April 8, 2026

A climatologist says extended forecasts show favorable conditions for planting season in some parts of the Corn Belt. Justin Glisan is the state climatologist for Iowa and says, “What we are looking at warmer chances through the April, May and June timeframe for most of the ag belt. Not a clear signal on the precipitation […] The post Mixed outlook for Corn Belt as planting conditions improve but drought lingers appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

May corn $4.47 and 1/4, down 1 and 3/4 centsMay soybeans $11.62, up 3 and 3/4 centsMay soybean meal $314.10, up $2.30May soybean oil 67.42, down $2.30May Chicago wheat $5.80 and 1/4, down 17 and 3/4 centsJun. live cattle $245.92, up 12 centsMay feeder cattle $368.00, up $1.37Jun. lean hogs $104.65, down $2.40May Class III […] The post Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: April 8, 2026 appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Minnesota crop farmers experienced a slight financial rebound in 2025. University of Minnesota Extension economist Pauline Van Nurden says their annual farm finance report represents 10 percent of Minnesota farms with gross income exceeding $250,000 and includes nearly 2,300 participants in the Minnesota State Farm Business Management program. “2024, especially for crop producers, was very […] The post Strong yields drive partial recovery for Minnesota farms in 2025 appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Broiler hatchery numbers were up on the year, continuing to imply bigger chicken production in 2026. The USDA says 252.754 million broiler-type eggs were set into incubators last week, dropping 2.911 million from the previous week, but rising 2% from a year ago, with average hatchability of 79.3%. 196.42 million broiler-type chicks were placed into […] The post Another solid year-over-year gain in broiler placements appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Calls to the nation’s longest-running farm crisis hotline are on the rise. Nebraska Farmers Union President John Hansen says the Rural Response Hotline, established in 1984 during the 80s farm crisis, has received 5 to 7,000 calls each year from producers who are in need of resources. “We get all kinds of requests for financial […] The post More farmers reaching out to crisis hotline amid economic strain appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

U.S. ethanol exports were strong last week. The U.S. Energy Information Administration says ethanol exports averaged 203,000 barrels per day, the highest in more than a month, rising 80,000 on the week and 29,000 on the year. That reflects the ongoing strong demand for ethanol from several key trading partners with 2026 exports ahead of […] The post U.S. ethanol exports hit more than one month high, margins improve appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

A state leader says the recent renewal of the Michigan Wheat Program checkoff will help the organization continue to promote the industry.  Executive director Jody Pollok-Newsom says the program develops solutions for profitable production, marketing, and utilization of wheat on behalf of its farmers. “This takes not just the research, but our grower partners to find out […] The post Michigan Wheat Program checkoff renewal focused on research to improve yields and quality appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

There has never been more information available to farmers than there is today, and yet, in many ways, it’s never been harder to know who or what to trust. How can you be sure that someone or something is reliable, honest, and consistent? Can you can depend on the information or actions, especially when decisions […] The post The Value of Trust in a Noisy Ag World appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story