An ag equipment maker says tariffs have been passed on to them and fears those “taxes” will become the new normal. Richard Dix, with Kinze Manufacturing, says hard decisions are being made, “I know that our ownership makes difficult choices on how to protect the farmer and protect their business and it’s a trade-off and …
Category: Ag News
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Apr 25
Economist: Walmart’s beef announcement is part of an industry trend
Walmart’s announcement that it’s setting up its own Angus beef supply chain is raising some eyebrows in the industry. But Iowa State University livestock economist Lee Schulz sees it as the continuation of a trend that was already underway. “We’ve seen major structural shifts over the last 15 years in meat packing, processing and retailing …
Apr 25
Soybeans, corn bounce off recent lows
Soybeans were modestly higher on short covering and technical buying. Contracts saw a light bounce and while China did buy U.S. beans last week, it was a relatively small amount, just over 200,000 tons. Cumulative purchases by Beijing have been far short of expected amounts, with the face to face negotiations resuming next week. According …
Apr 25
Northern Michigan beef herd confirmed with Bovine TB
A small beef herd in Northern Michigan has been confirmed positive for bovine tuberculosis after routine testing. Assistant state veterinarian Nancy Barr says the Michigan Department of Agriculture has confirmed a herd in Alpena County positive and farms associated with it will be undergoing an investigation. Alpena is located within Michigan’s modified accredited zone where …
Apr 25
Illinois farmer changing his planting strategy
A northwestern Illinois farmer says for the first time he’s planting soybeans before corn. David North farms 500 acres in Galva, Illinois. He tells Brownfield he has been waiting for the right opportunity to try this method. “In talking with neighbors and seeing producer’s production data, it has been an ongoing discussion for the past …
Apr 25
FARM program considering medication, dehorning guidelines
Dairy producers might have to follow new guidelines for pain management and disbudding calves under the Farmers Assuring Responsible Management or FARM program next year. Emily Yeiser-Stepp directs the program for the National Milk Producers Federation. She tells Brownfield one expected change is in the area of managing drug records for livestock. “What we’re looking …
Apr 24
Logistics is the challenge in supplying anhydrous ammonia
A fertilizer transportation specialist says anhydrous ammonia is hard to get because of logistical issues. “The issue has not been of product availability to this point,” said Chris DeMoss, director of plant foods and transportation at agriculture supplier MFA in Columbia, Missouri, “but more of transportation; to get it on a truck and get it …
Apr 24
Governor Parson asks for federal disaster declaration
Governor Mike Parson has asked President Trump to approve a disaster declaration for 13 Missouri counties so they can get federal assistance for flood recovery. The Governor says he expects the request to be expanded to include additional counties once full damage assessments can be made. Governor Parson says preliminary infrastructure damage assessments have already …
Apr 24
South Dakota farmer anticipates being behind
The latest wet weather has a Great Plains farmer concerned about how much longer he’ll be unable to do fieldwork. “That has everything at a standstill,” said Paul Hetland, referring to almost two feet of snow that’s receded leaving fields too wet to work. “There’s been no spring fieldwork in terms of fertility or planting,” …
Apr 24
Dairy industry seeking whole milk in new nutritional standards
The National Dairy Council is hopeful new research on whole milk fat could change the USDA’s nutrition guidelines for 2020. Dr. Greg Miller says research shows dairy products regardless of fat levels provide health benefits to consumers, but they have to have evidence milk fat is beneficial. “When we have an obesity epidemic, they continue …