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USDA expects milk production to rise

USDA’s Thursday supply and demand report projects milk production will continue to go up in 2025.  That’s based on larger cow inventories and slightly higher milk yields per cow. Prices for butter, cheese, nonfat dry milk (NDM), and whey are all lowered for 2025... Read More.

Pork export sales rise from recent lows

Pork export sales bounced back last week. The USDA says pork sales recovered after two consecutive weeks of marketing year lows with Mexico buying nearly half of the total. Rice and soybean oil were the only other commodities to see week-to-week improvements in global... Read More.

Broiler hatchery numbers see another rise

Broiler hatchery numbers continue to point towards higher production in 2025 than 2024. The USDA says 252.417 million broiler-type eggs entered incubation last week, rising 991,000 from the previous week and 3% from a year ago, with average hatchability improving fractionally to 78.9%. 192.663... Read More.

Ag input uncertainties on the rise

Ag input uncertainties are causing stress on many farms. Central Iowa farmer Aaron Lehman says commodity and fertilizer markets are volatile. “Farmers are meeting with their lenders right now to finalize their financing and their credit for the coming year, and there’s a huge... Read More.

Broiler hatchery numbers continue year-over-year rise

U.S. broiler hatchery numbers had another round of year-to-year gains last week. The USDA says 251.452 million broiler-type eggs were set into incubation, a rise of 992,000 on the week and 3% on the year, with the average hatchability at 78.7%. That continues to... Read More.

Ag Economy Barometer sees surprising rise from last month

Despite current economic challenges, farmer sentiment rose significantly this month in the latest Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer. Jim Mintert with Purdue University says the survey was taken the week of February 10th.  “Of course, conditions have changed a lot since then, with the collapse in... Read More.

January cattle placements see year-to-year rise

The USDA says 1.822 million cattle entered U.S. feedlots during January 2025. That was an increase of 2% from January 2024, towards the low end of the range of pre-report estimates. Weather was likely a factor. Most of those cattle weighed less than 800... Read More.

U.S. cotton, rice ending stocks projections rise

The USDA increased its domestic cotton and rice ending stocks estimates. U.S. rice stocks are now pegged at 47 million hundredweight, up 3.5 million from January on higher imports and lower exports, which canceled out a gain in the domestic and residual use guess.... Read More.

Ethanol production, stocks rise on week, year

U.S. ethanol production roared back last week. The U.S. Energy Information Administration says production averaged 1.112 million barrels per day, up 97,000 on the week and 79,000 on the year. That week-to-week rise was due to a combination of better weather and slightly better... Read More.

Another rise in broiler sets, placements

The USDA’s reporting another year-over-year gain in broiler sets and placements as producers try to meet demand. 249.708 million broiler-type eggs entered incubation last week, rising 1.745 million on the week and 4% on the year, with average hatchability at 79%. 192.137 million broiler-type... Read More.

Ethanol production creeps higher, stocks rise

U.S. ethanol production was up modestly over the past week. The U.S. Energy Information Administration says production averaged 1.099 million barrels per day, up 4,000 on the week as plants try to meet expected demand and 281,000 on the year, when production was restricted... Read More.

Broiler sets, placements dip on week, rise on year

Broiler sets and placements in early 2025 continue to run ahead of the 2024 pace. The USDA says 249.32 million broiler type eggs were set into incubation last week, falling 71,000 from the previous week, but rising 4% on the year, with average hatchability... Read More.