cash cattle trade started to pick up steam Thursday […] The post Cattle futures mixed, lean hogs were higher appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Soybeans were higher on short covering and technical buying, along with spillover support from the strength in bean oil. Beans continue to monitor weather, which looks mostly favorable over the near-term. Longer-term outlooks do have the potential for a more stressful pattern in parts of the region, which would come during key development phases. Old […] The post Soybeans follow bean oil, corn consolidates appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Soybean oil is more than just a byproduct – it helps add value to the crop and keeps demand strong. Soybean oil plays a crucial role in the world’s food supply, and science clearly shows that it is healthy for humans consumption. The post Soy Oils – EP 2 appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange Director says the labor crunch across the U.S. is only going to get tighter. Rob Fox tells Brownfield the historic surge in immigration in recent years has helped to offset lower workforce participation rates. “They really made the problem kind of less acute for the time being, but in 2025 and moving […] The post Declines in migration expected to exacerbate labor shortages appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story