May 22, 2026

2026 is setting up to be another difficult year for sugarbeet growers. Curtis Rainbolt with BASF says there are several negative factors. “It’s a down market. Sugar prices were down substantially last year, which impacts profitability. And input costs are up, so that’s also another challenge. And those factors unfortunately have carried over into 2026.” […] The post Sugarbeet struggles continue amid low prices, high input costs appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

The USDA says 1.702 million cattle were placed into U.S. feedlots during April. That was up 6% on the year and towards the high end of pre-report estimates, at least somewhat because of persistent drought conditions in many of the major feeding areas. Nebraska and Arizona were the only states showing a year-over-year decline. The […] The post Cattle placements rise 6% during April appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

An agronomist says the first crop of alfalfa is not what many farmers were hoping for.  Jon Zuk with Winfield United tells Brownfield the cooler-than-normal weather and pests are why. “And that might contribute to some advantages to the alfalfa weevil as far as just starting to skeletonize some of those early stems and not […] The post Upper Midwest alfalfa off to a slow start appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

A field agronomist for Burrus Seed says the latest cool stretch of weather has caused some corn and soybean emergence issues. Chris Brown, who covers the eastern two thirds of Illinois and southern half of Wisconsin, tells Brownfield, “We don’t have those growing degree units and that heat out there that really helps those plants […] The post Cool weather stalling crop development appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

U.S. Soybean Export Council CEO Jim Sutter says trade between the U.S. and China could level out following recent trade talks, but it’s not a guarantee. “One of the things we understand that has been agreed is that the tariffs will be kind of equalized between soybeans from all origins. So we’ll no longer be […] The post Sutter: China soybean trade could level out appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Livestock producers are adjusting to rising input costs related to the conflict in the Middle East. Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association executive director Kaitlyn Root says it’s unreal how fast fuel prices have gone up. “Even just hauling hay. I was talking to a producer the other day that’s like ‘man, with this drought and we’re […] The post Rising fuel prices add pressure to cattle operations appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Proposed legislation in the U.S. Senate could help reduce agriculture’s reliance on China as a critical export market. Senator Pete Rickets of Nebraska says his MARKET ACT could protect the sale of U.S. ag goods from unfair trading practices. “China has demonstrated time and time again it is not a reliable trading parter. We need […] The post Senate bill aims to reduce ag trade reliance on China appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

A technical service manager with FMC says he is expecting increased pest pressure for soybeans this year. Bruce Steward says drought conditions delayed planting in some parts of the Midwest. “Those are usually the ones that are hit the hardest, and pest populations build up. You get one generation after another. As other crops dwindle […] The post Delayed planting could increase soybean insect problems appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story