Asian longhorned ticks have been detected in Illinois; it is the 20th state to discover the pest. The tick was discovered in Morgan County during a routine tick surveillance. University of Illinois Extension educator Teresa Steckler says the invasive species can carry diseases that affect cattle. “All livestock producers need to be much more vigilant,” she says. “They need to get with their herd veterinarian and develop protocols using external parasite treatments to hopefully keep these ticks at a minimum.”   She says use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repe ..read more

Milk futures were higher and cash dairy prices were mixed Monday on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.  June Class III milk was up $0.21 at $19.45.  July was up $0.15 at $19.43.  August was up $0.04 at $19.34. September was up $0.04 at $19.39.     October through December contracts ranged from one cent higher in October to six cents higher in December.      Dry whey was down $0.0125 at $0.3825.  Three sales were recorded, ranging from $0.3825 to $0.3875.  Forty-pound cheese blocks ..read more

Rains continue to delay some planting across portions of eastern South Dakota. “Farmers always complain that it’s either too hot, too cold, too wet or too dry.” Near Lake Preston, farmer Paul Casper says he planted a quarter of his corn two weeks ago, but the muddy, puddled fields have delayed any additional work. “We dug around and the crops are sprouting, coming through where it’s dry on top ..read more

Some lawmakers remain concerned with the Biden administration’s decision to allow beef imports from Paraguay. U.S. Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska he’s worried about the introduction of foreign animal diseases to be introduced into the U.S. “We don’t think the administration did an adequate job with the inspections and the analysis. “We don’t think the administration did an adequate job with the inspections and the analysis there so we’re asking to make sure we got this right.” John Thune, a U.S ..read more

An agronomist says the varying rain amounts have some farmers planting and others waiting.  Aricka Wech with Pioneer is in southwestern Wisconsin, and says some of her farmers are planting and others are waiting for good soil conditions. “Some parts of my area in southwestern Wisconsin have received nearly five inches of rain total with some pretty intense pounding rains that have prevented folks fieldwork up until the last couple of days, while others have received less than an inch.” Wech tells Brownfield it may take a while for soil conditions to improve for some fields ..read more

Weather mostly cooperated for Nebraska farmers to continue spring fieldwork last week. USDA’s latest crop update says corn planting advanced to 22 percent, compared to 24 percent last year and 23 percent normally. Soybean planting is close to the five-year average at 10 percent complete. Sorghum planting is just underway, which is typical, and winter wheat condition is rated 63 percent good to excellent ..read more

Warmer conditions have helped Ohio planting progress.  According to the latest crop progress and conditions report from the USDA, 26 percent of corn has been planted, a 15 percent jump on the week and 8 percent ahead of the 5-year average.  Soybeans are 20 percent planted, up 5 percent on the week and 10 percent on the year.  Seven percent of the crop is emerged.     Winter wheat is 92 percent jointed, and condition declined to 71 percent good to excellent ..read more

Wet weather late in the week slowed planting progress in Minnesota. USDA’s latest crop update says 42 percent of the intended corn acres are planted, which is several days ahead of the five-year average. Soybeans are 17 percent planted, compared to 14 percent a week ago, 10 percent last year, and the usual pace of 19 percent. Sugarbeet planting advanced to 83 percent complete, well ahead of the usual pace of 33 percent ..read more

A southwestern Indiana farmer says weather has continued to be a problem. Ben Kron tells Brownfield progress has been slow. “We finally got rolling in the fields,” he says. “We got somewhere in the 25-30% range done across the board. I’d say most farmers in our area are kind of in that area. Not everything’s planted, but you kind of drive by and there’s a field here and there.” According to the latest crop report from the USDA, ​20 percent of Indiana’s corn has been planted, 11 percent behind last year and 4 percent slower than the 5-year average.  ..read more

Most dairy products had slightly higher production in March.  The National Ag Statistics Service says total cheese output rose 7.6% over February and one-tenth of a percent above March of 2023.  Italian style cheese production was up 8.6% from February and 4.4% more than a year ago with 518 million pounds produced.  American style cheese production rose 10% over February, but was 2.9% below last year’s March production at 491 million pounds. Butter production was up 5.5% from February and 1.4% from a year ago with 209 million pounds ..read more