Milk Futures Remain Strong for Now
Class IV milk futures, the benchmark for butter production, are trading above $20 for June and July, with contracts at $21.80 and $20.30 respectively, before easing to just over $18 in the fall. This price strength follows a dramatic rise from $1.20 to $2.29 earlier in the year, driven by a surge in global milk‑powder demand. Meanwhile, Class III cheese‑grade milk remains steadier around $16 for the summer months. Analysts see the current levels as a temporary premium before seasonal declines set in.
Higher Nitrogen Prices Could Sting Growers This Fall
U.S. nitrogen fertilizer prices have surged to about $640 per ton for a 32% blend, roughly a 32% jump that translates to an extra dollar per unit. Iowa corn‑soy growers, like Josh Hitzhusen, warn the increase could erode profit margins...
Livestock Risk Protection Updates Give Farmers More Tools to Hedge Record Cattle Prices
USDA’s Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) program has been updated to let producers lock in futures prices for up to a year and cover up to 100% of those contracts. The changes give cattle and dairy operations a way to hedge...
Soybeans, Corn Finish Firm Ahead of Memorial Day Weekend
Soybean and corn futures closed the week on the upside as short covering and technical buying lifted prices. U.S. soybean meal sales reached 252,000 tons, while Mexico purchased nearly 500,000 tons of U.S. corn. Argentina reported 74.7% of its soybean crop harvested...
Cattle Futures Higher Ahead of Friday’s On Feed Report
Live cattle futures edged higher on Tuesday, with June contracts gaining $1.17 to $254.55 and August contracts up $0.10 to $247.25 as traders await the USDA Cattle on Feed report on Friday. Feeder cattle rallied sharply, with August and September...
Ethanol Producer Says E15 Could Be Priced Even Lower at the Pump
Badger State Ethanol’s Erik Huschitt says its E15 blend—marketed as Unleaded 88—already sells at a $0.35 per gallon discount to standard E10 and could be priced even lower. He attributes the gap to current wholesale ethanol costs, gasoline blending‑stock prices, and...
Missouri AG Says Congress or SCOTUS Must Address State Livestock Rules
Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway, joining a 24‑state coalition, urged the U.S. Supreme Court to hear Triumph Foods v. Campbell, a challenge to state livestock regulations that may violate the Dormant Commerce Clause. The coalition argues that laws such as...
Soybeans, Corn, and Wheat Start the Week Higher
Soybean futures climbed for a second session, with July beans up $0.05 to $12.13 per bushel, buoyed by higher soybean oil and crude oil prices. Corn edged higher to $4.75, supported by fund buying and recent USDA export sales, while...
Armyworm Moths Already Plentiful
Wisconsin’s Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection has been trapping true armyworm moths since March, recording 250‑550 moths per week at several sites. Entomologist Krista Hamilton cautions that while the high catches don’t guarantee immediate damage, they could foreshadow...
Higher Diesel, Seed Prices May Temper Cover Crop Interest
Rising diesel fuel and seed prices are creating cost pressures that could curb the growing enthusiasm for cover‑crop planting in the Upper Midwest. University of Minnesota extension educator Dave Nicolai notes that while farmer interest remains high, economics may temper...
Cattle Futures Finish the Week Lower
Cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange slipped this week, with June live cattle down $1.15 to $248.90 and August feeder cattle falling $2.42 to $362.22. The decline was fueled by technical selling and a stronger corn market that raised...
GT Thompson Discusses USMCA Reauthorization, Says Dairy Adjustments Needed
House Agriculture Committee Chairman GT Thompson urged Congress to reauthorize the U.S.–Mexico–Canada Agreement, emphasizing its benefits for American farmers and ranchers. He highlighted the upcoming summer review as a chance to address lingering issues, especially Canada’s dairy supply‑management system. Thompson...
Long-Term Crop Research Studying Ways to Lower Input Costs and Improve Soil Health
Michigan State University’s Kellogg Biological Station long‑term agroecosystem research (LTAR) is testing an aspirational cropping system that slashes nitrogen fertilizer use to about one‑third of conventional rates. By pairing cover crops, no‑till practices, and a diversified rotation of corn, soy,...
Seed Industry Feeling Pressure From Tariffs
U.S. seed companies are facing higher costs as tariffs are applied to planting seed that is shipped abroad for a season and then re‑imported. The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) says the duties create uncertainty and erode the three‑cycle production...
USMCA Continuation Important to Farmers, Others
Farmers, dairy processors, and officials in Green Bay urged the Biden administration to preserve the United States‑Mexico‑Canada Agreement with only minor tweaks. They highlighted that USMCA underpins Wisconsin’s $1.5 billion annual ethanol exports to Canada and supports corn shipments to Mexico....