April 2, 2026

An Ohio-based field agronomist says soybean nodulation and nitrogen fixation are key components of long-term crop performance. Matt Hutcheson with Seed Consultants tells Brownfield, “If we have saturated soils, that can deprive the plant of oxygen,” he says. “Compacted soil or a pH below 6 can also minimize the ability of the plant to produce […] The post Agronomist says nitrogen fixation is key to maximizing yield potential in 2026 appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

The immediate past president with the Public Lands Council says updates to USDA’s grazing plan could provide long term stability for the cattle sector. Mark Roeber, a producer from Wyoming, says about 60 percent of cattle graze on federal lands in the western United States. “The West depends on federal lands to keep the industry […] The post New federal grazing plan seen as long-term boost for cattle producers appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Many cattle producers are feeling the pain from the sudden rise in fertilizer prices.  Charley Martinez with the University of Tennessee says larger producers likely purchased many of their inputs late last year. “Smaller producers are buying as needed,” he says. “And right now, given where input prices are and where they have gone over […] The post Rising fertilizer and diesel prices are putting unexpected pressure on cattle producers this spring appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

The market manager for the Missouri Department of Agriculture says the slaughter cattle market continues to bring historically high prices. Tony Hancock says there has been a lot of competition for those cattle at sale barns.  “Some of the top end of the slaughter cows that maybe could have went back home or went to slaughter either one carrying […] The post Slaughter cattle market remains competitive appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

The conflict in the Middle East is likely to impact ag lending.  Gary Schnitkey, farm management specialist with the University of Illinois, says federal spending is ballooning because of the military action. “Longer-term interest rates, they’re edging up.”  He says, “And what’s being anticipated is that the war is costing us considerable federal dollars, and […] The post Economists worry interest rates could climb due to Middle East conflict appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

An ag economist says retail egg prices declined in March as the poultry sector works to recover from losses due to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. Bernt Nelson with the American Farm Bureau Federation says prices are down 57 percent from this time last year. “We saw an uptick in January and February in avian influenza […] The post AFBF economist says retail egg prices down 57% from 2025 appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

A farmer in west-central Missouri says the recent rains are delaying early planting, and while the moisture is needed, it’s heavier than expected. “So far, we’ve had a little more than four inches since the start of the rains. We got a pretty big rain overnight.” Jordan Bredehoeft says the moisture should help emergence with […] The post Missouri farmers wait as rains stall fieldwork appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

U.S. wheat export sales hit a marketing year low during the week ending March 26th. Wheat was hit hard by cancelations from unknown destinations and Mexico, and global demand for U.S. wheat is slow because of high prices and ample supplies. Those ample global supplies and slow demand are part of the reason U.S. wheat […] The post Supply and demand weigh on U.S. wheat export sales appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story