Brownfield Ag News

Trade policy expert calls for reduction of EU dairy compliance rules

Erin Anderson — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 19:33:40 +0000

A trade policy expert says the European Union’s new due-diligence requirements are increasing the costs for U.S. dairy farmers and processors. “We shouldn’t be adhering to European rules,” she says. “We should be adhering to US rules.” Becky Rasdall Vargas with the International Dairy Foods Association says the industry is already feeling the impact of […]

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Illinois Governor’s executive order could bring farmers savings through extension of Illinois Harvest Permits

Jared White — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 19:11:06 +0000

The associate director of transportation and infrastructure with the Illinois Farm Bureau says Governor J.B. Pritzker’s consideration of extending the Illinois Harvest Permit program into 2027 would mean transportation savings for farmers at a time of record high diesel costs. Rodney Knittel says the program allows heavier truck weights on specified routes in the […]

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Farmers concerned Brazil’s cost advantage could continue to impact U.S. export competitiveness

Erin Anderson — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 19:10:22 +0000

An ag economist says farmers surveyed in the latest Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer are concerned Brazil’s competitive advantage could have an impact on U.S. soybean exports in 2027. Joana Colussi with Purdue’s Center for Commercial Agriculture says their current soybean crop is projected to be one of the largest on record, but, “It’s planting […]

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Increased beef imports boosting freezer beef demand

Jared White — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 17:02:58 +0000

A southern Wisconsin producer says talk of increased beef imports have been good for his freezer beef business. Doug Rebout, who raises corn, soybeans, and cattle in Rock County, tells Brownfield, “That part of our market has picked up here recently.” He says, “I get a lot of calls from people that just heard about […]

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Cheese blocks rise, butter drops Thursday at CME

Erin Anderson — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 16:52:38 +0000

Cash dairy prices were mixed Thursday at the CME. Dry whey was unchanged at $0.85. No sales were reported. Forty-pound cheese blocks were up $0.0150 to $1.3550. Twelve sales were reported ranging from $1.34 to $1.3575. Cheese barrels were unchanged at $1.4525. No sales were reported. Butter was down $0.04 to $1.25. Two sales were reported at that […]

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Midday cash livestock markets

Brent Barnett — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 16:50:22 +0000

Direct cash cattle trade activity continues to be quiet on Thursday, but packer interest should begin to develop at any time now. Asking prices this week have been noted at $228 to $230 live in Nebraska and $350 dressed. Boxed beef was lower at midday with Choice down $.75 at $374.87 and Select $2.12 lower […]

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Mexico continues to drive U.S. corn export sales

John Perkins — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 16:40:52 +0000

Corn export sales were above average during the week ending October 1st. The USDA says the big buyers of corn were key trading partners Mexico and Colombia. Relatively high corn prices have limited global demand over the past month, but Mexico and Colombia remain consistent, representing two of the largest markets for U.S. corn. Wheat […]

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Slow soybean harvest reveals drought impact in Kansas

Kellan Heavican — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 16:38:20 +0000

A central Kansas farmer says it’s been a sluggish and disappointing start to soybean harvest. Rick Schlender says yields are well below trend-line from this year’s drought. “The heat during pod set and fill period has hurt us in that regard. Irrigated is going to be all over the board. We’d be fortunate to see […]

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Fuel costs a key factor for next year’s irrigation budget

Kellan Heavican — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 16:10:59 +0000

A south-central Nebraska farmer says higher fuel costs could raise next year’s irrigation expenses. Randy Uhrmacher says now is usually the time when he locks in diesel fuel. “You’re talking some serious dollars. Watch fuel prices and see what happens from here. Maybe there is an opportunity to lock some of that in too at […]

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Purdue’s College of Veterinary Medicine and One Health Innovation District expansion aims to strengthen workforce pipeline

Erin Anderson — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 15:50:00 +0000

The dean of Purdue University’s College of Veterinary Medicine says the development of the One Health Research Institute could help address the industry’s labor shortage. Dr. Bret Marsh says the effort is part of a larger statewide push to increase workforce retention. “It’ll be attractive to students, faculty, and staff,” he says. “We’re looking at the potential for […]

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Rollins says temporary imports helping consumers at meat counter

Brent Barnett — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 15:25:28 +0000

Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins says President Trump’s temporary increase in imported ground beef supplies is helping lower prices for consumers. “We have seen some relief,” Rollins said. Speaking to reporters at a farm in Prairie City, Iowa on Tuesday, Rollins didn’t cite specific beef price data but said the president’s import directive is producing results. […]

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A good year for the covers

Jared White — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 14:53:59 +0000

A pair of Illinois farmers say it’s been a good fall for cover crop seeding. Kris Reynolds, who’s finished his corn and soybean harvest in Montgomery County, says he’s begun planting cereal rye in fields that didn’t have cover crops seeded into standing crops with a drone. “Those fields started greening up.” He says, “If […]

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Tropical systems may impact harvest weather outlook

Brent Barnett — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 14:34:23 +0000

An ag meteorologist says he’s monitoring some hurricane activity that could impact upcoming weather conditions for Midwestern farmers. Drew Lerner, senior agricultural meteorologist with World Weather Incorporated, says Hurricane Isaias is moving through the Gulf of America and could bring additional rainfall to parts of the Eastern Corn Belt after making landfall. “The remnants will […]

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Using Decision Science to Plan for Next Season

Brynn Jankowski — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 13:46:45 +0000

As harvest continues across much of the Corn Belt, growers are collecting valuable information that can help shape decisions for next season. On this episode of Digging into Innovation, Justin Welch, head of commercial agronomy for Syngenta Seeds, discusses how farmers can use decision science when they sit down to plan for 2027.

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Near-ideal, early-autumn weather across the Heartland

Greg Soulje — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 11:45:00 +0000

Across the Corn Belt, warmer conditions across the Ohio Valley and lower Great Lakes are helping to push late-developing summer crops closer to maturity. Later Wednesday, high temperatures will approach 90°F as far north as the mid-Mississippi Valley. Where crops are fully mature, mainly across the southern and western Corn Belt, producers in all but […]

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

Greg Soulje — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 11:15:00 +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 an area stretching from the northern Great Basin to the northern High Plains. Meanwhile, drier-than-normal weather should be limited to northern California and the Pacific Northwest.

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Brownfield Ag Weather Today

Greg Soulje — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 11:00:00 +0000

Recently formed Tropical Storm Isaias is expected to rapidly intensify and become a hurricane while accelerating northeastward, then northward, toward the U.S. Gulf Coast. Isaias’ initial position estimate is about 580 miles southwest of the mouth of the Mississippi River. U.S. landfall is forecast to occur late Friday or early Saturday, with areas from southeastern […]

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Midwest farmers report sprouting corn, purple soybeans during harvest

Carah Hart — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 21:03:51 +0000

Sprouting corn and colorful soybeans are showing up in some fields as combines roll across South Dakota, Iowa and Missouri. Jeff Kloucek is a crop consultant and farmer in eastern South Dakota. “There’s normal soybeans, green beans, purple beans, some that are almost black, yellow or a dark gold to brown,” he says. Kloucek says […]

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Soybean basis falls from recent highs as supplies reach crush plants

Carah Hart — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 20:53:25 +0000

Soybean basis is weakening at crush plants across parts of the Corn Belt following several weeks of stronger bids driven by harvest delays. Ed Usset with the University of Minnesota says there was especially strong basis in southern Minnesota and Iowa. “Here in the last week, I saw 50 cents over the November contract, up […]

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Dairy checkoff’s leader reflects on 25-year career ahead of leadership change

Nicole Heslip — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 20:52:31 +0000

The retiring CEO of Dairy Management Inc. says consumers have changed how they think about food since she joined the checkoff 25 years ago. Barb O’Brien tells Brownfield, “Trust is up nine points from a consumer standpoint, and that’s trust in dairy foods, in dairy farmers, in the category.” “The alternatives continue to decline,” she […]

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