December 15, 2025

The senior vice president with First National Bank Omaha says the recent interest rate cut might help improve the bottom line for farmers. Barry Benson says the quarter-percent drop could lower expenses on certain operating loans and provides producers with an opportunity. “As producers are looking forward to 2026, if they haven’t already locked in […] The post Banker encourages farmers to lock in input costs after rate cut appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

U.S. turkey numbers remain tight, but there is at least one sign of potential expansion in the USDA’s monthly supply update. The number of turkeys hatched during November 2025 were down 3% on the year ta 20.344 million head and the number of poults placed into meat production were 2% lower at 18.938 million head, […] The post U.S. turkey numbers tight, but could expand appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

The USDA says cheese and butter production levels were higher in October and the prior month, as supplies and processing capacity have increased. Total cheese production was 1.26 billion pounds, a rise of more than three percent from last year and nearly four percent above the prior month. Italian cheese production increased nearly five percent […] The post USDA dairy report shows higher cheese, butter production in October appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

The executive director with the Kansas Farmers Union says the decline in demand for U.S. sorghum has put producers under intense economic pressure.   Nick Levendofsky says prices have remained below $3 per bushel. “You can’t pay your cost of inputs on that. I’ve heard talk that we can put it into pet food, livestock […] The post Sorghum prices below $3 add to economic strain for Kansas producers appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

A pair of ag finance experts say the current lending environment could play a role in shaping next year’s economic outlook. Matt Eldridge with First Farmers Bank and Trust says the latest interest rate cut from the Federal Reserve could be an opportunity for farmers looking to refinance in 2026. “The Fed signaled that in […] The post Experts say 2026 financial outlook continues to evolve appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

The recently re-elected president of Ohio Farm Bureau says members want more protections for prime farmland.  Bill Patterson says producers across the state continue to face development pressures. “It’s not going to go away,” he says. “I believe that we can find a compromise. We’re going to take that message to the American Farm Bureau Federation […] The post Recently re-elected Ohio Farm Bureau president outlines 2026 legislative priorities appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

A U.S. Congressman says lawmakers are closely watching how the Trump administration’s Farmer Bridge Assistance Program helps producers to determine whether additional support is needed. Michigan Republican John Moolenaar tells Brownfield, “Although this is a one-time payment, we’re going to continue to monitor what’s happening in our rural economy and make sure we do everything […] The post Congress monitoring farm economy as Bridge Program delivers one-time aid to growers appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza continues to impact commercial poultry facilities in northern Indiana.  The Indiana State Board of Animal Health says the latest cases have been detected on two commercial meat duck facilities in Noble and LaGrange Counties, and on commercial egg layer operation in LaGrange County. In total, more than 46,000 birds have been depopulated. A 6.2-mile control area and a […] The post Three new confirmed cases of HPAI in Indiana, more than 46,000 birds impacted since December 10th appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

The U.S. Dairy Export Council says shipments fell slightly in September, partly because of reduced demand from Mexico and Southeast Asia. Total U.S. dairy exports were down two percent in volume year over year, while values increased nine percent to $781 million. Cheese exports rose 35 percent for September, another month of record high sales. […] The post Butter and cheese boost U.S. dairy exports while milk powder shipments lag appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

An ag transportation specialist says low water conditions continue to impact the lower Mississippi River. Mike Steenhoek is the executive director of the Soy Transportation Coalition and says, “We have received some precipitation over the last couple of months that has helped take the edge off, but we still have barge restrictions that have been […] The post Low river levels slow soybean traffic toward the Gulf appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story