Brownfield Ag

Some organic fruit growers can now protect their crops with more specific crop insurance options from USDA. Undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation Richard Fordyce tells Brownfield, “We’re trying to be able to be in a position to support specialty crop growers in a more meaningful way.” “This is just another step,” he says. “We’ve had […] The post Organic fruit growers gain more specific USDA crop insurance options appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Some agricultural equipment companies are finding more affordable ways for farmers to upgrade technology. “It’s moving fast and software and AI is moving even faster.” Jeff Pettit with Canadian-based Haggerty AgRobotics says the best innovations incorporate the producer into development process. “I’m putting my farmer hat on, we’re not jumping in with both feet to […] The post Ag equipment makers adapting to farm cost pressures appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

An agronomist says there are growing concerns about widespread standability issues in corn this fall. Andy Swanson covers southeast Nebraska and southwest Iowa for Wyffels Hybrids. “Just about every hybrid has some kind of stalk integrity, crown rot and stalk rot issues going on right now.” He tells Brownfield weather patterns and disease pressure likely […] The post Agronomist warns of corn stalk issues heading into harvest appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service has launched AgInsights to help make report data more accessible and interactive. Undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation Richard Fordyce tells Brownfield the tool is one of many ways the agency is working to update technology and better serve farmers. “They’re looking at options, they’re looking at opportunities to modernize program […] The post AgInsights tool from USDA NASS modernizes farm analytics appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

The director of climate change and rural strategies with the Institute for Agriculture & Trade Policy says the Trump administration’s plan to import 300,000 metric tons of tariff-free beef is a win for the industry’s big four meat packers. During a recent webinar, Ben Lilliston says it’ll cut packer expenses, but it’s likely to cost […] The post IATP: Beef import plan a win for packers, not much else appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

An ag economist says record-high diesel prices could reshape the cost of agricultural transportation.  “It takes a lot of diesel to move goods and services throughout the economy,” he says.  David Widmar with Agricultural Economic Insights says the long-term impacts will likely be felt throughout the supply chain. “Over time, that increase at the pump […] The post The hidden costs of record-high diesel prices on ag transportation appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Cash dairy prices were mixed Friday to end the week at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.     Dry whey was up $0.0075 to $0.78. No sales were reported.  Forty-pound cheese blocks were down $0.0725 to $1.35. Thirteen sales were reported ranging from $1.35 to 1.4050.  Cheese barrels were unchanged at $1.4525. No sales were reported.  Butter was up […] The post Nonfat dry milk surges to $2.08 as CME dairy prices end the week mixed appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Work continues to re-establish rye as a viable crop in Kentucky. South Central Kentucky farmer John Halcomb of Walnut Grove Farms says it’s going to take time. “As we started to try to figure out how to bring it back, we said, this is a 40-year project,” he says. “This is not something that’s going […] The post Bringing rye back to Kentucky appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

A farm-to-table business owner says rising fuel prices are negatively impacting her bottom line. Traci Walkowski sells produce and pasture raises turkeys and chickens in Hutchinson, Minnesota and tells Brownfield traveling to farmers markets is getting more expensive. “Obviously we don’t see the impact as much as someone who’s using gallons of diesel to you […] The post Minnesota farm-to-table business faces higher costs as fuel prices rise appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Farmers across the Midwest share one major concern as harvest gets underway. “Diesel prices.” West-central Indiana farmer Kevin Cox says $6 diesel takes a quick toll on a producer’s bottom line. “To keep the machines running and to keep all the semis on the road, you’re 500 to 1,000 gallons per day,” Cox said. “It’s […] The post Soaring diesel costs squeezing farm margins this fall appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story