Brownfield Ag News

New CME Group beef trim futures contracts provide risk management tools for the cattle supply chain

Meghan Grebner — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 21:02:12 +0000

The CME Group will launch two new futures contracts to help manage risk across the cattle supply chain. John Ricci, Managing Director and Global Head of Agricultural Products with the CME Group, says the new contracts will bridge the gap between live cattle prices and the ground beef that’s sold. “Think of the beef trim contracts effectively as a burger contract, right,” he says. “What we […]

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Wheat sees big gains on smaller U.S. crop estimate

John Perkins — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 20:40:23 +0000

Soybeans were higher on fund and technical buying, ending the week in positive territory. The USDA did raise U.S. production following the June acreage update, but old crop stocks were down and new crop was steady, despite that bigger crop guess. The USDA did increase export expectations for both the 2025/26 and 2026/27 marketing years, […]

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Strong hay yields reported across Missouri despite delayed harvest season

Meghan Grebner — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 20:28:32 +0000

The market manager for the Missouri Department of Agriculture says there was a lot of hay made before this latest round of precipitation. Tony Hancock says producers took advantage of the dry weather right before Independence Day. “I would doubt there was a piece of operational hay equipment in the state anywhere that wasn’t being used because everywhere you drove, and everybody […]

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Cattle futures lower to finish the week

Meghan Grebner — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 20:18:53 +0000

At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live and feeder cattle were lower, pressured by the week’s direct business. August live cattle closed $.05 lower at $235.20 and October live cattle closed $1.05 lower at $230.55. August feeder cattle closed $1.55 lower at $354.60 and September feeder cattle closed $1.97 lower at $351.02. There was a light […]

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Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: July 10, 2026

John Perkins — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 20:09:48 +0000

Sep. corn $4.39 and 1/2, up 8 centsAug. soybeans $11.91 and 3/4, up 14 centsAug. soybean meal $320.40, up $3.00Aug. soybean oil 70.46, up 54 pointsSep. Chicago wheat $6.40 and 1/4, up 20 and 1/2 centsAug. live cattle $235.20, down 5 centsAug. feeder cattle $354.60, down $1.55Aug. lean hogs $99.00, up 15 centsAug. Class III […]

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NFU, AFPI applaud Deere right-to-repair settlement

Brent Barnett — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 20:08:49 +0000

The president of the National Farmers Union says John Deere’s right-to-repair settlement is a win for farmers and ranchers. Rob Larew tells Brownfield, “There’s been a lot of promises made over the years from John Deere and others about truly opening access to farmers and independent repair shops to be able to repair equipment. But […]

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USDA beef, pork estimates down from June

John Perkins — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 19:54:38 +0000

The USDA has reduced its 2026 red meat production guess, while increasing expectations for poultry. Beef is projected at 25.288 billion pounds, down 150 million from June due to tight ready numbers, with an average steer price of $251.10, up $.94, against lower imports, exports, and consumption. Pork is seen at 27.955 billion pounds, 40 […]

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Increased ag drone use spurring insurance coverage options

Jared White — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 19:54:15 +0000

An assistant vice president of underwriting and sales with Nationwide Insurance says agriculture’s quick adaptation of drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles, is bringing with it new considerations for farm insurance policies. Justin Owens says a typical farm policy likely doesn’t cover drones and the inherent liability that comes with them. “Some farm policies today actually […]

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Stable land values drawing increased investment interest

Jared White — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 19:11:07 +0000

A certified real estate appraiser with Compeer Financial says farmland values remain relatively stable. Ethan Koch, who’s based in west central Illinois, tells Brownfield, “What we’re kind of seeing in our data is a lot of those values peaked in late 2022 and 2023.” He says, “I’ve seen about a 10% retraction from those peak […]

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USDA adjusts rice, cotton production projections

John Perkins — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 19:11:00 +0000

The USDA slashed new crop rice ending stocks, while increasing the carryout for cotton. Rice ending stocks for the marketing year that starts August 1st were cut by 11.9 million hundredweight to 30.9 million, primarily on reductions to old crop ending stocks and this year’s crop, but with higher imports. The production adjustment followed the […]

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Weather swings fueling tar spot and other disease concerns across the Midwest

Erin Anderson — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 19:04:50 +0000

A technical service manager says farmers are seeing increased disease pressure in their corn crops this year. Adam Bryne covers Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan with FMC says tar spot is on everyone’s minds, but producers shouldn’t ignore northern corn leaf blight and grey leaf spot. “Every two to three weeks it can go through a […]

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EPA proposes end to DEF-related engine deratements

Brent Barnett — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 18:52:09 +0000

The U.S. EPA has proposed changes to federal diesel emissions regulations that would eliminate vehicle deratements caused by Diesel Exhaust Fluid system failures. T.J. Wilson, deputy director of rural policy for the America First Policy Institute, says the EPA’s rule revision would save American truckers an estimated $12 billion. “It effectively ends deratements for new […]

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Western Corn Belt farmers prepare for rising corn disease pressure

Kellan Heavican — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 18:25:58 +0000

As the U.S. corn crop faces increased disease pressure, two farmers in the Western Corn Belt say crop health remains a top priority. South-central Nebraska farmer Mike Bergen says he’s budgeted for two fungicide passes on all of his acres. “Not sure I’m going to need it. If we stay really hot, I’m not sure […]

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Tar spot found in Southwest Wisconsin, growers urged to keep scouting

Nicole Heslip — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 18:23:18 +0000

Tar spot has been confirmed in Wisconsin for the first time this season. University of Wisconsin’s Damon Smith tells Brownfield the disease was found by an ag consultant in Lafayette County. “It is at low incidence and severity right now, so that is good, but indeed a first report,” he shares. “If we look at […]

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U.S. dairy exports jump 14 percent in May, extending growth streak to eight consecutive months

Erin Anderson — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 17:58:42 +0000

The senior dairy analyst with Terrain says strong U.S. dairy export growth continues to help boost producer profitability. But, Ben Lane says there have been shifts in demand. “We had traditionally exported powders and commodities like non-fat dry milk and whey powders,” he says. “Countries are looking for more of those finished consumer products like […]

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USDA cuts U.S. wheat crop guess further

John Perkins — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 17:23:15 +0000

U.S. wheat production has been hit hard in 2026 by weather and slow demand, which affected yield and planted area. The USDA now has winter wheat production at 990.475 million bushels, dropping 4% from June and 29% from 2025’s total of 1.402 billion bushels. With harvest ongoing, the yield is expected to be the lowest […]

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Cash dairy prices mixed to end the week

Erin Anderson — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 17:19:38 +0000

Cash dairy prices were mixed Friday at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Dry whey was up $0.0050 to $0.69. One sale was reported at $0.69. Forty-pound cheese blocks were down $0.0175 to $1.5475. One sale was reported at $1.5625. Cheese barrels were up $0.10 to $1.56 Two sales were reported at $1.55 and $1.56. Butter was unchanged at $1.65. No sales were recorded. Nonfat dry milk was up $0.0050 to $1.55. Twelve sales were recorded, ranging from $1.55 to $1.525.

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Purdue weed scientist: 2026 has been a “nightmare” for weed control

Erin Anderson — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 17:15:26 +0000

A Purdue University Extension specialist says weed control has been difficult for farmers this year. “It’s been a nightmare for trying to control weeds,” he says. Tommy Butts says variable environmental conditions have been impacting herbicide effectiveness. “We’ve been cool all year, so our crop has been slow to grow,” he says. “At some points […]

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Midday cash livestock markets

Meghan Grebner — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 16:59:12 +0000

Direct cash cattle trade activity is quiet following Thursday’s business. Bids and asking prices haven’t resurfaced and the bulk of the week’s business has likely wrapped up. There was a solid day of trade that took place on Thursday. Live deals in the South were at $248, $7 lower than the previous week’s weighted averages. […]

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USDA corn, soybean crop estimates rise as wheat falls

John Perkins — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 16:33:50 +0000

The USDA has raised its 2026 corn and soybean production estimates, while trimming the outlook for wheat. The larger corn and soybean numbers followed the late June acreage adjustments by the department. Corn is now pegged at 16 billion bushels, with soybeans at 4.475 billion bushels. The USDA left yields at 183 and 53 bushels […]

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