Category: Ag News

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Weather concerns support grains, oilseeds

Soybeans were higher on speculative and technical buying. Some areas will be able to make near-term planting progress ahead of another round of rain starting this weekend. Gains were limited by expectations for at least some switch in acreage from corn or spring wheat to beans because of the persistent planting delays. Weekly export numbers …

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NFU urges Congress to halt ERS/NIFA move

National Farmers Union has written to leaders of Congress asking them to halt the planned move of two USDA research agencies out of Washington, DC. NFU President Roger Johnson says there has been no cost-benefit analysis from USDA to justify moving the ERS and NIFA agencies. He says the “haphazard process” to relocate the agencies …

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Weather, late planting might lead to more crop diseases

A University of Wisconsin crop pathologist says farmers might see more plant disease problems than usual this growing season. Dr. Damon Smith tells Brownfield, “These corn plants are going to be in a little more susceptible stage when we start to see some of these diseases show up.” Smith says he doesn’t want farmers to …

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Secretary Perdue confirms new trade aid details aren’t ready

Ag Secretary Perdue says the follow-up to the Market Facilitation Program is still in development, and he doesn’t know yet what farmers will get, or which commodities will see payments.  Perdue says they are operating conceptually now with the President’s direction to create a program, but details are not ready. “We’re trying to listen to …

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Increasing yields and profit potential

Margins are tight and growers are looking for ways to increase yields and improve their bottom line. But, there are some environmental factors that can chip away at the genetic potential of the crop to make that more difficult. In this Managing for Profit, Lynn Justesen explains how the Unlock 5 Crop Life Cycle Strategies …

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Ag groups praise Wisconsin Senate pollution clearinghouse bill

Wisconsin’s State Senate unanimously passed a bill that would create a central clearinghouse for trading pollution reduction credits.  Dairy Business Association President Tom Crave says Wisconsin has a unique opportunity to create a sustainable market that pays for better non-point source pollution reduction through new technologies, more effective permit compliance, and improved water quality. John …

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Severe weather headed for the corn belt

Brownfield meteorologist Greg Soulje says planting opportunities will be slim as severe storms move through the Corn Belt in the next week. “Probably multiple days’ worth of severe weather events from the southern plains into the western Corn Belt and upper lakes region and more to come in the eastern areas.” He says one to …

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“Another penny for corn farmers won’t cut it”

The National Corn Growers Association has issued a rare call-to-action for its members to contact the White House with the message that “another penny for corn farmers won’t cut it.” NCGA President Lynn Chrisp tells Brownfield Ag News the Trump administration’s trade mitigation payments last year – to help offset the impact of the U.S./China …

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Soybeans, corn up, but well below highs

Soybeans were modestly higher on speculative and technical buying but finished closer to the day’s highs than the lows. Most forecasts have more rain headed for already wet areas, further delaying planting, but some areas are expected to make progress ahead of that rain event. The continued corn and spring wheat planting delays have some …

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Senate to vote on disaster aid bill next week

Senate leaders will vote on a disaster aid package ahead of the Memorial Day recess.   The House passed a $19 billion disaster aid bill last week, but Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says it is partisan. She says the senate is working on a bipartisan bill. “We want to move ahead and make sure that …

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