Brownfield Ag News

Record high diesel costs cause farmer sentiment to decline in latest Ag Economy Barometer

Erin Anderson — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 19:36:27 +0000

An ag economist says ongoing financial uncertainty led to a decline in farmer sentiment in the latest Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer. Joana Colussi is with Purdue’s Center for Commercial Agriculture. “The growing pessimism about the financial prospects over the next 12 months is very clear,” she says. “Farmers are less optimistic about the country’s […]

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South Dakota eases dyed diesel restrictions following Trump executive order

Carah Hart — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 18:51:31 +0000

South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden is directing the state’s Department of Public Safety to temporarily ease enforcement of dyed diesel fuel restrictions on highways and public roads. The action follows President Trump’s executive order aimed at providing relief from high diesel prices through the end of the year. In a letter, he says the department […]

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Purdue, Elanco break ground on One Health Research Institute in Indianapolis

Erin Anderson — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 18:48:16 +0000

Elanco Animal Health and Purdue University have broken ground on a 150,000 square foot facility that will help strengthen the food supply chain. Elanco’s president and CEO Jeff Simmons says the One Health Research Institute will stand at the center of the state’s One Health Innovation District. “There will be new innovations or platforms of […]

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Extension weed specialist: Drilling cover crops can boost weed suppression

Nicole Heslip — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 17:49:08 +0000

An Extension specialist says using a seed drill can improve cover crop establishment during the fall and strengthen weed suppression the following spring. John Wallace with Pennsylvania State University Extension tells Brownfield, “If there are gaps in that cover crop stand, those weeds are going to fill that gap.” “In general, we typically see more […]

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Cheese blocks and nonfat dry milk move higher Tuesday at CME

Erin Anderson — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 17:26:06 +0000

Cash dairy prices were mixed Tuesday at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Dry whey was unchanged at $0.8350. No sales were reported. Forty-pound cheese blocks were up $0.01 to $1.3350. Eight sales were reported ranging from $1.3150 to $1.3350. Cheese barrels were unchanged at $1.4525. No sales were reported. Butter was down $0.0050 to $1.31. No sales were […]

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MO Corn CEO: state, federal dyed diesel waivers provide some relief for farmers

Carah Hart — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 17:14:44 +0000

Missouri Corn Growers Association CEO Bradley Schad says President Trump’s recent effort to provide relief from high diesel costs complements steps already taken by several states. “Having both of them in effect gives the allowability for more savings at the pump,” says Schad. The president’s executive order, released Monday, temporarily eases federal restrictions on highway […]

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Iowa temporarily allows dyed diesel use for agricultural transportation

Carah Hart — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 17:03:40 +0000

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has signed a proclamation to temporarily suspend state penalties for vehicles using dyed diesel to transport certain ag products on the roads. In a statement on social media, Reynolds said it’s in-line with President Trump’s recent executive order, and it will lower costs for farmers through harvest and beyond. Iowa joins […]

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New CHS Wisconsin soy plant brings optimism

Jared White — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 16:47:38 +0000

The president of the Wisconsin Soybean Association says the announced construction of a new CHS soy processing plant in the south-central part of the state is exciting for growers across the region. Doug Rebout, who farms in Rock County where the plant will be located, tells Brownfield, “I think it’s going to do great for […]

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Midday cash livestock markets

Kellan Heavican — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 16:21:52 +0000

Direct cash cattle trade activity remains quiet at Tuesday’s open with both bids and asking prices still elusive. Trade will likely be delayed until later in the week. Boxed beef is sharply higher with Choice $4.20 higher at $382.46, and Select $2.05 higher at $360.62. The Choice/Select spread is $21.84. At the Joplin Regional […]

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Michigan farmer turns to no-till to cut rising diesel costs

Nicole Heslip — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 15:36:41 +0000

A fifth-generation farmer says he plans to increase no-till management this fall to help mitigate the current cost of diesel. “If it doesn’t have to be tilled this fall, it’s not going to get it—definitely going to hold off on that a lot.” Michigan grower Brad Kamprath raises corn, soybeans, and wheat just north of […]

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Executive order aims to lower fuel costs for farmers, ranchers

Kellan Heavican — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 15:17:23 +0000

President Donald Trump is taking steps that he says could lower fuel costs for America’s farmers and ranchers. Speaking at a rally in Grand Island, Nebraska, Monday night, he said, “I’m going to sign a historical executive order to officially wave the off-road requirement and allow anyone to purchase tax free, red-dyed diesel for any […]

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Concerns remain around USDA staffing reductions

Jared White — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 14:29:10 +0000

The executive director of Invest in Our Land, a nonpartisan group aimed at ensuring farmers have adequate access to conservation support, says concerns continue to mount around staffing levels within the USDA. Rebecca Bartels tells Brownfield, “Twenty-three percent of USDA NRCS staff were cut.” She says, “We had farmers sending us pictures of their […]

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Boosting Corn Demand via Beef in Japan

Brynn Jankowski — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 14:24:52 +0000

For decades, the Illinois corn checkoff has partnered with organizations like the U.S. Meat Export Federation to help develop overseas markets for corn-fed meat products. In this Managing for Profit, John Klemm, a DeWitt County farmer and director with the Illinois Corn Marketing Board, discusses seeing these efforts firsthand on a recent trade mission to […]

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Near-ideal, early-autumn weather across the Heartland

Greg Soulje — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 13:45:00 +0000

Across the Corn Belt, dry weather accompanies a warming trend, with Tuesday’s high temperatures expected to reach 80°F or higher in many locations west of the Mississippi River. Although variable conditions exist, harvest activities are resuming in areas where crops are fully mature, and fields have sufficiently dried out. Still, only 25% of the U.S. […]

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While still mild for some of the Heartland, a more active pattern to return; beneficial moisture for the Plains

Greg Soulje — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 13:15:00 +0000

Looking ahead, the 6- to 10-day outlook calls for the likelihood of near- or above-normal temperatures and precipitation across most of the country. Cooler-than-normal conditions will be confined to portions of the northern High Plains. Meanwhile, drier-than-normal weather should be limited to parts of northern California and western Oregon.

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Brownfield Ag Weather Today

Greg Soulje — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 13:00:00 +0000

The only significant U.S. rainfall during the next 5 days will fall along and near the Gulf Coast, with a northward surge of precipitation expected at week’s end into the southeastern U.S. The late-week rainfall surge may be associated with a tropical cyclone, which is expected to develop in the next couple of days over […]

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Missouri celebrates Pork Month, highlights $2.2 billion hog industry

Carah Hart — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 20:59:58 +0000

October is officially pork month in Missouri. Missouri Ag Director Chris Chinn presented a proclamation from Governor Mike Kehoe to the Missouri Pork Association leadership at an event in Hermann on Monday. Missouri ranks seventh in hog production in the United States. The state has 3.3 million head of hogs, which contributes nearly $2.2 billion […]

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Michigan 4-H Beyond Ready campaign tops 60% of $12 million goal

Nicole Heslip — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 20:57:08 +0000

The Michigan 4-H Foundation says its $12 million capital campaign has surpassed the halfway mark. Director Abbey Miller tells Brownfield, “We are over 60 percent to that goal already.” “Through the Beyond Ready campaign, a large portion of that is focusing on our county endowment efforts,” she says. She says the initiative strengthens support for […]

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Heavy rains cause corn damage as northwest Missouri harvest resumes

Carah Hart — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 20:53:16 +0000

A farmer in northwest Missouri says he’s back harvesting corn after multiple days of heavy rain and there’s been some damage. “It’s not in every ear for sure, but it’s definitely in every field,” Ryan Meyerkorth tells Brownfield. “Some fields have it in percent, some of it 20 percent. We’re not able to look at […]

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Midwest rains exceed expectations

Brent Barnett — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 20:53:08 +0000

An extension agronomist says the latest stretch of wet weather brought more rain than she was anticipating. Meaghan Anderson with Iowa State University says fields have been soggy in both the Western and Eastern Corn Belts. “There are some folks in Illinois who were struggling with downed corn after their late storms,” she said. “Indiana […]

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