December 11, 2025

A new economic report by Michigan State University assesses the impact of the state’s vegetable industry. Ag economist Bill Knudson tells Brownfield vegetable farming contributes nearly $5.4 billion annually to Michigan’s economy. “There are a lot of vegetable products that are very well suited for where they’re going, and you couldn’t switch over to corn […] The post Michigan vegetables and processing contribute nearly $5.4 billion appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

A land acquisition manager with Aggreko Energy Transition Solutions says the slumping ag economy is bringing increased interest in using farmland for solar projects. Manny Uzcategui tells Brownfield, “People tend to think putting solar panels on your farmland makes you no longer farming, but generating an income off your land is what farming is. So, […] The post Solar leases offering long-term income option for retiring farmers appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Some ag producers are determining how they’ll use the recently announced bridge payment to improve their bottom lines. Eastern Nebraska farmer Mike Tomes says financial pressure has been mounting for some time. “I’m probably no different than a lot of people. I’m struggling to pay my operating note and income tax that is owed from […] The post Farmers weigh how to use Trump administration bridge payments appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Ohio Farm Bureau’s senior director of state and national policy says farmers needs long-term support as the ag industry continues to face uncertainty heading into 2026. Brad Bales says the Trump administration’s bridge payments were a welcomed announcement, but only provide temporary relief. “Input prices are at record highs,” he says. “We have stagnant commodity […] The post Ohio Farm Bureau says long-term support needed as farmers continue to face policy uncertainty appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

New data from the Ohio Department of Agriculture shows more than 2.5 million acres of farmland are currently enrolled in the H2Ohio program across the state. Director Brian Baldridge says the continued growth has helped reduce nutrient runoff across the state. “In the Western Lake Erie Basin, that’s about 50 percent of acres,” he says. “That includes about 3,200 producers. Ninety-five percent of […] The post More than 2.5 million acres of farmland now enrolled in the H2Ohio program appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Ohio Farm Bureau members want more clarity when it comes to land evaluation under the state’s Calculated Agricultural Use Value program.  Associate General Counsel Leah Curtis says new proposed legislation in the state legislature would increase its flexibility. “Farming requires land,” she says. “It’s a part of their business, but it’s also part of their family and a part […] The post New CAUV legislation could improve the program for Ohio farmers appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

An Illinois state senator says agriculture needs to keep up its push for estate tax relief at the state level. Mahomet Republican Chapin Rose tells Brownfield, “This is not a hypothetical.”  He says, “I literally have a guy in Vermilion County, Illinois. He retired as an IDOT road worker and went back to the farm […] The post Illinois senator says agriculture must expand coalition for estate tax reform appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

An Iowa farmer who serves on the United Soybean Board is still concerned about margins despite the government’s plan to issue bridge payments in early 2026. Brent Renner grows corn and soybeans near Klemme. “If you want to use the analogy of a shotgun hitting a boat, we’ve got several holes in our boat right […] The post “Several holes in the boat:” Iowa farmer doubts impact of bridge aid appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story