July 17, 2026

A commodities economist says demand, not weather, has been driving the grain markets. Arlan Suderman with StoneX Group says the heat dome hasn’t been a major threat to the Corn Belt, and attention is shifting to China as they follow through on their purchase commitments. “They’re behind some recent years, but they’re heading in the […] The post Grain markets are being driven by demand, trade and geopolitics appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Construction on the new Michael L. Parson area is wrapping up this month in mid-Missouri, just in time for the Missouri State Fair. Ag Director Chris Chinn tells Brownfield there will be a grand opening the first day of the fair. “The Clydesdales will be there from Anheuser-Busch,” she says. “But more importantly, we will […] The post New Missouri State Fair arena to debut with grand opening appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

The U.S. Trade Representative is imposing 25 percent retaliatory tariffs on Brazilian goods following its Section 301 Investigation, including ethanol. Arlan Suderman with StoneX Group tells Brownfield, “They have a rapidly expanding ethanol demand base.” “They’re now at 32 percent ethanol-blended gas. We somehow can’t get past 10 percent,” he says. Products including beef, fish, […] The post Leaders say reciprocal Brazilian tariffs good for ethanol, questionable for beef appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Soybeans were higher on fund and technical buying, cementing weekly gains. Ahead of Friday’s open, the USDA announced the sales of 340,000 tons of U.S. beans to China, 256,634 tons to Mexico, and 120,000 tons to unknown destinations, all for 2026/27 delivery. That was welcome news after a couple of days without any reported new […] The post Weather helps fuel Friday gains in soybeans, corn, wheat appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

The U.S. Trade Ambassador during President Trump’s first term says the U.S. must address a significant trade deficit with Mexico during the renegotiation of the U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement.  Former Ambassador Robert Lighthizer says the U.S. trade deficit with Mexico exceeds $170 billion. “We have a net deficit with them in agriculture, but an enormous […] The post Lighthizer: Mexico trade imbalance should be a focus during USMCA talks appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Chicago Mercantile Exchange live and feeder cattle futures were lower, with most months down sharply, pressured by the week’s drop in direct cash prices. August live cattle were down $2.65 at $224.42 and October was $2.57 lower at $220.70. August feeders were $.65 lower at $345.95 and September was down $1.00 at $339.35. Direct cash […] The post Cattle futures sink on sharp cash market decline; hogs end mixed appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Sep. corn $4.44 and 3/4, up 3 and 1/4 centsAug. soybeans $12.04 and 1/2, up 9 and 1/2 centsAug. soybean meal $320.20, down $2.70Aug. soybean oil 74.81, up 238 pointsSep. Chicago wheat $6.82 and 3/4, up 8 centsAug. live cattle $224.42, down $2.65Aug. feeder cattle $345.95, down 65 centsAug. lean hogs $101.65, up $1.37Aug. Class […] The post Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: July 17, 2026 appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

A Michigan food safety official says lessons learned from the multistate Cyclosporiasis outbreak will likely shape future food safety protocols. Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development Retail Food Program Manager Emily Hollingsworth tells Brownfield, “Frankly, an outbreak of this magnitude, we’re going to be talking about this for years to come.” The FDA and […] The post Cyclospora outbreak highlights value of collaboration and rapid response training appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

An ag economist says feeder cattle margins are expected to tighten heading into 2027.  Michael Langemeier with Purdue University says rising input costs are impacting profitability. “It really depends on whether fed cattle prices match the high breakevens,” he says. “Right now, we’re looking at a breakeven situation in late 2026 and early 2027.  Cattle […] The post Economist sees growing risk for tighter feeder cattle margins in 2027 appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story