October 16, 2025

Iowa Cancer Registry director calls for increase in tobacco tax

Public health experts who attended the Iowa Cancer Summit in Ankeny this week say raising the tobacco tax and putting more money towards radon mitigation can help address the state’s high cancer rates. Iowa Cancer Registry director Mary Charlton says the state lawmakers need to raise the tobacco tax by at least one dollar.  “We […] View Full Story

Consultant says tight soybean stocks providing support

A commodities consultant says that already tight U.S. soybean stocks could become even tighter. Karl Setzer, partner with Consus Ag Consulting, tells Brownfield, “There are now thoughts that this soybean crop isn’t gonna make it to that 4.35 billion.”  He says, “A lot of analysts are saying it’s gonna be closer to 4.2.  If you […] The post Consultant says tight soybean stocks providing support appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Feenstra says farm bill uncertainty growing for producers

U.S. Congressman Randy Feenstra says farm bill delays have been frustrating. The Iowa Republican tells Brownfield the 2018 Farm Bill has been extended twice and now the partial shutdown of the federal government is preventing lawmakers from working on a new five-year farm bill. “We were planning to take it through the ag committee in […] The post Feenstra says farm bill uncertainty growing for producers appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Foreign phytophthora strain found at Wisconsin plant nursery

Wisconsin officials say a foreign plant disease has been found at a Washington County nursery. The Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection says Cypress Mortality is a disease caused by the pathogen Phytophthora austrocedri, and affects common nursery plants like Juniper, Arborvitae, and False Cypress.  The Washington County infection caused severe damage to a […] The post Foreign phytophthora strain found at Wisconsin plant nursery appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Soy Transportation Coalition urges feds to cut costs in farm supply chain

The head of the Soy Transportation Coalition says lowering costs in the ag transportation system should be a top federal priority. Mike Steenhoek tells Brownfield, “They need to be engaged in subtraction math, not addition math. They need to be focused on any opportunity to shave cents per ton off the delivered price to a […] The post Soy Transportation Coalition urges feds to cut costs in farm supply chain appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Des Moines School Board president ends U.S. Senate campaign

Democrat Jackie Norris has ended her campaign for the U.S. Senate. Norris, who is president of the Des Moines School Board, said the recent “crisis” surrounding the immigration arrest for former superintendent Ian Roberts has demanded her full attention — and has made her and the school board the target of “vicious and coordinated attacks.” […] View Full Story

Minnesota farmer wraps up harvest in just 16 days

A south-central Minnesota farmer completed harvest in just over two weeks. Wanda Patsche, who grows corn and soybeans near Welcome, says harvest began toward the end of September. “We harvested 16 straight days. We started with soybeans and as soon as we were done with that we went right into corn. The crops definitely needed […] The post Minnesota farmer wraps up harvest in just 16 days appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Frustration mounts as USDA declines shutdown briefing, says Rep. Craig

The Ranking Member of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee is frustrated with the USDA for a lack of transparency during the government shutdown. Angie Craig of Minnesota tells Brownfield Democrats in the House and Senate requested a bipartisan meeting with the department earlier this month. “The USDA declined to provide us a briefing on what […] The post Frustration mounts as USDA declines shutdown briefing, says Rep. Craig appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Muddy fields, pests, and disease concerns slow Kansas wheat planting

Central Kansas farmer Paul Penner says excessive moisture this summer and fall has been extremely problematic as he’s planting his winter wheat crop. “One neighbor that had his drill out, you could tell his openers and press wheels were full of mud. It’s been a challenge to get the wheat in.” He says the wet […] The post Muddy fields, pests, and disease concerns slow Kansas wheat planting appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

First confirmed Asian longhorned tick in Kansas is concerning for livestock producers

The associate director of the Kansas Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory says the Asian longhorned tick is a serious threat to the livestock industry. Gregg Hanzlicek says female ticks can cause deadly health effects in cattle.  “The Asian longhorned tick is the major vector for Theileria orientalis,” he says. “The clinical signs are very similar to anaplasmosis. That’s the […] The post First confirmed Asian longhorned tick in Kansas is concerning for livestock producers appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story