Brownfield Ag News

Wheat surges on drought, input cost concerns

John Perkins — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 20:40:52 +0000

Soybeans were lower on profit taking and technical selling. Planting weather mostly looks favorable in much of the Midwest, which should keep the overall pace well ahead of average. Beans are waiting for more details on a planned trade meeting with China next month. The meeting has been delayed at least once by the military […]

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Elanco expert urges poultry producers to strengthen pest control practices

Mark Dorenkamp — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 20:37:50 +0000

A technical consultant with Elanco Animal Health says poultry producers should take a thorough approach to pest control. Dr. Alissa Welsher tells Brownfield managing the housing facilities is a good starting point. “Picking up organic material, picking up any feed spillage (or) water that may be standing that you can potentially dry up, whether it’s […]

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West central Indiana farmer wraps up planting

Jared White — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 20:31:01 +0000

A west central Indiana farmer says he wrapped up planting this week. Jason Brier, who farms in Warren and Fountain Counties near Attica, tells Brownfield… “We got the bean planter rolling Friday the 9th, started the corn planter up the 10th, and we just pretty much stayed at it flat five days straight.” He says, […]

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Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: April 23, 2026

John Perkins — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 20:09:09 +0000

May corn $4.55 and 1/2, up 1 and 1/4 centsMay soybeans $11.59 and 3/4, down 4 and 3/4 centsMay soybean meal $320.60, unchangedMay soybean oil 71.66, down 2 pointsMay Chicago wheat $6.10 and 3/4, up 11 and 1/2 centsJun. live cattle $243.50, up 42 centsMay feeder cattle $358.87, up 45 centsJun. lean hogs $103.45, up […]

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Ag economists: USDA data changes aim to boost transparency

Carah Hart — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 20:04:29 +0000

Two ag economists say USDA’s proposed changes to improve the way data is explained and shared should help improve farmer trust. Seth Meyer with MU’s Food and Ag Policy Research Institute tells Brownfield “My experience at USDA was always farmers, if there’s a report that they don’t like, when they would come in and talk […]

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IATP to launch feeding the world project

Nicole Heslip — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 20:04:22 +0000

An ag research and policy organization is studying how and if U.S. farmers are ‘feeding the world.’ The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy’s executive director Sophia Murphy described the new project as part of a recent webinar. “We want to do some fact sheets, the role of the U.S. in this,” she shared. “What […]

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Red meat production up in March on pork processing pace

John Perkins — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 19:50:13 +0000

Commercial red meat production in the U.S. during March was 4.511 billion pounds. The USDA says that was 2% larger than last year, with pork surging 7% to 2.401 billion pounds largely due to the faster slaughter pace, while beef fell 3% to 2.096 billion pounds as tight ready numbers limited slaughter, more than canceling […]

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Cold damages Michigan apples, peaches and cherries, MSUE say losses uneven

Nicole Heslip — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 19:13:28 +0000

Michigan State University Extension educators are expecting widespread but highly variable fruit damage across the state following this weekend’s low temperatures. Small Fruit Educator Cheyenne Sloan says crop development in many southern regions was almost two weeks ahead of last year. “Down in the southwest, all of the southern part of Michigan is just warmer […]

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Hinson lauds USDA’s reorganization, FSIS relocation to Iowa

Brent Barnett — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 18:53:02 +0000

The USDA has announced that the headquarters for the Food Safety and Inspection Service will be moved to Iowa as part of continued reorganization within the agency. As part of the relocation, USDA will establish a new National Food Safety Center in Urbandale, and U.S. Congresswoman Ashley Hinson tells Brownfield… “It’s a place where it’s […]

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Drought improvement seen in southwest Iowa

Brent Barnett — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 18:29:33 +0000

A southwest Iowa farmer says planting is in full swing in his area following some recent rains. Duane Aistrope raises corn and soybeans in Fremont County. “We’ve had some issues with our planter. Did a bunch of computer updates and stuff and they weren’t talking to each other. But, a lot of guys are out […]

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USDA spending bill clears House subcommittee with limited cuts, IT investments

Nicole Heslip — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 18:17:30 +0000

The U.S. House Ag Appropriations subcommittee has passed a partisan USDA budget that would cut funding slightly next year. During this morning’s markup, Republican chair Andy Harris said the proposal prioritizes essential services of the department. “This legislation reflects a clear conservative commitment to fiscal responsibility while ensuring that America’s farmers, ranchers, and rural communities remain a […]

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Congressman says E15 critical to farm bill vote

Jared White — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 17:14:22 +0000

A member of the U.S. House Ag Committee says his vote on the farm bill hinges on year-round E15. “To get me to a yes, we’re going to need definitive answers on year-round E15.” Illinois Democratic Congressman Eric Sorensen says those answers are in the E15 amendment brought forward by the House Rural Domestic Energy […]

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Midday cash livestock markets

Meghan Grebner — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 17:05:00 +0000

A more active round of direct cash cattle trade is underway. Dressed deals in Nebraska are at $386, $2 lower than the previous week’s weighted average basis, and fully steady with this week’s business. Live deals are marked at $246, also steady with this week’s trade and $2 below last week’s weighted averages. Look for […]

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“Not very appealing”: low crop prices weigh on Minnesota farmer going into planting

Mark Dorenkamp — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 16:52:14 +0000

Low corn and soybean prices concern southeast Minnesota farmer Ryan Buck. “Crop prices are not very appealing right now, so that weighs on a guy’s mind.” Especially going into planting season, he says. “To put a crop in the ground that (we might not break even), we might make some money or maybe we’ll lose […]

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Pork export sales decline after reductions, cancelations

John Perkins — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 16:42:28 +0000

Pork export sales dipped to a marketing year low during the week ending April 16th. The USDA says several of key trading partners did buy U.S. pork last week but reduced their initial purchases and there were a handful of notable cancelations. Old crop corn, soybean meal, rice, and cotton also saw week-to-week declines. Export […]

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High urea prices likely to linger

Jared White — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 16:35:12 +0000

An agricultural economist with North Dakota State University says farmers aren’t likely to see relief from high urea prices anytime soon. During a webinar Thursday hosted by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Shawn Arita says disruptions caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz will linger. “Even in the most optimistic scenario, […]

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Another outbreak of wildfires scorch Western Corn Belt

Kellan Heavican — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 15:56:01 +0000

Low-humidity and high winds have sparked another outbreak of wildfires in several parts of the Great Plains. Ag meteorologist Brian Fuchs with the National Drought Mitigation Center says numerous incidents were reported in Nebraska, South Dakota, Wyoming and Colorado on Wednesday. “Something that starts off small and then all of a sudden it explodes into […]

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USTR: Trade talks aim to expand exports for U.S. soybeans

Erin Anderson — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 15:43:01 +0000

The U.S. Trade Representative says the Trump administration remains committed to strengthening U.S. soybean exports. Ambassador Jamieson Greer says President Trump’s tariff strategy is bringing countries to the bargaining table. “We’ve obtained commitments for tariff elimination or reductions for soybeans and soybean meal in Argentina, Cambodia, Ecuador, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Taiwan,” he says. “We’re seeing diverse […]

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Biofuels supporters push for year-round E15 in farm bill amendment

Kellan Heavican — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 15:29:13 +0000

Biofuels supporters say they’re cautiously optimistic that a new legislative proposal expanding sales of ethanol will finally move forward in Congress. Brian Jennings, CEO of the American Coalition for Ethanol, says the measure —developed by the House Rural Domestic Energy Council – includes key policy changes. “I think on balance this is really well […]

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Potato planting has started in Wisconsin

Larry Lee — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 14:44:04 +0000

Potato planting has begun in Wisconsin, as fields start to dry out after a very wet April. Ryan Walther with Alsom Farms and Produce tells Brownfield they have three planters rolling, but they’re working where field conditions allow. “In our sandier fields, they’re a little wet but not too bad. In any of the fields […]

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