Brownfield News

Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Ag Conference

Brownfield Anchor/Reporter Amie Simpson will be on the ground for the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Ag Conference in Chicago, IL on Tuesday, November 27.
Continue reading Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Ag Conference at Brownfield Ag News.
     
Battling ear molds in corn


Wet growing conditions and the long and drawn out harvest in several parts of the Corn Belt has created an environment where ear molds can flourish.
In this Managing for Profit, Beck’s agronomist Steve Gauck talks about some of the common ear molds farmers have been battling this year and some prevention strategies they can take to reduce the risk for next year.
Continue reading Battling ear molds in corn at Brownfield Ag News.
     
Hong Kong journalist’s take on U.S.-China relations

Frank Chen, a journalist with the Asia Times, was one of 12 international journalists who participated in last week’s Canada Ag Innovations Tour. Chen is a native of China who now lives in Hong Kong.
In an interview with Brownfield, Chen gave us his perspective on the trade war between the U.S. and China and the upcoming G20 meeting between President Trump and Chinese president Xi, and shared his thoughts on overall relations between the two countries.
Continue reading Hong Kong journalist’s take on U.S.-China relations at Brownfield Ag News.
     
Winter-like pattern continues across most of the Heartland

Across the Corn Belt, snow remains on the ground—following Thursday’s storm—from the middle Mississippi Valley into the Ohio Valley and the lower Great Lakes region, further delaying late-season soft red winter wheat planting efforts. Meanwhile in the upper Midwest, several factors—including locally excessive soil moisture and partially frozen soils—are an impediment to completing corn and soybean harvesting.
On the Plains, precipitation (rain and snow) is developing across parts of Montana in advance of a cold front.
Continue reading Winter-like pattern continues across most of the Heartland at Brownfield Ag News.
     
NCGA says DEMAND its top three goals

When it comes to the U.S. corn industry – corn leaders say it’s about this, “Our #1, #2 and #3 goals are demand, demand and demand,” says Jon Doggett, National Corn Growers’ Chief Executive Officer, interviewed by Brownfield at the 2019 NAFB Convention.
NCGA President Lynn Chrisp, a Nebraska corn grower, tells Brownfield things weren’t looking so good for a while with trade – to help meet that demand – but have improved with the South Korea agreement and the new US, Mexico, Canada Agreement (USMCA), “We were kind of frustrated with lack of progress and the turmoil that it was creating in the discussions and negotiations with some of our key trading partners but the attitude has seemed to change in the countryside now.”
And, Chrisp says corn growers will now have year-round E15 to create more corn demand in 2019.
Continue reading NCGA says DEMAND its top three goals at Brownfield Ag News.
     
Milk futures mostly higher, cash dairy mixed


Class III milk futures at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange were mostly lower Friday, rounding out a mostly positive week.
November closed two cents higher at $14.58.  December down four cents at $14.84.  January six cents lower at $15.04.  February down four cents at $15.14.  March through next October contracts closed one to five cents lower.
Blocks closed $0.0275 higher at $1.4525.  Four trades were made ranging from $1.4475 to $1.4525.
Continue reading Milk futures mostly higher, cash dairy mixed at Brownfield Ag News.
     
USDA launches “Defending the Flock”


The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service says a coordinated biosecurity effort is one of the best ways to reduce the risk of infectious diseases like Avian Influenza.
“The risk of infectious disease really never goes away.”
Veterinary Medical Officer Dr. Alan Huddleston tells Brownfield their new “Defend the Flock” campaign to promotes combined efforts to protect both commercial and backyard poultry.
“We’ve seen great strides in biosecurity since 2015 but biosecurity is really an everyday, every time effort, and to sustain good practices takes awareness, training and reminders.”
Huddleston was a first responder to the 2014/2015 avian flu outbreaks in Washington state, Minnesota and Iowa. 
Continue reading USDA launches “Defending the Flock” at Brownfield Ag News.
     
Ag bankers say dairy farms are hurting the most


Ag bankers in the Federal Reserve District of Chicago say dairy farmers have been the most impacted by low prices.
“From our comments from bankers, the most hard-hit segment of agriculture is the dairy industry.  Milk prices are very low and that has continued to be an issue, but pretty much across the board there are issues with all the different sectors.”
Senior business economist David Oppedahl tells Brownfield their third quarter survey found two-thirds of bankers believe net earnings for the next three to six months will be lower for dairy farmers.
Continue reading Ag bankers say dairy farms are hurting the most at Brownfield Ag News.
     
ASF concerns launch hog futures higher

At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live cattle futures closed mixed on lack of support from wholesale values and cash trade.  Feeder cattle futures closed lower on technical selling while waiting on widespread direct cash business.  December live cattle closed $.20 higher at $115.35 and February live cattle closed $.62 higher at $119.72.  January feeder cattle closed $1.32 lower at $146.52 and March feeder cattle closed $.57 lower at $143.97.
Friday afternoon rounded out with a light direct cash cattle trade. 
Continue reading ASF concerns launch hog futures higher at Brownfield Ag News.
     
Minnesota farmer cautiously optimistic about gray wolf bill


A northern Minnesota farmer who’s lost livestock to wolf attacks is cautiously optimistic about the latest effort to delist the gray wolf.
Roseau County farmer Shayne Isane says he loses cattle to wolf attacks every year.
“This year we had four (cows) killed in one evening.”
Speaking to Brownfield at the 100th Minnesota Farm Bureau annual meeting in Minneapolis, he says indemnity payments do little to make up for the added stress to his herd.
Continue reading Minnesota farmer cautiously optimistic about gray wolf bill at Brownfield Ag News.