September 17, 2026

Wyffels Hybrids and Brownfield launch Corn Belt Award and Scholarship

Wyffels Hybrids and Brownfield are teaming up to celebrate the next generation of rural leaders through the Wyffels Corn Belt Award and Scholarship. The program recognizes high school seniors in Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin who demonstrate outstanding character, leadership and teamwork on the field, in the classroom and in their communities. […] The post Wyffels Hybrids and Brownfield launch Corn Belt Award and Scholarship appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Pillen says ag inputs won’t be subject to new sales taxes

Some Nebraska farm groups would like to see the Governor’s administration reduce the state’s budget deficit without significant impacts to producers.   Jim Pillen says his administration doesn’t have plans to eliminate sales tax exemptions for some ag products. “Nobody has talked about taxing ag inputs. Pun intended, it’s pure hogwash.” He tells Brownfield there’s […] The post Pillen says ag inputs won’t be subject to new sales taxes appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Iowa’s ‘Rural Mainstreet Index’ drops again in September

The Rural Mainstreet Index Creighton University calculates after surveying rural bankers in Iowa and nine other Midwest states has dropped for the fourth time in the past six months. Iowa’s index was in negative territory in August and it has dropped another point-and-a-half this month. “We asked the bankers about the number one cost factor […] View Full Story

University of Iowa researchers offering water testing for arsenic in 6 counties

A research project at the University of Iowa is offering private well owners in six counties free arsenic testing kits to see if there is a need to offer the kits in all 99 counties. UI professor David Cwiertny helps lead the Iowa Integrated Network for Science, Information and Geospatial Health Tracking, or INSIGHT,  which […] View Full Story

MSUE says Great Lakes specialty crop producers are ready for new innovations

An ag economist says Extension specialists are identifying how to bridge the gap between available innovations and the needs of specialty crop growers in the Great Lakes region. Michigan State University’s Tor Tolhurst tells Brownfield, “It’s very helpful that these new technologies are being developed, but it’s harder to adopt them in the Great Lakes […] The post MSUE says Great Lakes specialty crop producers are ready for new innovations appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Grassley urges Thune to bring farm bill to Senate floor

U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley suggests partisan politics remain a stumbling block for the farm bill. The Iowa Republican has been in Congress more than 50 years and tells Brownfield this is the first farm bill he’s worked on that’s not bipartisan. “So I think that Thune is going to have to force the issue on […] The post Grassley urges Thune to bring farm bill to Senate floor appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Agronomist says consistent corn leaf aphid pressure requires management plan

An east central Illinois agronomist says three straight years of corn leaf aphid infestations in the Corn Belt means growers need to start managing for the pests. Kris Ehler, who’s based in Champaign County, tells Brownfield, “If we’ve got a hybrid that we feel is one of those magnets for aphids, my recommendation to growers […] The post Agronomist says consistent corn leaf aphid pressure requires management plan appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Agriculture looks for progress in U.S.-China trade talks

The U.S. and China are scheduled to meet next week, and the CEO of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture says he hopes the talks lead to a more stable trading relationship. “I just hope both countries can come to the agreement that we can live together, and that we don’t have to […] The post Agriculture looks for progress in U.S.-China trade talks appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Anthrax confirmed in South Dakota cattle, producers urged to monitor herds

South Dakota has confirmed its first case of anthrax in cattle this year.  State veterinarian Dr. Mendel Miller says it was detected in some cow-calf pairs located in Meade County.  “This time of year in South Dakota, you never know if it’s a water situation, especially as dry as it’s been. They changed pastures and […] The post Anthrax confirmed in South Dakota cattle, producers urged to monitor herds appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Trade tensions with Canada could drive up ag equipment costs

An ag economist says the latest trade dispute between the U.S. and Canada could create new challenges for ag equipment manufactures.  Ian Sheldon with Ohio State University tells Brownfield, “Companies like John Deere have already been facing reduced investment from farmers over the past two to three years,” he says. “The sector has already been hurt by […] The post Trade tensions with Canada could drive up ag equipment costs appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story