Competition Intensifies for Cropland Close to SE Wisconsin Dairies
Farmland values in southeastern Wisconsin have jumped 25%‑35% since December, according to Compeer Financial appraiser David Kluck. The surge stems from a tight supply of cropland and heightened interest from large dairies seeking nearby land to spread manure. Proximity matters because hauling manure is costly and carries liability, prompting dairies to target parcels within roughly three miles of their operations. Kluck discussed these dynamics on a Compeer Financial appraisal podcast partnered with Brownfield Ag News.
New ASSET Initiative Incentivizes Sugarbeet Growers to Cut Erosion with Strip-Till Program
The Nature Conservancy, Michigan Sugar, Blue Water Conservation District, and Environmental Tillage Systems have launched the ASSET (Accessing Subsidized Strip‑till Equipment Trial) program in Michigan's Saginaw Bay Watershed. The three‑year initiative offers participating sugar‑beet growers up to $52 per acre...
Heavy Rain in Southwest Michigan Highlights Benefits of Cover Crops, MSU Says
Michigan State University researchers observed record rainfall in Southwest Michigan, with over 15 inches falling since early March. The heavy downpours highlighted stark differences between fields planted with cover crops and managed under no‑till versus conventional tillage. Cover‑cropped, no‑till plots...
Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: May 5, 2026
U.S. grain and livestock futures closed mixed on May 5, 2026. Corn slipped 5.75 cents to $4.80 per bushel while soybeans fell 11.25 cents to $12.11. Livestock prices rose, with live cattle up $1.47 to $253.22 and feeder cattle gaining $5.70 to $372.30. The...
2026 Ethanol Exports Remain on Pace to Shatter 2025 Record
U.S. ethanol exports in the first quarter of 2026 reached 639.8 million gallons, a 20% increase over the 2025 record pace. March alone saw 217.8 million gallons shipped, up 4% from February, driven by strong demand from Canada, the European Union and...
Another Solid Week for Corn Export Inspections
U.S. corn export inspections surged to 2.03 million tons for the week ending April 30, up 411,136 tons from a year earlier, pushing season‑long totals to 55.48 million tons—well ahead of the 2024/25 pace. Wheat inspections also climbed, reaching 434,204 tons and a year‑to‑date...
E15 Legislation Faces Hurdles as House Weighs Standalone Vote
Congressman Don Bacon warned that partisan opposition is blocking a year‑round E15 ethanol blend, which was omitted from the 2026 farm bill. He argues the ban harms the agricultural sector because distillers grains, a by‑product of ethanol, are in high...
Cash Dairy Prices Steady-to-Lower Monday
Cash dairy prices on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange were largely flat to lower on Monday. Dry whey slipped to $0.6950 per pound, while 40‑pound cheese blocks fell to $1.6325. Butter decreased $0.04 to $1.5550, and nonfat dry milk held steady...
WiscoNet Weather Data Is Popular Before Planting
Wisconsin’s WiscoNet network now runs 80 automated weather stations that record temperature, humidity, rainfall, solar radiation, wind and soil conditions every fifteen minutes. The free data portal sees a surge in farmer traffic as planting season approaches, with users seeking...
Soybean, Corn Futures Boosted by Technical Buying, Watching Planting
Soybean and corn futures rose on a wave of fund‑driven technical buying, extending gains that were already in place. USDA data showed soybean crush in March up 13 million bushels month‑over‑month, while corn ethanol use jumped 10% from February. Planting conditions...
Michigan Bean Commission Says Solving Logistical Limitations Would Open New Avenues
Michigan Bean Commission Executive Director Joe Cramer highlighted logistics as a major long‑term constraint for the state’s bean growers. A deteriorating short‑line railroad in the Thumb limits speed, forcing most exports to travel by boxcar and bulk copper cars for...
Dairy Farmer Survey Shows Concerns About Farm Data Use
A survey of U.S. dairy producers reveals deep skepticism about new data‑collection requests from industry groups and the USDA. While Dairy Management Inc. and the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy seek detailed water‑use, feed, and manure data for sustainability models,...
2026 Growing Season Begins Under Shadow of Rising Expenses
U.S. farmers are starting the 2026 growing season amid sharply higher fertilizer costs. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium prices have surged, with urea reaching four‑year highs, driven by Middle‑East conflict and broader energy price pressures. Iowa growers like Chris Edgington report...
CME Cash Dairy Prices Mixed
Cash dairy prices on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange showed mixed movement on April 29, 2026. Dry whey remained unchanged at $0.7025, while block butter rose $0.0225 to $1.63 per pound. Butter prices slipped $0.0450 to $1.65 despite strong demand, and...
Midday Cash Livestock Markets
Midday cash livestock markets showed a modest rally in cattle, with live deals in Texas trading at $255‑$256 and dressed cattle in the North hitting $395‑$400, both roughly $10‑$14 above the prior week. Boxed beef prices slipped, with Choice and...
Iowa House Advances Right to Repair Bill for Farmers
Iowa's House passed a Right to Repair bill for farm equipment with a 70‑18 vote, requiring manufacturers to provide parts, software, and tools at reasonable terms. The legislation aims to reduce downtime and repair costs for farmers who face software...
Red Crown Rot Another Challenge for Central Illinois Farmer
Red crown rot has emerged as a significant soybean disease for central Illinois growers, cutting yields by up to 60% in severe cases. Farmer Ken Franklin in Christian County first encountered the pathogen two seasons ago, initially mistaking it for...
Ag Groups Tout USMCA at NAFB’s Washington Watch
At the National Agri‑Food Business (NAFB) Washington Watch, leaders from the American Seed Trade Association and the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture highlighted the importance of the U.S.–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) for U.S. farmers. Andy LaVigne emphasized that the...
The Cost of Prop 12
California’s Proposition 12, which mandates larger living spaces for breeding pigs, is now showing measurable economic fallout. USDA data and a North Dakota State University analysis reveal that state consumers have spent roughly $350 million more on pork over the past two...
South Dakota Winter Wheat “Dicey” After Late-April Freeze
A late‑April freeze in southeastern South Dakota plunged overnight temperatures to 12 °F, leaving winter wheat fields looking sick and raising concerns about frost damage. USDA’s latest crop‑progress report shows only 35% of the state’s winter wheat rated good to excellent,...
HPAI Control Zones Lifting in Michigan, Leaders Say Lack of Vaccine Progress Is Concerning
The Michigan Allied Poultry Industry announced that control zones on turkey farms affected by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) have been lifted after roughly a two‑month quarantine. Producers receive indemnity and cleaning assistance but no compensation for lost production. Industry...
Large Corn Supplies May Limit Price Gains, Analyst Warns
Analyst Kent Thiesse highlighted that U.S. corn inventories surged 11% year‑over‑year, with stocks exceeding 9 billion bushels at the start of the third marketing quarter. While many farmers are still holding unpriced grain in hopes of a price rally, Thiesse cautioned...
More Dairy Products Are in Cold Storage
The USDA reported that butter inventories rose to 288.8 million pounds in March, up from 256.2 million pounds in February but still below the 323.1 million pounds recorded a year earlier. Cheese stocks also increased modestly to 1.4 billion pounds, yet remain under the...
Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: April 24, 2026
U.S. grain and livestock futures closed with modest moves on April 24, 2026. May corn slipped half a cent to $4.55 per bushel, while May soybeans rose four cents to $11.63. Live cattle futures gained $1.72, ending at $245.22 per...
Trump Admin Eyes New Fertilizer Plants, a Fix to Address High Fertilizer Costs
The Trump administration announced a push to expand U.S. nitrogen fertilizer production, aiming to cut permitting timelines and build new plants within three years. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the effort will target the country’s reliance on Russian and Chinese...
Canadian Agri-Food Group Aligns with US. Ag Coalition on USMCA
The Canadian Agri‑Food Trade Alliance backs the U.S. Agricultural Coalition’s push to renew the USMCA for another 16‑year term without major changes. Alliance director Michael Harvey warns that reopening negotiations could jeopardize Mexico’s acceptance of biotech crops, a concern for...
Many Farmers Utilize Life Insurance for Farm Financing
Financial advisor Mary Jo Irmen explains that farmers can tap the cash value of properly structured whole life insurance policies to finance farm expenses, bypassing traditional bank loans. The approach offers immediate liquidity, flexible repayment schedules, and ensures the death benefit covers...
Soybeans, Products See Profit Taking, Corn and Wheat Finish Mixed
U.S. soybean futures slipped as traders took profits while awaiting clarity on an upcoming China‑U.S. trade meeting, which is complicated by tensions in the Middle East. Corn prices moved sideways, with Midwest rain improving soil moisture but delaying planting, and...
USTR Weighs in on USMCA Updates Prior to July Review
The U.S. Trade Representative is pushing for changes to the United States‑Mexico‑Canada Agreement that would better support American agriculture, emphasizing rules of origin and economic‑security provisions. Ambassador Jamieson Greer has been meeting with Mexican officials ahead of the joint July...
USDA’s Rollins Signals Possible Action Soon on Fertilizer Prices
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins told a Senate subcommittee that the administration is preparing an inter‑agency effort to address soaring fertilizer prices. She indicated an announcement could come soon, potentially involving new funding to ease short‑term cost pressures. Rollins highlighted...
Homegrown Fertilizer Act Would Boost Domestic Production
Congressman Eric Sorensen introduced the bipartisan Homegrown Fertilizer Act, which would provide USDA‑backed grants and low‑interest loans to expand domestic fertilizer manufacturing and storage. The bill deliberately excludes the four largest consolidated producers, aiming to spur competition among smaller firms....
U.S. Sugar Producers Close to Collapse as Alliance Calls for Higher Tariffs on Imports
U.S. sugar producers are facing a potential collapse as the American Sugar Alliance urges the U.S. Trade Representative to invoke Section 310 powers and raise tariffs on cheap imports. The Alliance reports a dramatic surge in foreign sugar shipments, climbing from...
Cattle Futures Lower Heading Into Midweek
Cattle futures slipped on Tuesday as technical selling pressured live and feeder contracts, with June live cattle down $2.52 to $243.55 and May feeder cattle off $2.55 to $358.55 per hundredweight. Direct cash cattle activity was muted, and auction prices...
Purdue Economist: Geopolitical Tensions Igniting Long-Term Concerns About Fertilizer Prices
Purdue economist Joana Colussi warns that the ongoing conflict in Iran has pushed U.S. fertilizer input costs up more than 30% since late February, creating immediate pressure on the current crop season and a heightened risk of elevated prices through the...
Former USDA Economist Explains What’s Driving the U.S. Ag Trade Deficit
Former USDA chief economist Joe Glauber told Brownfield that the U.S. agricultural trade deficit is shrinking, dropping from $6.5 billion in January 2025 to $1.75 billion in January 2026. He emphasized that the deficit reflects low export prices rather than a loss...
Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: April 17, 2026
U.S. grain futures showed mixed movement on April 17, with May corn edging up 0.25 cent to $4.48 per bushel and soybeans gaining 3.5 cents to $11.67, while May wheat slipped 7.25 cents to $5.91. Livestock contracts fell across the...
Global Conflict and Trade Shifts Pressuring U.S. Ag Exports
U.S. agricultural exports are feeling pressure from two fronts: the ongoing Iranian conflict, which is inflating global commodity and energy prices, and rising political uncertainty around the U.S.-UK Economic Prosperity Deal. President Trump has signaled a possible rollback of the...
Tight Cattle Supplies Could Continue to Support Prices
U.S. cattle on feed slipped 1% year‑over‑year to 11.576 million head, according to USDA data released in mid‑April. Steer‑calf and heifer inventories each fell about 1%, while March placements into feedlots dropped 7% to 1.709 million, the second‑lowest monthly total on record....
Why Exports Matter, Even in Times of Tight Supplies
U.S. beef exports to Mexico generate roughly $1.3 billion, while pork shipments total about $2.9 billion. Despite a record‑large cattle herd, industry leaders argue that maintaining these markets is critical for farm profitability and price stability. Jay Theiler, chair of the US...
Planting Green Into Cover Crops Is Cutting Input Costs for Central Illinois Farmer
Central Illinois farmer Derek Martin has embraced “planting green,” sowing cereal rye into standing cover crops before planting corn or soybeans. The practice lets him reduce seed‑treatment, fertilizer and weed‑control chemical purchases while improving soil health. By increasing rye biomass...
Grant Funding From Lilly Endowment Supports Growth of the Indiana FFA Organization
The Indiana FFA Foundation received a $1 million grant from the Lilly Endowment to upgrade its Indiana FFA Leadership Center. Executive director Lisa Chaudion says the funds will modernize the hub that trains members in leadership and fosters lifelong connections. The...
GROWMARK Agronomists Embracing AI
GROWMARK has partnered with Intelinair to embed an AI agent within its myFS Agronomy app, allowing agronomists to process massive data sets in minutes. The AI-driven tool promises better seed placement, in‑season risk management, and tailored product guides. By automating...
Soybeans Supported by Expectations for U.S./China Trade Talks
Soybean futures climbed on fund and technical buying as traders grew optimistic about a mid‑May high‑level U.S.–China trade meeting, spurred by a recent Trump social‑media post. The meeting, delayed by the Iran conflict, is seen as a catalyst for easing...
Another Week of Increases for Broiler Sets, Placements
The USDA reported that 255.581 million broiler‑type eggs were set this week, a 3.011 million increase and a 2% rise year‑over‑year, with hatchability holding at 79.4%. Placements rose to 197.431 million chicks, up 492,000 from the prior week and 3% above the same...
Economist Says Many 2027 Fertilizer Decisions Will Be Made Soon
CoBank farm‑supply economist Jacqui Fatka warns that U.S. fertilizer buying decisions for the 2027 season will be locked in this summer. The timing is driven by heightened uncertainty from the ongoing U.S.–Iran conflict and the upcoming USMCA renegotiations that could...
Michigan Ag Budget Moves Forward in Senate with Funds for Meat Processing and Local Food Programs
The Michigan Senate Appropriations Subcommittee advanced a bipartisan agriculture budget that earmarks $4 million from the state’s Dairy and Food Safety Fund to expand locally owned meat‑processing capacity. The proposal also restores funding for livestock research through the Michigan Animal Agriculture...
Supreme Court Tariff Decision Sparks Refund Claims
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6‑3 that the president lacks authority to impose tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, declaring the contested tariff void. The decision has triggered a wave of refund litigation as importers seek reimbursement through...
CONAB: Big Brazil Soybean Crop Getting Bigger
Brazil’s agricultural agency CONAB lifted its 2026 soybean forecast to a record 179.152 million metric tons, a 4.5 % increase over 2025, driven by an all‑time high yield outlook. The same report projects total corn production at 139.572 million tons, with the second‑crop...
Review What’s Really Covered by Your Insurance Policy
Country Financial’s insurance specialist Zachary Hinthorn urges farmers to meet with their agents before the planting season to review their policies. He notes that coverage terms, deductibles, and exclusions often shift year‑to‑year, leaving farms exposed to unanticipated losses. By conducting...
It’s Tick Season and Reports Are on the Rise
Tick season is intensifying across the United States as the Lone‑Star tick expands its range northward and westward. Over the past 15 years, reported cases of Alpha Gal Syndrome—a meat allergy triggered by the tick’s bite—have surged, mirroring the tick’s geographic...