December 18, 2025

Boozman: farmer bridge program might not be enough for struggling farmers

The chairman of the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee says the USDA’s new Farmer Bridge Assistance Program will help farmers struggling in the tough farm economy, but “I think the unknown question is right now, is it enough? Is it going the be enough to get people through?” John Boozman says the USDA is trying to […] The post Boozman: farmer bridge program might not be enough for struggling farmers appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Sombke: rising input costs, consolidation threaten crop farmers

The president of the South Dakota Farmers Union says he’s concerned thinking about the farm economy heading in 2026. “It’s kind of like deja vu all over again.” Doug Sombke says the situation is like the late-1970s and 1980s; it’s hard to make ends meet, especially if crop farms aren’t diverse. “A bag of seed […] The post Sombke: rising input costs, consolidation threaten crop farmers appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Ag partnerships help Illinois pork producers double food bank donations

The executive director of the Illinois Pork Producers Association says a long-standing partnership among several agricultural organizations is helping to feed those in need this holiday season. Jennifer Tirey says the Illinois Pork Power program has donated over 100,000 pounds of ground pork to food banks across the state. “It’s a partnership with the Illinois […] The post Ag partnerships help Illinois pork producers double food bank donations appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Judge will decide next step for state owned Honey Creek Resort on Lake Rathbun

The company that took on a struggling state-owned resort is suing the state claiming they abruptly shut it down in October, evicted guests, barricaded entrances and sent employees home. Iowa Assistant Attorney General Nicholas Kilburg says Achieva said in a phone call they were going to shut down the Honey Creek Resort at Rathbun Lake, […] View Full Story

Young farmer shares path to success

Wisconsin’s 2025 winner of Farm Bureau’s Farming for the Future award says the best advice for new farmers is to remember, farming is a business. Stephanie Abts and her husband Keith milk 225 cows, raise their own young stock, and grow crops near Coleman in northeastern Wisconsin.  She says it’s a lot of work, but […] The post Young farmer shares path to success appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Iowans who want a white Christmas will have to drive to Minnesota

Christmas is now a week away and with temperatures in the 40s and even near 50 across much of the state in recent days, there’s little-to-no chance of Iowans having a white Christmas, though state climatologist Justin Glisan says we’ve had a significant amount of snow since Thanksgiving. “So if you combine both November and […] View Full Story

Cash dairy prices down Thursday

Cash dairy prices were mostly lower Thursday at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.  Dry whey was down $0.0150 at $0.7050.  Four sales were recorded at $0.71. Forty-pound cheese blocks were down $0.03 at $1.3675.  No sales were recorded.  Cheese barrels remained unchanged at $1.40.  No sales were recorded.  Butter prices were down $0.0275 at $1.44. Three sales were recorded, ranging from $1.4375 to $1.44.  Nonfat dry milk was down $0.0025 at $1.1550.  Seven sales were recorded at that price.  The post Cash dairy prices down Thursday appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Year-end soybean exports under watch despite seasonal slowdown

An extension ag economist is watching soybean export business to close out what should be a quiet end to 2025. Chad Hart with Iowa State University says there’s typically not a lot of market activity the last two weeks of December. “I think they will be quiet, but we are watching for, let’s call it […] The post Year-end soybean exports under watch despite seasonal slowdown appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Dubuque residents not happy with loss of commercial airline service

Daily commercial air service will end at the Dubuque Regional Airport next month, leaving travelers searching for alternatives. Realtor Ann Williams tells KCRG TV she uses the service monthly for work and to visit family around Chicago. “It was just the easiest way to get from here to there and then onto my next destination with no […] View Full Story

Farmland market softening not concerning for long-term economic outlook

An ag economics professor at Kansas State University says the concerns of today’s ag economy are different than the 1980s farm crisis.   Megan Hughes says there have been a few changes. “We were seeing historically high interest rates and we’re not there. The other thing is there have been lots of changes in lending […] The post Farmland market softening not concerning for long-term economic outlook appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story