For Kent Harfmann, Mantorville Township, Dodge County, Minnesota Tuesday, October 6, 2026. Filed by The MI Farm AI Desk.
Weather, Dodge County, MN
What this means for today: Sunny. High near 71, with temperatures falling to around 69 in the afternoon. Wind 6 to 21 mph through the day (see the hour by hour table below). Source: NOAA National Weather Service via the MI Farm AI weather layer for Dodge County, MN, pulled this morning. Hour by Hour, the day ahead
Source: NOAA National Weather Service hourly forecast and station observations, pulled this morning. Wind this morning at your nearest weather station was about 8 mph. Rain WindowWe could not get a reading right on your field this morning. The nearest weather station (Rochester MN, about 18 miles north) recorded no rain in the past 24 hours. Your own ground may differ, so check your gauge. Rain expected at your field: Next 24 hours: 0.00 inches expected Next 48 hours: 0.23 inches expected Next 72 hours: 0.30 inches expected Source: NOAA National Weather Service forecast and NOAA radar rainfall estimates, pulled this morning. Futures board reference (not your cash)
The board is a labeled futures reference, not your cash bid. Your cash and net after haul are below. Corn Today (Dec 2026 board)
Cash bid, your nearby buyers, ranked by net after haul, best first
Cash bid is each buyer's own posted local price (the local cash plus basis). Ranked by net after haul, best first (ties break to the shorter haul, then higher cash). Net is the cash bid minus the cost to truck it there. Patronage is money a co-op pays back on the bushels you deliver, often a few cents a bushel.
Local cash bids, as of 2026-10-06.
Grain and Livestock, corn, soybeans, wheat, cattleCal's Grain Call: Price a portion of 40,500 bu corn at $4.76/bu via Crystal Valley, Mantorville Branch (a recommendation, see the factors).Corn: Your 2025 bin corn has rolled to the December board, now its nearby contract, in October. Soybeans: The growing 2026 crop is new crop soybean; it prices on the November board.
Source: CME livestock futures. Cal's Market ReadOvernight, corn added about 12 cents; and beans added about 26 cents. Recent trend, over the last 5 sessions, corn has chopped sideways and beans have firmed. That is the backdrop your cash bid is moving against. Here is our read on why corn and beans firmed overnight, and honestly the headlines do not point to one clean cause. There is no USDA report on the calendar to move us, so this looks like ordinary positioning. The two likeliest drivers are the trade talk from the Hoeven and Boozman roundtable per AgWeek, and the round of moisture moving into Ohio this weekend per Ohio Country Journal that could slow bean harvest. Stocks point higher into the open, S&P futures up about 0.6 percent. A firmer tape eases the borrowing and input-cost mood your lender watches, though it does not move your cash bid by itself. Cal Wall Street, yesterday's close
WHY IT MATTERS FOR YOUR FIELDS Decision DeliveredYour decisions for today and the week ahead:
What to Watch Today
From Cal's News DeskThe 10 stories that moved across the wires since yesterday's Brief, sourced, dated, and verifiable. Each one carries Cal's review, the same one the news page shows, with a link to read it straight from the source. 1. Lean Hogs
Summary: "December hogs saw a slight decline in closing price but traded within range. Cutout prices increased today, but cash hogs and lean hog index remain weak. This is limiting aggressive buying following a two-day bounce due to gains seen late last week. COT data indicated that managed money net longs have been reduced, contributing to the weakness in the market. Despite this, the hog market saw moderate gains after closing higher on cutout prices."
Read the full article. Tri-State Neighbor, Tue Oct 6, 2026 4:51 PM CT 2. Live cattle market showing momentum
The live cattle market has shown momentum and turned upwards, according to The Hightower Report. This is indicated by the daily stochastics giving a bullish indicator with a crossover up. However, studies show that there is positive momentum but the market is now in overbought territory, so caution is necessary. The cattle complex closed weakly today, with feeders leading the decline.
Read the full article. Tri-State Neighbor, Tue Oct 6, 2026 4:51 PM CT 3. News Wrap: Cornell says Sally Yates will review handling of sexual assault reports
Cornell University has appointed former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates to conduct an independent review of their handling of sexual assault reports on campus. Christa Pike, the woman who survived a botched execution attempt last week, is reportedly awake and speaking. President Trump's suggestion that Iran could "take out" two cities in California has sparked backlash.
Read the full article. PBS NewsHour, Tue Oct 6, 2026 5:45 PM CT 4. Hoeven, Boozman roundtable discusses farm bill, livestock, trade and more
Senators John Hoeven (R-ND) and Pat Roberts (R-KS) discussed the farm bill, livestock, trade, and more at a roundtable in North Dakota on Tuesday. Hoeven pointed to improvements to safety net programs like ARC/PLC, crop insurance, and provisions for specialty crops as crucial for supporting family farms and ranches. The group discussed how Boozman's work with the Senate Ag Committee has improved transparency on fertilizer pricing. Farmers expressed concerns about trade disruptions, including high input costs, low sugar prices, and issues with Canada. Hoeven and Boozman expressed optimism that a farm bill can be completed after the midterm elections in November, and emphasized the importance of strong safety nets for the future.
Read the full article. AgWeek, Tue Oct 6, 2026 4:11 PM CT 5. Soybean Harvest Cab Cam, Mike Lutmer, Warren County
Soybean Harvest Cab Cam: Mike Lutmer of Warren County shares his soybean harvest update with Ty from Precision Agri Services. Lutmer explains why he is using a row crop header in his field and discusses the prospects for Ohio's hay crop. Despite gradual progress, corn and soybean maturity is advancing across the state.
Read the full article. Ohio Country Journal, Tue Oct 6, 2026 5:02 PM CT 6. Wisconsin reports new HPAI case in backyard flock
Wisconsin has reported a new case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a backyard flock, following a commercial case detected in Barron County last month. This is the second such detection this fall. The state is encouraging producers to strengthen biosecurity measures to protect their flocks and herds. Nearly 11 flocks have been affected over the past 30 days, impacting more than 520,000 birds mainly in the Upper Midwest.
Read the full article. Brownfield Ag News, Tue Oct 6, 2026 4:06 PM CT 7. Rollins says dyed diesel order will provide harvest relief
Rollins: Dyed Diesel Order to Provide Harvest Relief, President Trump's latest action on dyed diesel is aimed at helping farmers navigate short-term economic challenges during the harvest season. The executive order will provide $640 million in savings for farmers alone, according to Rollins. Iowa City farmer Jay Buline says the announcement came as a surprise but is welcome news. Story City farmer Zach Twedt plans to convert some of his over-the-road trucks to dyed fuel this week, while Vinton farmer Lance Lillibridge says the president's action was necessary because fuel costs had become unsustainable for many producers.
Read the full article. Brownfield Ag News, Tue Oct 6, 2026 3:47 PM CT 8. Ohio Ag Weather and Forecast, October 7, 2026
Ohio ag weather update for October 7, 2026: A significant round of moisture is expected to move in overnight from Saturday into Sunday, bringing rainfall to the area. The forecast calls for dry weather to continue through the weekend.
Read the full article. Ohio Country Journal, Tue Oct 6, 2026 2:56 PM CT 9. Ground Breaking and Game Changing: Elanco and Purdue Team Up to Build One Health Research Institute
On Tuesday, a new vision for animal agriculture and agbioscience took physical root in Indianapolis. Anchored by Purdue University and Elanco Animal Health Incorporated, leaders officially broke ground on the One Health Research Institute, a purpose-built, 150,000-square-foot research, incubator, and laboratory facility designed to bring animal, human, and plant health together under one collaborative roof. The institute aims to accelerate the delivery of real-world diagnostics, vaccines, and digital health tools directly to livestock producers across the nation. Purdue University will serve as the research and academic anchor, connecting faculty, vet med clinicians, and R1 research capabilities directly with industry partners. Elanco will act as the commercialization anchor, leveraging its global animal health expertise to bring emerging discoveries to market. The facility's unique proximity to Elanco's global headquarters creates an unprecedented ecosystem where startup entrepreneurs, academic scientists, and corporate developers can collaborate seamlessly. This urban research hub will directly serve rural communities and livestock producers by establishing a talent pipeline and collaborative model.
Read the full article. Hoosier Ag Today, Tue Oct 6, 2026 3:41 PM CT 10. Researching baboon 'soap operas'
Researcher Corinna Most studied olive baboons in Kenya and became fascinated with their complex social relationships. She now researches how young baboons navigate social dynamics within a troop at Iowa State University, where she serves as an adjunct associate professor and co-director of the Uaso Ngiro Baboon Project. Through her research and fieldwork experiences, Most helps students gain hands-on experience and contribute to the project's decades of behavioral and ecological data.
Read the full article. ISU College of Ag and Life Sciences, Tue Oct 6, 2026 3:28 PM CT Local ObituariesNo local obituaries for your area in today's papers. Cal's ReceiptCal's Receipt is the running ledger of every call this desk made for your farm, what was at stake, whether you followed it, and what it actually saved (or cost). Append-only, and every dollar cites its source. You will find it on your farm Dashboard, on the Farm Services desk. Open the Dashboard from the button at the bottom of this Brief. Today in Farm SafetyConstant tractor and grain-dryer noise above 85 decibels causes permanent hearing loss you never get back. Keep foam earplugs or muffs in the cab and wear them on long field days and around augers and dryers. Hearing damage is painless until it is permanent. Source: NIOSH hearing loss prevention; National Ag Safety Database. Cal The Coffee ShopToday in Farm History, Iowa farm size 1900In 1900, the average Iowa farm was 151 acres, worked by 2.1 family members, and produced corn at 35 bushels per acre using horse-drawn equipment. By 2022, the average Iowa farm was 360 acres and produced corn at over 200 bushels per acre. Same dirt; different toolkit. Source: U.S. Census of Agriculture historical series (1900 and 2022). [CAL'S QUIZ]
Cyrus McCormick patented the mechanical reaper in what year, slashing wheat-harvest labor by roughly 75%?
(a) 1809
(b) 1834
(c) 1847
(d) 1860
Answer at the bottom of the Brief. [CAL'S JOKE]
Why does a calm day before harvest make a farmer nervous? Because in farming, calm is usually the introduction. The plot comes second.
The MI Farm AI Desk
Cal "Corn-Bread" Halvorsen, your AI Agronomist and Editor in Chief Quiz Answer(b) 1834. McCormick moved production to Chicago in 1847 and by 1860 his factory was building 4,000 reapers a year. The McCormick Harvesting Machine Company merged in 1902 to form International Harvester. Source: U.S. Patent Office records; Smithsonian National Museum of American History.
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The MI Farm Brief is the independent daily farm intelligence brief that earns zero when you buy inputs. Cal "Corn-Bread" Halvorsen is the editorial persona of the MI Farm AI desk, the AI-orchestrated production team that produces this Brief every working morning. The Monthly Receipt is signed by the Founder, MI Farm AI. Honest. Independent. Loyal. Transparent. The HILT Covenant.*
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Signed by Cal "Corn-Bread" Halvorsen, Editor in Chief, The MI Farm AI Desk.