Brownfield

The rise in food prices has slowed, but consumers are still paying more for groceries and at restaurants. David Ortega is a food economist at Michigan State University. AUDIO: Healthy Living on food prices ...

An economist says increased European natural gas inventories have lowered prices, allowing some fertilizer producers to restart production. Teri Viswanath with CoBank tells Brownfield the gas scarcity measures that caused plants to shut down are no longer in place after a mild winter and rebuilding of inventories. “Yes, we are beginning to see more fertilizer in Europe with the restart of those plants but we are certainly not out of […]

Entomologist Dr. Emily Bick Photo: University of Wisconsin Emily Bick develops tools and strategies supporting precision management practices for insect pest control.  She tells Brownfield microphones have long been used to study insects. “Oftentimes, these are above-ground kind of audio recordings. What my lab has developed this past year, in fact starting in February, is the ability to clip on a microphone to a plant and start listening to the […]

At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live and feeder cattle ended the day higher supported by the sharply higher direct business during the week.  June lives closed $1.52 higher at $176.42 and August live cattle closed $.52 higher at $172.90.  August feeder cattle closed $.25 higher at $241.90 and September feeders closed $.05 higher at $245.00. It was a quiet end to the week for direct cash cattle trade following the […]

A food economist says the rate of food price increases is starting to moderate. David Ortega with Michigan State University tells Brownfield that doesn’t mean prices will revert to pre-pandemic levels. “Consumers are seeing some relief, for example, egg prices—those have come down, but overall food prices remain elevated,” he says.  “And so we’re still seeing consumers trading down, seeking out sort of cheaper alternatives.” USDA reports food at home […]

An economist with CoBank says the trend towards reduced gasoline use will have an impact on farmers and the transportation sector.  Teri Viswanath Teri Viswanath tells Brownfield as people transition to electric and more efficient gasoline vehicles, less gasoline will be produced and, “43% of the refining yield is gasoline, 28% is distillate and that includes diesel, so if you don’t need the gasoline, you may not be producing enough […]

The month-long planting season is wrapping up for a farmer in central Michigan. Jeff Thorlund of Greenville tells Brownfield dry conditions helped the planting season go smoothly for potatoes, corn, and soybeans. “We’ve had a dry month of May, but for planting it’s been great,” he shares.  “The soil conditions have been wonderful and soil moisture has been good. We could use some rain, but right now everything seems to […]

Jul. corn closed at $6.09, up 16 and 1/2 centsJul. soybeans closed at $13.52 and 1/2, up 23 centsJul. soybean meal closed at $397.80, down $3.60Jul. soybean oil closed at 49.50, up 164 pointsJul. wheat closed at $6.19, up 8 and 1/4 centsJun. live cattle closed at $176.42, up $1.52Aug. feeder cattle closed at $241.90, up 25 centsJun. lean hogs closed at $86.72, up $3.17Jun. ...

The United States Trade Representative has filed a formal dispute settlement with Mexico over its ban of biotech corn for human consumption and animal feed. National Corn Growers Association President Tom Haag tells Brownfield the filing that’s made possible under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement is long overdue. “When we started talking about this in October, this is something that we are happy to see, and this is what we’ve been […]