June 24, 2026

Hatchery numbers continue to imply increased chicken production in 2026. The USDA says 254 million broiler-type eggs were set into incubation, 501,000 less than the previous week, but up 1% from a year ago, with the average rate of hatchability at 79.2%. 198.899 million broiler-type chicks were placed into meat production, rising 480,000 on the […] The post 2026 broiler placements remain faster than 2025 appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

As talks between the United States, Mexico, and Canada continue, President Trump recently said the US may not renew the USMCA trade deal. Bill Bullard, CEO of R-CALF USA, the nation’s largest producer-only cattle trade association, says the group would be fully supportive of the move. “If you expand access to cheaper imports from around […] The post Cattle group backs possible USMCA withdrawal, calls for stronger import protections appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

In recent months the USDA’s Cattle on Feed report has shown inconsistencies in the number of cattle being placed into feedyards. University of Tennessee ag economist Charley Martinez says beef on dairy calves are likely a contributing factor. “When animals are coming as day olds from dairy producers, they end up usually going to a […] The post Economist says beef-on-dairy trend could explain variances in USDA cattle placements appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

A grain elevator manager in the Eastern Corn Belt says continuous rains are on the verge of being too much. Tom Butler with ADM tells Brownfield, “In general, our crop is doing really well in handling it.” “It’s exciting because we’re building those reserves in the subsoil, and we were a little drier last fall, […] The post Persistent rains improve soil moisture across Eastern Corn Belt, raise quality concerns appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

U.S. ethanol production numbers were mixed. The U.S. Energy Information Administration says production averaged 1.09 million barrels per day, 12,000 less than the previous week due to a dip in price, but 9,000 more than a year ago thanks to better overall returns and demand expectations. Demand signals were mixed. The Renewable Fuels Association says […] The post Ethanol production, demand signals mixed on week, year appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

History is not on the side of higher corn prices anytime soon. University of Minnesota Extension grain market economist Ed Usset says he recently analyzed the behavior of corn futures in late spring and early summer going back to 1990. “And what we’ve seen is like a 12 to 14 percent price decline from the […] The post History suggests corn prices face uphill battle this summer appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

A stretch of cool, wet weather is resulting in early detections of tar spot in several Corn Belt states. Syngenta agronomic service representative Logan Dinkla says the crop disease has been confirmed in Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska and Kansas. “As we think back (to) the last few weeks and you think how tar spot has […] The post Tar spot alert: corn disease found in Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

A northwestern Illinois farmer says his operation is one of many across the state recovering from tornado damage. Jon Rosenstiel, who farms in Stephenson County, says an April storm did significant damage to his grain storage facility. “My grain tower, 120-foot tower with two grain legs in it, it tipped that tower three feet and […] The post Northwestern Illinois farmer one of many recovering from record number of tornadoes appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story