August 14, 2026

A partnership in West Michigan is helping food companies and farmers adopt more regenerative agriculture practices. Oceana Conservation District Manager Laura Ackerman tells Brownfield a new Regenerative Pear Growers Network is paying farmers to improve soil health. “For the past few years, we have had a series of long stretches without rain that is an […] The post Food buyers, farmers partner for regenerative agriculture adoption in pears appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

An ag economist says new analysis shows consumer purchases are leaning toward more natural sugars.   CoBank’s Tanner Ehmke tells Brownfield, “It is a clear trend that people are switching away from high fructose corn syrup over to sugar.” He says that transition hasn’t been a major factor on corn balance sheets. “It’s mostly going […] The post Sugar gains consumer favor as cheap global imports undercut U.S. farmers appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

A member of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee says the USDA’s ongoing reorganization is causing concerns across the countryside.  Illinois Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski says she continues to hear from farmers that are worried reductions in USDA staff will limit their ability to access needed services.   “We know that in the state of Illinois, there’s […] The post Worries over USDA staff reductions appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

A second-generation archivist for the Wisconsin State Fair says about 10,000 farm families have been part of its history over the past 175 years. “I hope people continue that legacy.” Tom Zimmerman’s father Jerry began curating for the fair in 1996. “He wrote a book about the Wisconsin State Fair for its 150th anniversary in […] The post Wisconsin State Fair’s 175-year history rooted in agriculture and farm families appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Drought is taking a toll on hay and forages in the Northern Plains. Kevin Deinert grows, corn, soybeans, and forage crops for their family cow-calf and feedlot operation near Mitchell in south-central South Dakota. “Pastures are going backwards fast, a lot of cattle coming off of grass early or having to be fed early. So […] The post Dry weather cuts hay yields, pushes cattle off pastures early in South Dakota appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

A Bedford High School graduate received top honors during the Iowa State Fair’s livestock shows. “I brought a wether,” said 18-year-old Eli Johnson on Friday. “His name is Bennett.” Johnson is the 2026 FFA Grand Champion for Carcass Market Lamb, and he tells Brownfield it took a lot of work to get to this moment. […] The post Bedford’s Eli Johnson takes Grand Champion honors at Iowa State Fair appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Farmers are bracing for a more expensive harvest and 2027 growing season. American Farm Bureau vice president of public policy and economic analysis John Newton says fuel and fertilizer costs are a major concern. “Going into this fall when prices are still elevated, they’re above where they were before the Strait of Hormuz closure. And […] The post Farmers face another round of higher costs heading into 2027 appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Two swine industry experts say the use of RFID technology can improve traceability and make the U.S. herd more resilient.   Brent Pepin a veterinarian and the director of swine health for the National Pork Board says RFID tags would shorten the response times in the case of a foreign animal disease outbreak. “If we do have […] The post Experts say RFID technology boosts traceability and improves disease response in the swine sector appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story