Crop protection became even more important in the very challenging 2019 growing season.

In this Managing for Profit, Dekalb Asgrow technical agronomist Jody Foutch explains how a tailored crop protection plan can help protect yield potential in both corn and soybeans.

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4-H prepares young people to be leaders in their community and around the world through hands-on experiences.

In this Managing for Profit, Jeanna Lemaster with Indiana Farmers Insurance explains the unique insurance needs 4-H’ers and their families.

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Many U.S. farmers are working later in life. “The biggest challenge for most farmers,” says Bill Corcoran, a financial representative for COUNTRY Financial, “is the lack of planning.” That, Corcoran tells Brownfield Ag News, is one of many reasons retirement from the farm is pushed aside.

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Peterson Farms Seed agronomy manager Adam Spelhaug says planting delays and a relatively cool growing season resulted in corn and soybeans that are developmentally behind. Crops are now being threatened by seasonally colder weather, and concerns of a killing frost are increasing.

In this edition of The Seed Difference Podcast, Spelhaug tells Brownfield a chart from the University of Wisconsin can help calculate crop maturity to a first frost to help understand the impact to yield.

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• This week in the markets - Live cash fed cattle were up $2.25 this week. Feeder cattle markets were steady to $5 higher for the week. December live cattle closed $0.50 higher this week while November feeder cattle futures closed down $2.00 higher as corn prices moved higher this week. The Choice Box Beef price fell $2.00 this week. Cash hogs closed nearly $3.00 higher on the week. December lean hogs closed down $2.55. Pork cutout value was higher this week, up $3.75, led by strength in bellies. This week’s pork cutout value remains $54.0 below year ago levels.   
• Restaurant Performance Index - The August RPI was 100.7 as the expectations component of the RPI recovered this month to register 101.2 for August. The same-store sales component of the current situation index fell to 98.6 this month and is one sign of customer weakness in this month’s report. 
• Jobs report – The economy added 136,000 jobs in in September according to the latest data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The unemployment rate fell to 3.5% in September. Average hourly earnings growth was lower than anticipated at 2.9%
• Next weeks’ reports – Monthly Trade Data, World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates, Retail Prices, and Consumer Sentiment.  

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As farmers are making their decisions for the 2020 growing season, there are some considerations they need to make.

In this Managing for Profit, Scott Jungman, Enlist field specialist talks about what farmers need to know as they prepare to battle next season’s weed pressure.

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Battling weed resistance is one of the biggest challenges for farmers each year. For a central Illinois farmer – that meant find a new tool to control weeds.

In this Managing for Profit, central Illinois farmer Doug Martin talks about making the switch to Roundup Ready 2 Xtend Soybeans and the improvements they’ve seen in their soybeans.

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Farms and other ag operations need special insurance coverage to pay for unexpected breakdowns. 

In this Managing for Profit, Jeanna Lemaster with Indiana Farmers Insurance explains farm equipment breakdown coverage and the value it provides for farmers.

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COUNTRY Financial insurance agent Josh Thill tells Brownfield risk coverage is often overlooked on one of the most important parts of the farm. “Really, on the farm,” Thill tells Brownfield Ag News, “one of your biggest assets are your employees.” Thill says farm assets are commonly thought of as land, machinery, structures and livestock, but he says farm employees are the most important asset.

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This week in the markets – Cash cattle trade was up a little more than $2 for the week and feeder cattle markets were $2 to $5 higher. October live cattle futures contract closed more than $5 higher, as the October feeder cattle contract. The Choice Box Beef price fell $4 on weakness in all components but ribs. Cash hogs fell nearly $1.50 this week and October lean hog futures are up nearly $5 this week. Pork value was up $2.55 this week, led by hams and bellies. 

Cold Storage: All beef was 6 percent below year-ago levels and only up slightly from the previous month. Pork stocks were 4 percent higher relative to a year-ago, but also declined from July. Loins continue to be the concern for the pork industry – especially as levels continue to run above year ago number, with the exception of January 2019. August loin inventories were nearly 39 percent above year-ago levels. The combination of beef, pork, chicken, and turkey for August were 80-million-pounds below year-ago levels. 

Hogs and Pigs: Kept for breeding was up 1.6 percent, which was near pre-report estimates. The all hogs and pigs number was 3.4 percent higher, near the upper end of the pre-report. Hogs in the 120 to 179 range and 180 and greater fell outside pre-report estimates and are the primary reason for the all hogs and pigs number at the upper end of its range. Pigs per litter for June through August came in at 11.11, another record high. While June through August farrowings fell by almost 1 percent and were outside the pre-report range and helps to offset the increase in pigs per litter. 

Trade: Japan signed a preliminary trade agreement. This could potentially kickstart progress on other trade agreements.

Next week’s reports: Restaurant Performance Index and Jobs report.

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