September 9, 2025

West Nile Virus found in SW Wisconsin horse

Wisconsin officials have confirmed a new case of West Nile Virus in a horse. Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection officials say an unvaccinated three-year-old quarter horse stallion in Grant County is the first confirmed case in a Wisconsin horse this year.  Grant County is in the southwest corner of Wisconsin, and borders Iowa […] The post West Nile Virus found in SW Wisconsin horse appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Farmer financial assistance could bridge funding gap

An ag policy specialist says when it comes to financial assistance for farmers, timing is everything. Brad Lubben with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln says farmers are stuck in a financial gray area. “We did see some emergency assistance passed at the end of 2024 that’s paid out this year that helps some with cash flow, […] The post Farmer financial assistance could bridge funding gap appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

More ways than a “skinny farm bill” to pass E-15

The head of the Renewable Fuels Association says the “skinny farm bill” is not the only way Congress can pass nationwide, year-round E-15 this year. Geoff Cooper tells Brownfield, “There are some must-pass bills that are being worked on this fall, and appropriations are front and center.”  He says, “We think there’s going to be […] The post More ways than a “skinny farm bill” to pass E-15 appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Grassley probes allegations about Meta and child safety

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says two whistleblowers are scheduled to testify before his panel today about how the parent company of Facebook allegedly buried child safety research. Grassley says he and other senators sent a letter to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg a few weeks ago, pressing for answers about the company’s ads that are believed […] View Full Story

Nebraska sorghum farmer optimistic about crop growth

A Nebraska farmer says he’s considering adding more sorghum acres to his crop rotation next year. Tyler Bose of Arcadia says its production value is hard to ignore, especially when margins are extremely tight. “Honestly, my seed cost is a big chunk of it. I can plant dry land sorghum that’s going take roughly about […] The post Nebraska sorghum farmer optimistic about crop growth appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Generally favorable weather; a few showers on from the eastern Plains to the upper Midwest

Across the Corn Belt, cool but dry weather favors corn and soybean maturation.  Many Midwestern communities reported weekend readings below 40°F, along with scattered frost, although temperatures were not low enough to significantly threaten immature summer crops.  On Sunday, September 7, daily-record lows included 36°F in Sioux City, Iowa, and 39°F in Springfield, Illinois. On […] The post Generally favorable weather; a few showers on from the eastern Plains to the upper Midwest appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Late-season warmth & heat to continue; organized rains to favor much of the Plains

Looking ahead, the 6- to 10-day outlook calls for the likelihood of near- or above-normal temperatures nationwide, except for cooler-than-normal conditions along the Atlantic Coast.  Meanwhile, near- or above-normal precipitation along the Atlantic Seaboard and across the western half of the U.S. should contrast with drier-than-normal weather in a broad area stretching from the southeastern […] The post Late-season warmth & heat to continue; organized rains to favor much of the Plains appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Lawmakers delay Iowa DNR rule change for type of septic system

Lawmakers on a panel that reviews state regulations have temporarily blocked a proposed change in state guidelines for a specific type of septic system, a change that would make it cheaper to install. Republican Representative Mike Sexton, a farmer from Rockwell City, proposed the delay. “If these were livestock farms we were talking about instead […] View Full Story

Cover crop biomass helps control problem weeds

Cover crops can prevent soil erosion and help retain nutrients, but a good cover crop can also help fight problem weeds, including herbicide resistant weeds like waterhemp and palmer amaranth… but how much biomass does it take to do the job?  Weed scientist Rodrigo Werle from the University of Wisconsin has more about that on […] The post Cover crop biomass helps control problem weeds appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story