August 12, 2026

Several Midwestern states held primary elections last week, reminding me once again of the importance of voting. No matter what level of government – county, state or federal – casting a ballot is one of the most direct ways we can help shape our communities. It’s also a reminder that laws don’t just appear out […] The post The Legislative Junk Drawer: Clearing Out Outdated Laws appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

An agronomist with Beck’s says crops across southeast Iowa have performed exceptionally well this growing season. Greg Shepherd tells Brownfield, “Some of the heat was really causing the corn to be rapidly growing, especially through the late vegetative stages and the early reproductive phases. But still have a very solid corn crop and I think […] The post Drought concerns fade as crops flourish in eastern Iowa appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

U.S. ethanol production rose slightly over the past week. The U.S. Energy Information Administration says production averaged 1.117 million barrels per day, up 10,000 on the week and 24,000 on the year as the industry responds to demand expectations and margins, boosting domestic usage of corn. Ethanol stocks did hit an 11-week high at 24.798 […] The post Margins, demand expectations support ethanol production appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Farmers planted more cotton and rice in 2026 than originally expected. Those acreage adjustments did push production projections higher on the month, but a lower yield guess for cotton and year-over-year decline in rice acres have production for both crops below a year ago. Upland cotton is now seen at 13.209 million bales, 283,000 less […] The post Cotton, rice acres rise, 2026 crops still smaller than 2025 appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Tight margins have many farmers already considering their 2027 crop budgets. Scott Beck, President of Beck’s Hybrids, says research shows seed purchases typically make up 12 to 14% of a producer’s annual input costs. “The value of seed being the most consistent in a cost per acre and it delivers the most value in terms […] The post Management key to maximizing seed budget appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

2026 U.S. sorghum production will be considerably smaller than 2025. The USDA sees this year’s crop at 296.44 million bushels, a drop of 140.85 million on the year due to lower yield and acreage, both of which have been impacted by drought in parts of the Plains. This year’s yield is now pegged at 55.4 […] The post Cuts to acreage, yield pull sorghum production lower appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Researchers are wondering why southern rust was much less of a problem in corn compared to last year. University of Minnesota Extension plant pathologist Dean Malvick says the pathogen is blown in from southern states, so the amount of disease and timing of spread play a big role. “So that the spores then can be […] The post Late arrival of southern rust helped limit corn disease appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story