Brownfield Anchor/Reporter Amie Simpson will be on the ground in Washington, D.C. for the 2019 National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) Washington Watch May 13-15, 2019. Continue reading 2019 NAFB Washington Watch at Brownfield Ag News.
Category: Ag News
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Mar 15
Spring anhydrous timing
Pioneer field agronomist Jay Zielske says, like in many parts of the Corn Belt, rain and even snow across his territory of south-central Minnesota pushed farmers out before they could finish fall fieldwork. As a result, he tells Brownfield compaction was common while fertilizer applications became the exception. Continue reading Spring anhydrous timing at Brownfield …
Mar 14
Iowa has a new ag trespass law
Photo courtesy Radio Iowa Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has signed into law the ag trespass bill passed by the legislature earlier this week. The bill creates a trespass charge for anyone using deception to gain access to a farm with intent to cause physical or economic harm. “Untrained, unapproved and unwanted items or people entering …
Mar 14
GAO says USDA must prioritize FMD prevention
The Government Accountability Office says the USDA has not made procedures to prevent Foot and Mouth Disease in U.S. livestock a priority. The GAO recommends the administrator of APHIS should follow the agency’s standard operating procedures to prioritize corrective actions for FMD preparedness, monitor progress and track completion of those actions. The GAO says a …
Mar 14
Varying levels of optimism for an early spring
Farmers in southeastern Minnesota, like many in other parts of the Corn Belt, have varying degrees of optimism about an early spring. Brennen Toquam of Blooming Prairie says despite record snowfall over the winter and frequent rains this week, conditions can change quickly. “We’ve lost a ton of snow the last couple days. Now, talk …
Mar 14
EPA urges comment on new clean water rule
The EPA urges agriculture to comment on its new Clean Water rule proposal, “We really encourage the stakeholders, particularly agriculture, to comment. Read the proposal, comment. Let us know what we got right. Let us know what we got wrong.” Dave Ross, EPA’s Assistant Administrator for Water, tells Brownfield the goal with the new rule …
Mar 14
Industry reacts as EPA grants more refinery waivers
The National Corn Growers Association says the EPA has taken another step to chip away at the Renewable Fuels Standard and corn demand, “hurting America’s corn farmers.” The EPA, under new administrator Andrew Wheeler, has granted five small refinery exemptions for 2017, retroactively, which Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor calls a slap in the face …
Mar 14
Proposed Michigan Ag Department budget relatively unchanged
Michigan Farm Bureau says Michigan agriculture actually fared quite well in Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s first proposed budget for the state. Matt Smego tells Brownfield key priorities for funding the Michigan Department of Agriculture include $5 million for technology upgrades, $4 million to expand Double of Food Bucks and a three-percent increase for Michigan State University …
Mar 14
Corn firm, watching weather
Soybeans were modestly lower on fund and technical selling, after another up and down day. Nothing’s official, but it looks like trade talks between the U.S. and China won’t happen this month. No date for the resumption of discussions has been announced and several potential roadblocks, including intellectual property concerns, remain. China was the big …
Mar 14
Michigan’s ag industry takes to the Capitol steps
Michigan’s ag industry is educating legislators about one of the state’s top industries. Jim Zook with the Michigan Corn Growers Association tells Brownfield corn is the largest grain commodity in the state and it’s important for elected officials to understand its importance to the economy. “About 20-25 percent of the ground is used for corn …