Midwest

According to the Energy Information Administration, ethanol production dropped below an average of a million barrels a day during the week ending on March 17th.  That’s the first time production dropped below that mark in over two months.  Output totale...

Midwestern farmers are planning to plant more corn and wheat this spring.  An Ag Access survey said farmers will add 27% more acres to corn and 32% more to wheat.  A smaller percentage, at 17%, says they’ll increase their soybean acres.   The s...

The Energy Information Administration says ethanol output jumped to the highest level in more than two months while inventories again increased during the week ending on February 17th.  The EIA report said production rose to an average of 1.029 milli...

The winter wheat crop continues to be a challenge nationally.   “An interesting start to the season, not necessarily in a good way,” noted USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey.  He added it's been that way for several months, where many production areas, including the Northwest, have been very dry.  Rippey said some locatio...

Ask Brad Rippey, and he’ll tell you that it’s abnormally dry for this time of year.  According to the USDA meteorologist, the November 1st U.S. drought monitor, which shows drought coverage across the lower 48 states.   “Is 62.8%, a ten-percentage point incre...

"Presently, we do have drought in all three of the nation's major where we production areas.  The white winter wheat in the Northwest the hard red winter wheat across the Great Plains and the soft red winter wheat it's grown from the mid-South into the lower Midwest.” ...

When it comes to the latest winter wheat seeding numbers, the USDA says 40% of the crop is in the ground this week.  Meteorologist Brad Rippey said that figure is about 4%-5% behind the five-year average as well as where growers were this time last year.   “...

Between drought and input costs, the beef industry nationwide is facing a variety of challenges.  The University of Idaho’s Phil Bass noted following the slowdowns from the pandemic, larger packing facilities are running at or near capacity which is good news moving product out to customers.  But when it c...

Biofuel advocates and several state governors have been pushing the Environmental Protection Agency for year-round access to E15.  EPA administrator Michael Regan says several states are asking the agency for the ability to sell the biofuel without restrictions.   “...

Meteorologist Brad Rippey said when it comes to the Spring Wheat crop, the USDA continues to report a record slow planting pace. As of Sunday June 5th, only 82% of the crop has been planted; the five year average is 97%. Some locations, especially in the upper Midwest are well off those numbers ...