Twenty-one Wisconsin counties have been designated by Ag Secretary Perdue as primary natural disaster areas. That means producers in those counties can apply for low interest FSA loans from losses caused by winterkill, rain, freezing rain, cold and snow in the first five months of this year. The deadline to apply is March 25th, 2020. …
Category: Ag News
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Aug 01
Analyst sees USDA decrease corn acres 5 to 6 million
A market analyst expects the USDA to reduce corn acreage five to six million following a resurvey of U.S. planted acres. Mike Zuzolo with Global Commodity Analytics says this was a historically bad spring to get a crop in. “I think this is where the trade is really seeing a disconnect from what we’re trading …
Aug 01
Federal farm payments are high, but not a record
Agriculture economist David Widmar says the latest Market Facilitation Program outlay results in direct farm payments being higher than in recent memory, but not at record levels. Widmar, the co-founder of Ag Economic Insights, tells Brownfield MFP 2.0 payments bring early estimates for 2019 federal farm payments to about $21 billion. “If we were to …
Aug 01
Soybeans sink on China questions
Soybeans were sharply lower on fund and technical selling. China did buy old and new crop U.S. beans ahead of the recent trade talks, but nothing since, even with a pledge to buy more U.S. ag goods. President Trump has announced new 10% tariffs on $300 billion in Chinese goods will go into effect September …
Aug 01
Hog futures drop on new tariff talk
Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures were higher, waiting to see how much direct trade is left to be done this week. August was up $.97 at $107.87 and October was $1.07 higher at $108.72. Feeder cattle were lower on technical selling. August was down $.30 at $141.22 and September was $.92 lower at $141.52. …
Aug 01
Warm conditions speed up some crop development
A southern Indiana farmer says recent hot and humid conditions have boosted crop development in his area. David Ring grows corn, soybeans, and wheat in Dubois County. “Two weeks ago we had a heat index of like 109 or 110 and we had some moisture and the corn and soybeans actually started growing,” he …
Aug 01
Critical time to scout soybeans for defoliators
An integrated pest management specialist is encouraging growers to scout soybean fields for insects. Bruce Potter with University of Minnesota Extension says the crop becomes more susceptible as it goes through its reproductive phase. “They can tolerate a little less defoliation now than they could earlier. There’s not as many leaves to be put on …
Aug 01
Canadian farmer is in third year of growing organic industrial hemp
Adam Ornawka discussed his experience with organic hemp production at the recent Iowa Farm Bureau Economic Summit. A Canadian farmer who has been growing organic industrial hemp for grain for the past three years says it’s “definitely been a learning curve”. “It’s not quite as simple as putting some seeds in the ground and rounding them up …
Aug 01
Falling ag economy impacting farmers’ mental health
A farm succession planner says the crippling ag economy is having an impact on farmers’ mental health and she’s encouraging those who are struggling to make an appointment. “I receive a lot of phone calls and emails from people who are in desperate times. Whether they are worried about paying foreclosure or bankruptcy. I have …
Aug 01
Study shows Beef Checkoff’s returns continue to grow
A new economic analysis of the Beef Checkoff shows the beef industry is seeing a significant return on investment. Cornell University economics professor Dr. Harry Kaiser, who conducted the study, says revenue generated from the checkoff ultimately makes its way back to producers. “The average dollar that is invested in these programs return $11.91 back …