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High input costs causing farmers to seek solutions on fertilizer

Farmers continue to battle high input costs. Craig Dick, with Phospholutions, tells Brownfield the current price situation for phosphorus is as bad as it’s ever been. “China has curtailed exports, Brazil isn’t really producing. We have the countervailing duties reducing imports of phosphate fertilizers into the...

Uneven crops causing storage concerns

Uneven crop development could result in challenges storing corn and soybeans this fall. University of Minnesota Extension crops educator Dave Nicolai says a wet spring stretched planting dates. “We end up with some mature beans (and) some not so mature green beans, and it’s...

Corn aphids causing concern

The outreach agronomist with the Illinois Soybean Association says corn aphids are causing concerns. Stephanie Porter tells Brownfield several areas are seeing elevated numbers of the pest. “The scary thing about the aphids is they can explode quickly.”  She says, “They do like cool...

Moisture, pests causing crop problems in Wisconsin

Weather and pests have made 2024 a tough year for many Wisconsin farmers. Pat Mullooly is the President of the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board, and a farmer in Grant County just a few miles north of the Illinois state line.  He says most crops are...

Excess moisture is causing some crop losses

A southwestern Wisconsin farmer says when it comes to moisture, 2023 and 2024 are opposite extremes. Mike Berget says, “This time last year, we were wondering if we were even going to have a crop, and now this year, we’re wondering if it’s going...

H5N1 causing minor death loss in dairy cattle

Iowa’s Ag Secretary says some dairies are experiencing minor death loss after herds have tested positive for H5N1. Mike Naig says among the eight cases in northwest Iowa, some livestock have died. “We are hearing about some death loss on dairy farms, but really...