Planting season takes a village
A rural sociologist says community support during the planting season can help prevent farm accidents. Dr. Florence Becot with Penn State University’s Agricultural Safety and Health Program tells Brownfield working long days to get crops in the ground contributes to increased physical and mental strain. “Tiredness increases the risk factor for more incidents, people may be […]
ExtensionBot here to help
An artificial intelligence chatbot is being tested by Extension programs throughout the country. Oklahoma State University Agriculture Dean Jayson Lusk tells Brownfield the online tool has been trained using Extension factsheets developed by land-grant universities. “This is an Oklahoma State product, but it is built on a larger effort of the extension services around the […]
Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: May 7, 2024
Jul. corn closed at $4.67, down 2 centsJul. soybeans closed at $12.46 and 1/2, down 2 and 1/4 centsJul. soybean meal closed at $383.20, down $4.40Jul. soybean oil closed at 44.50, up 66 pointsJul. wheat closed at $6.42 and 3/4, down 6 centsJun. live cattle closed at $177.62, up 65 centsAug. feeder cattle closed at […]
Wheat gives back gains as soybeans, corn close mixed
Soybeans were mixed, mostly modestly higher. Beans consolidated, expecting more planting delays in the eastern Midwest against a likely drier pattern in western growing areas. Planting did advance last week, just at a slower than anticipated pace, which has fallen behind a year ago. The trade is also monitoring the ongoing harvest delays and weather […]
Sen. Fischer says farm bill talks have paused
U.S. Senator Deb Fischer says farm bill discussions have stalled in the Senate. “We’re on a pause right now and we’re paused because my party, the republicans, we believe we need to have more farm in the farm bill.” The Nebraska Republican tells Brownfield the final version needs to protect farm safety net programs. “We’re […]
NCGA slams tariff increase on fertilizers imported from Morocco
The U.S. has raised tariffs on phosphate imports from Morocco and the National Corn Growers Association says the decision is disappointing for the ag community. NCGA President Harold Wolle tells Brownfield the Commerce Department recently announced plans to increase the tariffs from 2.12% to 14.21%. “It’s going to increase the price of that phosphate,” he […]
Nebraska Congressman confident farm bill gets done in 2024
A U.S. Congressman from Nebraska is confident a new farm bill will get done this year despite sharp criticism of the Senate framework. Republican Mike Flood tells Brownfield the legislation is picking up momentum with a likely markup in the House Ag Committee later this month. “I know there’s a real chance of a farm […]
An active pattern continues through much of the Heartland, largely centered across the Corn Belt
Across the Corn Belt, a line of thunderstorms is marching eastward across the middle and upper Mississippi Valley. In advance of the storminess, warm, dry weather in the eastern Corn Belt favors planting activities and other fieldwork. During the week ending May 5, corn planting in Ohio advanced from 6 to 26% complete. However, due […]
Southeast Minnesota farmer calls this “one of the most wild springs”
A spring that started very dry has turned extremely wet in southeast Minnesota. Collin Emery grows corn, soybeans, and canning crops near Northfield and says they applied anhydrous ammonia in mid-March and began planting corn the second week of April. “We got a really good push done, and it’s been one of the most wild […]
GPAC Softball all-conference teams
(Sioux City, Iowa) – The 2024 Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Softball All-Conference team has been announced after a vote of league coaches. This year’s GPAC All-Conference Team consists of a first-team, second-team, and an honorable mention list. Roni Foote from Midland was named the Hauff Mid-America Sports/GPAC Player-of-the-Year while Aliyah Rincon from Midland […]
