Five farm families were honored with the 2024 Conservation Farm Family Awards at this year’s Farm Science Review. The Conservation Farm Family Awards program recognize Ohio farm families for their efforts conserving soil, water, woodland, wildlife, and other natural resources on the land they farm. Each family was awarded $400...

Leaders from the production and processing side of the dairy industry discussed what is and is not part of the USDA’s proposed changes to the Federal Milk Marketing Order system.  Economists from Cornell, the University of Wisconsin, and experts from the International Dairy Foods Association, the Milk Producer’s Council, and...

The Ranking Member of the Senate Ag Committee is calling for emergency assistance to help farms stay viable into next year. From the Senate floor this week, John Boozman spoke on the economic crisis that’s building during the harvest season. “Many producers have harvested their 2024 crop and many are...

The soybean harvest is underway in southeast Minnesota. Northfield farmer Bruce Peterson tells Brownfield some early maturity varieties planted the last week of April turned quickly thanks to warm and dry September weather. “Not a lot of beans ready, touch and go if we could keep going all day today...

If you’re a parent of school-aged kids – sometimes breakfast can be a chore.  Jessica Kassel, a registered dietitian with the St. Louis Dairy Council, says it doesn’t have to be – and there are several easy options. AUDIO: Healthy Living on dairy for breakfast The post Dairy can make...

Some Illinois farmers say marketing will be the biggest challenge of the 2024 growing season. Mark Schweizer, who farms in Montgomery County, says he’s not sure what to do with the crop he started harvesting this week. “Sell it out of the field and buy a call?”  He says, “I...

Cash dairy prices were mostly lower Thursday on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.  Dry whey was down $0.0075 at $0.5875.  Six sales were recorded, ranging from $0.5875 to $0.5975.  Forty-pound cheese blocks were up $0.03 at $2.2750.   Three sales were recorded, ranging from $2.27 to $2.2750.  Cheese barrels were down $0.0125...

Tire tips to reduce soil compaction

Cash cattle country has a few bids on the table in parts of the north at $182 on a live basis and $288 dressed, but so far they have been passed. Asking prices in this area have not been established for the week. In the south, asking prices are around...

The director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture says the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program is expanding. Don Lamb says the program benefits farmers. “Farmers are the best environmentalists. Farmers want to do what’s right for the environment,” he says. “There are times because of the cost of things that...

The CEO of National Land Realty says he’s surprised farmland values have remained high despite low commodity prices. Ronnie Richardson tells Brownfield he recently talked to a Kansas farmer about the corn market. “He had his corn booked at $4.10, and you go ‘what in the world, how could you...

New crop U.S. corn and soybean export sales were up on the week. The USDA says Mexico, unknown destinations, and Japan led the pack for corn during the week ending September 12th, while China purchased more than half of the weekly total for soybeans. Both corn and beans continue to...

Eastern Iowa farmer Jeff Pape started soybean harvest Wednesday. “Yields are decent, anywhere from some timber fields that don’t get good sun and are on sand ground that ended up about 63 (bushels per acre). The next field that’s decent is probably running low 70’s (for yield), but they’re dry.”...

A western Wisconsin farmer says there is a lot of variability in the crops this fall. Tony Mellenthin grows corn and soybeans south of Menomonie and tells Brownfield the late season weather had an impact. “Heat and lack of moisture to finish them off has taken the top end off...

A Pioneer agronomist says red crown rot is having a major impact on some soybean growers. Matt Montgomery says his west central Illinois territory is ground zero for the relatively new fungal disease. “We’ve seen yield losses 40 to 60%.”  He says, “We’ve seen some real devastating, you know, one...