Category: Ag News

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Spring anhydrous

Nitrogen plays a critical role in corn development.  Many Midwestern farmers apply anhydrous ammonia in the fall to help recharge soil fertility.  But a wet harvest has forced many growers to wait for better conditions this spring.  Pioneer field agronomist Jay Zielske tells Brownfield compaction was common this past autumn while fertilizer applications became the …

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Analyst considers Electric Vehicles very over-hyped

An analyst dismisses concerns electric vehicles (EV’s) will soon displace fuels like ethanol. Pavel Molchanov with Raymond James and Associates spoke during the National Ethanol Conference in Orlando Tuesday. “Having covered all kinds of sustainable, green technologies for over a decade, electric vehicles are probably the most over-hyped of all these things.” While public awareness …

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Still many unknowns as China battles African swine fever

An official with the National Pork Producers Council isn’t convinced U.S. pig farmers will profit from the African swine fever outbreak in China. NPPC director of economics Dustin Baker says many unknowns remain as Chinese officials attempt to curb the spread of the disease. “A whole lot of opportunity exists, but there’s also a whole …

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Minnesota lawmakers hope to boost dairy farm incomes

The leader of the Minnesota House Agriculture and Food, Finance and Policy committee says legislators are looking for ways to boost the incomes of dairy farmers across the state. DFL Representative Jeanne Poppe of Austin tells Brownfield the dairy community is hurting and needs help. “And sometimes boosting incomes means having them pay less on …

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Delayed planting expected, especially in southern Illinois

A spokesman for the Illinois Climatologist’s office says it is accurate to expect planting delays this spring, especially in the southern part of the state. “The soil moisture levels across Illinois are in the 90th percentile or higher and this has been the case for the majority of the winter season.” Brian Kerschner says there …

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Producer sentiment is up following second round of MFP payments

The second round of Market Facilitation Program payments and the passage of the farm bill contributed to a rise in producer sentiment last month. Purdue University’s Jim Mintert says the latest Ag Economy Barometer provided the first opportunity to measure sentiment since the two announcements. “That’s consistent with the idea that producers are really feeling …

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Hoosier corn and soybean farmers discuss priorities with lawmakers

Hoosier corn and soybean farmers discussed legislative priorities with lawmakers this week. Northwestern Indiana farmer Natasha Cox says supporting the state’s livestock industry is top priority.   “We’re opposing some additional restrictions on the livestock sector- while we want to be good stewards of the land, we understand that livestock is the number one consumer …

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Green New Deal no big deal to ethanol industry

The leader of the Renewable Fuels Association says the Green New Deal is No Big Deal for ethanol.  CEO Geoff Cooper says RFA is still trying to figure out what the Green New Deal really is. “And I don’t think we’re terribly threatened or concerned about the omission of ethanol because there’s just really no …

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A different approach to the bottom line

The sagging farm economy has forced farmers to reevaluate how they look at their bottom line. In this Managing for Profit, Curt Hudnutt with Rabo AgriFinance talks about how they are coaching farmers to better understand their cost of production and how that impacts their farm income. AUDIO: Managing for Profit, Curt Hudnutt, Rabo AgriFinance Continue …

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MO Beef for MO kids is growing

More Missouri beef is being served to kids in a dozen school districts in the state.  The MO Beef for MO Kids program is a way for Missouri cattle producers to donate to schools and increase the amount of beef offered at mealtime. Mark Russell, head of the Missouri Beef Industry Council, says the goal …

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