Category: Ag News

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Farmer says romaine recall hurts farmers

The president of Nunes Company, a California-based grower and shipper of romaine, says the nationwide recall is devastating to farmers AND consumers. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to those who are ill, we don’t like to see this,” he says. “It impacts our industry but it really impacts the consumer and we do everything …

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The nitrogen loss reduction commitment

Farmers continue to adopt conservation practices to benefit the environment and their bottom line.  One area that’s been of focus is nutrient management. From altering fertilizer applications to incorporating cover crops and buffer strips, investments are being made.  Now, a researcher is looking at those costs and the return on investment. Dr. Laura Christianson, a …

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Researcher expects big regional shifts in ’19 soybean acres

A soybean researcher is expecting farmers will plant a lot fewer soybeans next year.  University of Wisconsin’s Shawn Conley says, “Nationally, we’ll be down anywhere from ten to fifteen percent on soybean acres.” Conley tells Brownfield he expects most of those reduced soybean acreages will happen in the Dakotas, and parts of Minnesota because their traditional …

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Farmer says it’s a waiting game to wrap up harvest

Like many farmers in the Midwest who haven’t wrapped up harvest yet, Sarah Delbecq says it’s now a waiting game to get back in the field. The northeastern Indiana grower says wet and cold conditions have kept her out of the field. “The opportunities to dry out have been few and far between,” she says. “Now …

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Market not responding to harvest delays

An analyst says the market doesn’t seem too interested in what’s left of the 2018 harvest. Elaine Kub tells Brownfield basis bids are stagnant across the Midwest. “There are regions where there are still a proportion of fields that haven’t been harvested, and regions where the harvest got done fine.  And we don’t really see …

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Wisconsin soybean producers weigh options for what’s still in the field

Most of Wisconsin’s crops are in, but there are estimates that up to 10% of the state’s soybeans are still in the cold, wet, and sometimes snow-covered ground. University of Wisconsin soybean expert Shawn Conley tells Brownfield farmers should get what they can, but he says many farmers might be taking a loss on the …

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Weekly ethanol production, stocks slightly higher

U.S. ethanol production and stocks were up modestly last week. The U.S. Energy Information Administration says production averaged 1.048 million barrels a day, up 6,000 on the week, as the industry continues to wait for potential changes to the biofuel mandate and implementation of year-round E15 use. Stocks were up 139,000 barrels on the week …

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40 Square offers health insurance to Minnesota ag community

An independent business that sells health insurance exclusively to Minnesota farmers and agribusinesses reports a strong first year. Char Vrieze, executive director of 40 Square Cooperative Solutions, says nearly 1,100 individuals have enrolled in a health plan since January. “Members have said that they love that they own it, that it’s transparent.  They will be …

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Perdue remains hopeful of a Lame Duck Farm Bill

U.S. Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue says he’s still hopeful the farm bill can be completed during the Lame Duck. Speaking to reporters while visiting fire-ravaged areas of California this week, Perdue indicated House leadership is on the same page. “Between Chairman Conaway and Ranking Member Peterson, I think they’re pretty much aligned here.” However, he …

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Weather-related issues across much of the Nation

Across the Corn Belt, cold, breezy conditions persist. Excess soil moisture continues to inhibit fieldwork, especially in the eastern Corn Belt. On November 25, topsoil moisture in Ohio was rated 65% surplus. The U.S. soybean harvest, 94% finished by the 25th, is nearing completion at the slowest pace in the modern era. Since the mid-1990s, …

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