The cattle market has pulled back from its recent highs.  University of Missouri livestock economist Scott Brown says the cattle market has turned sideways. “I’m not sure we’re done with record cattle prices,” he says.  “But we’ll have to wait and see given where we sit today.” But, he tells Brownfield, strong demand is likely to continue. “We’re really getting to the big part of grilling season,” he says.  “So, I want to see what happens the next couple of weeks and that may give us some strength in in some of these prices.” Brown says cattle prices have struggled to move higher consistently.  …

Looking ahead, the 6- to 10-day outlook calls for the likelihood of near- or below-normal temperatures across most of the South, East, and lower Midwest, while warmer-than-normal weather will prevail in Maine, peninsular Florida, and areas along and northwest of a line from Arizona to Wisconsin.  Meanwhile, below-normal precipitation from the Pacific Northwest to the northern Plains should contrast with wetter-than-normal conditions in the East and much of the southern half of the country. …

As rain, showers & thunderstorms sweep eastward via the Plains, the Midwest and Great Lakes area, the primary threat of severe weather will shift into the lower Midwest.  Subsequently, a new storm system emerging from the northern Rockies will race across the Midwest on Thursday and into the Northeast by Friday, with thunderstorms expected along a trailing cold front.  Five-day rainfall totals should reach 1 to 3 inches from the Mississippi Valley eastward, except along and near the Gulf Coast.  …

Tart cherry production was down in the United States last year.  Overall, 41 million fewer pounds were produced in 2023, with just 200.2 million pounds grown.  USDA says there was about one-thousand fewer acres in production, and yield-per-acre was about one-thousand pounds per acre less than 2022. Michigan leads the nation in tart cherry production with more than thirteen times the acreage and four times the production of second-place Utah.  Wisconsin ranks third in cherry production.  …

Farmers are encouraged to proactively manage high interest rates. Barry Benson, VP of Agribusiness banking at Omaha-based FNBO, says persistent inflation is preventing the Federal Reserve from lowering rates, meaning ag producers will continue incurring higher operating costs for interest expenses. “This will increase their overall break-evens, and in turn their profitability. So at FNBO we want to work with our customers to use as many money management programs and tools that they can keep their dollars working for them to limit their interest expenses, and overall return to profitability.” He tells Brownfield the Fed seems to be focused on the relationship between inflation and unemployment. …