August 21, 2026

Soybeans were higher on short covering and technical buying, finishing the week with strong gains. Beans had an up and down end to the week while watching late development weather. A major private crop tour is pointing towards lower-than-last-year pod counts and yields in some key growing areas, potentially tightening the balance sheet significantly. Ahead […] The post Soybeans, corn up on yield questions, export sales appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

A specialist sees several challenges facing rural communities. Leah Thiele is director of rural capital solutions with Compeer Financial and says she focuses on business and entrepreneurship. “We’ve actually been doing a lot of research lately with our clients and with some of our partners, because there’s a long list of things that rural communities […] The post Rural leaders to explore solutions to childcare, housing, and healthcare challenges appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, finished the day mostly higher watching direct business develop and waiting on the Cattle on Feed numbers. October live cattle closed $0.07 lower at $217.92 and December live Cattle closed $0.22 higher at $218.50. September feeder cattle closed $0.10 higher at $329.47 and October feeder cattle closed $0.95 higher at […] The post Hog futures higher on oversold signals appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Michigan State University Extension educators say they want every beginning farmer to have access to a mentor. Community Food Systems Educator Mariel Borgman is leading the MSU First-Generation Farmer Mentorship Program. “There’s no one-size-fits-all market for a farmer, and I think that’s where mentorship can really play a part,” she says. “Sometimes farms that have […] The post Farmer mentorship in Michigan offers guidance, support, and community appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Sep. corn $4.83 and 3/4, up 5 centsSep. soybeans $12.25, up 4 and 1/4 centsSep. soybean meal $317.70, up $2.00Sep. soybean oil 69.35, down 183 pointsSep. Chicago wheat $6.81 and 1/2, down 1 and 1/4 centsOct. live cattle $217.92, down 7 centsSep. feeder cattle $329.02, up 10 centsOct. lean hogs $80.87, up 65 centsSep. Class […] The post Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: August 21, 2026 appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

A policy economist says about a third of Wisconsin counties don’t have access to inspected meat processors. Success Okafor with the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute says livestock producers can’t raise more animals if there isn’t space to process them. “If you are from Colorado, if you are from North Carolina, if you are from Mississippi, […] The post Wisconsin meat processing deserts limit growth for livestock producers appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

The president of the South Dakota Corn Growers Association says he thinks there’s still a chance for a farm bill this year. “Albeit a slim one.” Trent Kubik says the Senate Ag Committee’s markup ahead of the August recess left farmers with many questions, and the South Dakota Congressional delegation at Dakotafest emphasized a difficult […] The post Farm bill faces long road ahead appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

A senior economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City says agricultural credit conditions continue to tighten for many row crop producers.  Ty Kreitman says many producers are still facing economic headwinds. “We’re coming off of year three of very tight margins,” he says. “2027 will be year four. It looks like things are going […] The post Kansas City Fed shows ongoing financial challenges expected for crop producers appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Cattle placements and marketings during July were the lowest for the month on record. The USDA says 1.422 million head of cattle were placed into feedlots last month, below pre-report expectations, and down 11% on the year. That strong decline is due to ongoing drought in some of the major feeding areas, along with the […] The post July cattle placements, marketings fall to historic lows appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

The vice president of the Illinois Corn Growers Association says most producers are not only preparing for harvest, but they’re also wading through uncertainty about the 2027 crop. “It may seem like it’s a slow time on the farm, but a lot of important conversations are being had right now.” Don Guinnip, who farms in […] The post Farmers faced with difficult decisions for 2027 crop appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story