Brownfield News

Severe storms swept across parts of Nebraska again this weekend damaging crops and farmsteads from wind and hail.

First generation, South Central Nebraska Farmer Michael Bergen says 80 to 90 mile an hour wind gusts wiped out most of his fifteenth crop. “Probably one of the best ones I’ve had so far. Friday morning, Friday night and Saturday kind of left us in shambles,” Bergen says. “Never in your wildest dreams, could you imagine what we went through though. 

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Milk futures and cash dairy markets were all up on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Monday, July 12th.

July Class III milk was up $.04 at $16.89.  August was up $.31 closing at $17.85.  September was up $.32 at $18.03.  October was up $.25 at $18.59.  November through June contracts ranged from zero to fifteen cents higher.

Dry whey was up $.0125 at $.52. There were no trades registered.

Blocks were up $.01 closing at $1.7350.  There was one sale at that price.  

Barrels went up $.06 to $1.64.  Ten sales were made ranging from $1.59 to $1.64.

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Photo by David Wessell

A west central Illinois corn and soybean farmer feels fortunate after assessing damage from a small tornado that passed through their farm over the weekend.

David Wessel who farms near Chandlerville tells Brownfield thankfully everyone is safe and there was no structural damage, but it did destroy a 150-yard stretch of a corn field.

“Where it hit, it’s pretty much 100% losses. It snapped the corn off about a foot above the ground with very few stalks left standing there.

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The Environmental Director for Missouri Corn Growers and Missouri Soybean says farmers have much to consider when deciding whether to participate in a carbon sequestration program and which one.

Darrick Steen said the emerging market will change a lot in the next three years. He tells Brownfield sequestration contracts now offer farmers between $5 and $20 an acre.

“But as new buyers and more buyers and more demand for buying carbon credits arises over then next year, two or three, that price will likely go up,” he said.

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The USDA lowered expectations for pork, broiler, and turkey production, while leaving beef steady.

Beef held at 27.905 billion pounds, with a higher processing pace cancelling out lower average weights, with an average steer price of $119.20 per hundredweight, up $2.20 from June while leaving imports steady, raising exports, and reducing per capita consumption slightly.

Pork is projected at 28.151 billion pounds, down 40 million on the month because of an expected slower second half commercial slaughter, with an average barrow and gilt price of $69.40 per hundredweight, down $.80 on the month, steady imports and exports, and slightly lower consumption.

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The USDA has raised new crop cotton and rice ending stocks projections.

New crop cotton ending stocks are now seen at 3.3 million bales, up 400,000 from June, following an increase in the production guess, which canceled out higher export demand. Old crop cotton ending stocks were unchanged.

New crop rice ending stocks are pegged at 41.3 million hundredweight, up 2.3 million on the month, with a decrease in production and increase in exports canceled out by larger beginning stocks and higher imports.

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The U.S. is expected to produce a smaller wheat crop in 2021, with an increase for winter wheat due to higher acreage and better yields canceled out by a big decrease for spring because of ongoing drought in the northern and northwestern U.S. Plains.

The USDA sees winter wheat at 1.364 billion bushels, 4% higher than the June guess and 16% more than 2020, with an 4% year to year rise for hard red winter and to 804.6 million bushels an 8% jump for soft red winter at 362.017 million cancelling out a 2% loss for white winter to a combined 197.588 million bushels.

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Direct cash cattle trade activity is quiet to kick off the week.  Bids and asking prices have yet to surface.  Showlists this week are mixed, higher in Nebraska/Colorado, but lower in Texas and in Kansas.  Look for significant trade volume to develop as the week progresses.  Last week’s business ranged from $118 to $120 live in the South and $196 to $202 dressed in the North. 

Boxed beef was mixed at midday on light demand for light offerings.  Choice is $2.28 lower at $276.31 and Select is $.77 higher at $258.18.  The Choice/Select spread is $18.13. 

In South Dakota last week, feeder steers and heifers were $5 to $10 higher.  The USDA says there was very good demand for yearling steers and heifers and the market was active.  There has been some rain, but much more is needed and producers in the central part of the state continue to sell-off cattle to account for available forage supplies.  Receipts were up on the week and the year.  Feeder supply included 50% heifers and 94% of the offering was over 600 pounds.  Medium and Large 1 feeder steers 805 to 849 pounds brought $148.50 to $167.25 and feeder steers 902 to 945 pounds brought $137 to $155.  Medium and Large 1 feeder heifers 851 to 898 pounds brought $132.25 to $144 and feeder heifers 910 to 945 pounds brought $130.50 to $139.10. 

Cash hogs are firm at midday with light negotiated purchases. 

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The USDA has raised its 2021 corn and winter wheat production outlooks following the USDA’s acreage adjustments, while leaving soybeans unchanged.

Corn is now projected at 15.165 billion bushels, up 175 million from June, and raised new crop ending stocks by 75 million bushels to 1.432 billion bushels, with that increase in production cancelling out lower beginning stocks and higher feed use.

Winter wheat is pegged at 1.364 billion bushels, 4% more than in June and up 16% from 2020 thanks to bigger planted area and a better yield, while spring wheat is seen at 344.575 million bushels, down 41% due to drought in some key growing areas.

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Brownfield Anchor/Reporter Julie Harker will cover AGree The Future of Farming: Producer Perspectives on Agriculture Data Innovation on Thursday, July 15, 2021.

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