April 9, 2026

An agricultural economist says ongoing uncertainty in the Middle East has the global economy on edge. Dr. David Kohl, professor emeritus with Virginia Tech University, tells Brownfield, “We’ve got the Gulf War, $4 gasoline, $5 diesel, $100 barrel oil, and 15-week duration.” He says, “That could throw us into a recession. It could put us […] The post Ag economist warns Middle East conflict has economy teetering appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

An ag economist says the rise in input costs is impacting producers differently.  Josh Maples with Mississippi State University Extension says larger producers likely purchased fuel and fertilizer at the end of 2025. “However, I would say a lot of smaller producers don’t do that,” he says.  “And so this is a spot here where […] The post Rising fuel and fertilizer costs are hitting U.S. producers differently, with smaller operations feeling the squeeze appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Ohio farmer Eric Tipton says farmers are facing one of the toughest economic years in recent history. “It’s not sustainable,” he says. “Something needs to get fixed.” Michigan Senator, Elissa Slotkin, a Democratic member of the Senate Ag Committee, tells Brownfield the lack of Congressional action is making it harder for farmers to manage rising […] The post Weathering the storm of a challenging ag economy appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Warmer weather and mixed precipitation are forecast over most major U.S. growing regions the last half of April. Vaisala Xweather senior ag forecaster Donald Keeney says temperature swings should give way with a warmup this weekend. “And we’re going to be consistently warm across all of the Central Plains, most of the Midwest and Delta […] The post Mixed precipitation and rising temps shape late-April forecast for farmers appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

The government relations committee chair with the Illinois Soybean Association says more soybeans will be crushed now that the state has entered the final step in its implementation of B20. Rob Shaffer, who farms in Woodford County, says a bipartisan bill passed in 2022 established as of April 1st, 2026, B20 is now the minimum […] The post Illinois soybean farmers celebrate state’s move to B20 appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Farmers in several Midwestern states could be eligible for the Practical Farmers of Iowa N Rate Risk Protection Program. PFI senior field crops viability coordinator Chelsea Ferrie says corn growers in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and parts of South Dakota and Wisconsin who are willing to reduce nitrogen by approximately 20 pounds per acre […] The post Midwest farmers offered financial safety net for cutting nitrogen appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

The USDA has trimmed its 2026 red meat production numbers, while increasing the outlook for poultry. Beef is now projected at 25.79 billion pounds, down 20 million from March mostly on lower first half steer and heifer slaughter, with an average steer price of $242 per hundredweight, unchanged, and higher imports and consumption against a […] The post Slower slaughter rates pull USDA beef, pork estimates lower appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

A bill to provide financial assistance to Minnesota dairy farmers passed unanimously in the Senate. Ag Committee Chair Aric Putnam says the measure helps cover insurance in case milk prices fall or feed prices rise. “It’s absolutely essential. And remember, we’re talking probably about 28 to 32 farms that have started since this original bill […] The post Minnesota dairy assistance bill clears Senate, awaits House action appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story