Brownfield News

Dec. corn closed at $3.79, up 14 and 1/4 cents
Nov. soybeans closed at $10.23 and 1/2, up 30 and 1/2 cents
Oct. soybean meal closed at $339.70, up $12.40
Oct. soybean oil closed at 33.37, up 50 points
Dec. wheat closed at $5.78, up 28 and 1/2 cents
Oct. live cattle closed at $108.55, down 35 cents
Oct. lean hogs closed at $72.80, up 42 cents
Nov.

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Winners were announced Wednesday for the 37th annual World Forage Analysis Superbowl.  More than 260 entries from sixteen states were evaluated, with awards going to the top five in eight divisions.

In the baleage division, the champion was Kendall Guither, Walnut, Ill.  Bappe Farms from Riverton, Wyoming won the Commercial Hay division.  Lester Zimmerman from Penn Yan, New York topped the Dairy Hay division.  Corner Oak Farm from Grand Blanc, Michigan won the Alfalfa Haylage division. 

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Indiana Farm Bureau Health Plans are now available after more than a year of research.

INFB President Randy Kron says over the past few years he’s heard countless stories from members about not having access to affordable and reliable healthcare.  

Kron says INFB Health Plans are the culmination of a lot of hard work and will help meet the needs of famers across the state.  

“I can’t explain in words really what it feels like (for the health plans to be available),� he says.

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Soybeans were sharply higher on commercial and technical buying, pulling the most active months back above $10 per bushel. The USDA says September 1st soybean stocks were just over 523 million bushels, a bigger than expected drop of 42% on the year, reflecting the solid export demand and with an extra boost from a lower 2019 production total. That’s also effectively the 2019/20 U.S. soybean ending stocks total, but further revisions are probable. Unknown destinations bought 215,000 tons of 2020/21 U.S.

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A recent analysis of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program breaks down how row crop farmers benefit from direct payments in the second edition.

Ag policy specialist Jonathan Coppess at the University of Illinois tells Brownfield essentially rates have been set using previous price declines applied to the percentage of crops sold on average.

“For example, historically about 40 percent of the corn crop is sold between harvest and the end of the year, so the corn payment rate is factored by that 40 percent to get an effective payment rate of 23 cents per bushel.�  

He says the marketing percentages differ between row crops and when looking at rates per acre, payments seem more balanced the previous programs like the Market Facilitation Program.

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A University of Wisconsin professor known for his research on crop diseases has been chosen to lead the college’s Nutrient and Pest Management Program.

Dr. Damon Smith will start his new responsibilities as faculty director October 1st.

The Nutrient and Pest Management Program and its nine-member staff work to protect water quality, environmental sustainability, and improved farm profitability by helping farmers with production practices and cropping systems.  Smith sees his new role as an opportunity to deploy research to a wider audience.

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The Environmental Protection Agency is taking comments on a plan that would phase out many of the existing Bt corn and cotton plant protection traits.

The agency wants to implement many recommendations from a scientific advisory panel that are designed to delay insect resistance to the plant protection traits and prolong the effectiveness of plant protection products.

The EPA says Bt resistance has been reported for corn earworm, fall armyworm, western bean cutworm, and the southwestern corn borer. 

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Producers made and paid more in August than in July.

The USDA’s index of prices received was up 1% on the month, with a 2.9% rise in the crop index cancelling out a 0.5% in the livestock index. Prices moved higher for cattle, hogs, soybeans, and market eggs and lower for corn, milk, broilers, and lettuce.

The index of prices paid increased by 0.2% with gains in feeder cattle, feeder pigs, LP gas and supplies cancelling out losses in feed grains, complete feeds, nitrogen, and other services.

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Walmart has announced the expansion of its partnership with plant-based protein maker Beyond Meat.

Walmart will increase the number of locations offering Beyond Burger from 800 to more than 2400 nationwide beginning next week.

Walmart began offering Beyond Meat products in 2015 and has since made Beyond Burger and Beyond Sausage available.

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Red meat production in the US continues to push higher and a livestock economist says demand becomes even more important moving forward.

In this Managing for Profit, University of Missouri’s Scott Brown explains how increasing red meat production, a rise in slaughter, and increasing weights will all play a critical role in the bottom line.

AUDIO: Managing for Profit, Scott Brown

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