Y101.3 FM Sioux City

Early this week, a renewed threat of severe thunderstorms will be focused across the nation’s mid-section.  Five-day rainfall totals should exceed an inch east of the Rockies, excluding portions of the High Plains and areas along and near the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts.  Atypically heavy precipitation will fall in the West, extending as far south as the Sierra Nevada and the Intermountain West, while mostly dry weather will stretch from southern California to the southern Rockies.  ...     

A woman who grew up off the farm but became very active in FFA has been chosen as the 77th Alice in Dairyland.  Halei Heinzel was selected from the six top candidates.  She tells Brownfield that in her high school junior year, FFA experience showed her the many possible careers in agriculture. “With 12% of our careers in Wisconsin being based in agriculture, it’s absolutely out there for everyone.” Heinzel will work with current Alice in Dairyland Ashley Hagenow until the first week in July after wrapping up college this week. ...     

A central Illinois farmer says soybeans he planted in late February look great. Brad Wade of McLean tells Brownfield 40 acres were planted on the 27th, more on the 29th, and the rest of the crop was in by mid-March. “First trifoliate is coming out, it just couldn’t look better. We’ve been through a couple close calls on frost, but I think we’re over that now. So the beans look fantastic.” He says planting soybeans early gives growers the best opportunity to maximize yield. ...     

Milk futures and cash dairy prices were higher Friday on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.  June Class III milk was up $0.31 at $19.21.  July was up $0.21 at $19.26.  August was up $0.10 at $19.29. September was up $0.05 at $19.29.     October through December contracts ranged from four cents higher in October and December to ten cents higher in November.      Dry whey was up $0.0050 at $0.3950.  Ten sales were recorded, ranging from $0.3950 to $0.40.  Forty-pound cheese blocks were up $0.0025 at $1.79.  One sale was recorded at $1.7875.  Cheese barrels were unchanged at $1.88.  One sale was recorded at that price.  Butter was up $0.0175 at $3.0750.  Thirteen sales were recorded, ranging from $3.0675 to $2.0950.  Nonfat dry milk was down $0.0050 at $1.11.  Two sales were recorded at $1.11 and $1.1150.  ...