Nicole Heslip

More rain across Tennessee has added to an already full soil moisture profile. The USDA says topsoil moisture increased to a 26 percent surplus, and subsoil moisture supplies have a 19 percent surplus. Pastures have benefited from the rain with 70 percent rated good to excellent. The USDA says 76 percent of corn, 44 percent of soybeans, […]

A young farmer says some families may need to diversify their operations to retain the next generation. Tera Baker tells Brownfield additional entities were necessary to support coming back to the family’s crop farm. “That’s led us to diversifying, starting the pumpkin patch, starting the you-pick flowers,” she shares. “We also started a precision ag dealership […]

Conservation leaders stressed the importance of technical assistance and local staff to support farmers at Tuesday’s Senate Ag Committee hearing. South Dakota farmer and past Farm Service Agency Branch Chief Lynn Tjeerdsma has been dedicated to conservation for more than 50 years. “If we don’t have the technical assistance that is available to us now, […]

Farmers can now sign up for continuous and general Conservation Reserve Program options through USDA’s Farm Service Agency. South Dakota farmer Lynn Tjeerdsma has had land enrolled in the program since it began 40 years ago. “CRP is no longer considered where we put the whole landscape in, the whole farm,” he says. “We need […]

A beginning farmer says riding in the neighbor’s buddy seat during harvest was his first step toward farm ownership. Zach Wagner tells Brownfield, “My parents had 86 tillable acres, and they rented it out to the neighbor.” “When I was young, my favorite day of the year was when they showed up to harvest the field,” he […]

An ag economist says rising input costs are expected to pressure profitability for row crop producers. Purdue University’s Michael Langemeier tells Brownfield farmers did see some relief when it comes to the cost of fuel and fertilizer in 2024. But, “Even though prices have stopped increasing as much, they’re still high compared to what they were prior […]

A national wheat contest winner says every management decision needs to have a return on investment. Jeff Krohn tells Brownfield yielding more than 170 bushels per acre of soft white winter wheat starts with ideal fall conditions. “We treat our wheat very, very well,” he shares. “We start early in the fall with putting some […]

CNH is partnering with Michigan State University and Penn State University to support education and research efforts using New Holland’s new fully methane-powered tractor. Product Marketing Manager Sean Dorosz tells Brownfield the T6 Methane tractor is well-suited for dairies with anaerobic digesters. “You have a complete circle of activity from feeding the cows with the […]

A mid-Michigan farmer says he’s planting more corn this season to hopefully offset lower commodity prices. Zach Wagner tells Brownfield he just started getting seed in the ground over the weekend. “We travel 62 miles from north to south, and up north it was two wet so that’s why we came down South, he explains. “That’s I […]

Michigan lawmakers are considering 15 years of digestate land application research from Michigan State University as hearings continue for pending bipartisan legislation. Anaerobic Digestion Research and Education Center director Dr. Wei Liao testified this week before the Michigan House Agriculture Committee. “We have a 15 wells on our southern campus, four of them exactly located […]