For Mark Matuska, Milford, Iowa (Dickinson County) Friday, July 10, 2026. Filed by The MI Farm AI Desk. Weather, Milford, IA
What this means for today: Patchy fog before 8am. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. South southeast wind 0 to 5 mph. Source: NOAA National Weather Service point forecast for Milford, IA, pulled this morning. Hour by Hour, the day ahead
Source: NOAA National Weather Service hourly forecast and station observations, pulled this morning. Rain & Spray WindowNo rain at your field in the past 24 hours. The spray window is open. Rain expected at your field: Next 24 hours: 0.00 inches expected Next 48 hours: 0.09 inches expected Next 72 hours: 0.15 inches expected Source: NOAA National Weather Service forecast and NOAA radar rainfall estimates, pulled this morning. Grain and Livestock, corn, soybeans, wheat, cattle
Source: Chicago Board of Trade. Cal's Market ReadOvernight, corn slipped about 7 cents; beans slipped about 15 cents; and wheat added about 12 cents. Recent trend, over the last 5 sessions, corn has eased and beans have firmed. That is the backdrop your cash bid is moving against. Here is our read on why grain moved overnight, and honestly the headlines do not point to one clean cause. The China Is Back to Buying US Soybeans news from Hoosier Ag Today should support beans, yet beans still slipped about 15 cents, which tells us that story may already be priced in or that traders are taking profits. With no USDA report on the calendar, we lean on two likeliest drivers, position squaring ahead of the weekend and spillover selling that hit corn and beans while wheat found its own footing. Stocks are steady going into the open, S&P futures close to flat. A calm Wall Street is what your banker likes to see, it keeps the rate and input-cost backdrop behind your operating note quiet for another day. 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. Unique challenge chews at family
Here is a farming story most Iowans have never faced, crop damage caused not by deer but by roughly 70 wild elk roaming three organic farms near Black River Falls, Wisconsin. William and Will Peasley, whose Peasley Dairy Farm turns 150 this year, keep a camera trained on their pasture to watch the herd, which stems from elk reintroduced to Wisconsin back in 1995. The family is farming organically the hard way, no-tilling a rye seeded cornfield, drilling in a pasture forage mix, tine weeding and row cultivating their corn, while young Lena, age 5, stands as the seventh generation on the land. They plan to graze cattle in that field during the July 12 Sundae on the Farm event, so the full article is worth a read to see how they balance tradition, organic methods, and some very hungry neighbors.
Read the full article. Tri-State Neighbor, Fri Jul 10, 2026 1:00 AM CT 2. Proposed EPA rule seeks to end DEF deratements
The EPA under Administrator Lee Zeldin has proposed a rule that would stop diesel trucks from automatically cutting power when diesel exhaust fluid runs low, is poor quality, or tampering is suspected, swapping those derates for simple visible or audible warnings instead. Operators in Iowa, Nebraska, and Alaska had complained loudly about these slowdowns, especially in cold weather, and the EPA says the change could save up to $6,000 per vehicle on new truck purchases plus recover productivity lost to sudden speed drops on the road. The proposal also scraps a Biden-era plan to stretch emissions equipment warranties from five years and 50,000 to 100,000 miles all the way out to 10 years and 160,000 to 450,000 miles on 2027 models, keeping the current shorter terms in place. On top of that, it pushes a longer emissions durability requirement back from 2027 models to model year 2030, giving manufacturers more breathing room before rushing new products to market.
Read the full article. Agri-Pulse, Thu Jul 9, 2026 4:23 PM CT 3. Market analysts urge risk management
Market analysts gathered in Orange City, Iowa, are pressing corn, soybean, and livestock producers to sharpen their risk management as prices and input costs keep swinging. Their core message is simple, the growers who watch volatile markets and track expenses closely tend to catch more of the good opportunities when they come. The timing lands as the United States marks its 250th anniversary, with Midwest towns weaving patriotic celebrations and immigrant heritage into the summer season. For farmers, the takeaway is that steady practice and attention, not luck, separate the operations that thrive from the ones that just get by.
Read the full article. Iowa Farmer Today, Thu Jul 9, 2026 3:45 PM CT 4. WSU Uses History to Breed Better Cherries
Washington State University researchers dug into the handwritten records of legendary cherry breeder Thomas Toyama, who led the school's program from 1963 to 1985 and released 11 varieties including the well known Chelan, plus Tieton, Kiona, Glacier, Benton, and Selah. Publishing in the journal Fruit Research, professor Cameron Peace and graduate student Duygu Caymaz traced that lineage back to two main sources, a self fertilizing cherry called Stella and early ripening French cultivars, and counted 103 unique parents behind Toyama's work. Peace says knowing where traits like large fruit truly come from lets breeders avoid crossing two cherries that share the same ancestor, since pairing genetically different big fruit varieties is far more likely to produce something even bigger. Current WSU breeder Per McCord says the study confirms he is on the right track chasing larger cherries, longer seasons, and disease resistance, and the team now hopes to digitize Toyama's notebooks so today's breeders can mine them for even better fruit.
Read the full article. Morning Ag Clips, Fri Jul 10, 2026 4:51 AM CT 5. China Is Back to Buying US Soybeans: What It Means for Farmers and Prices
China has resumed buying U.S. soybeans after halting purchases during the 2025 tariff fight, following a trade deal between President Trump and President Xi that commits Beijing to buy at least 25 million metric tons a year through 2028. Momentum is building fast, with USDA reporting Thursday two flash sales totaling 256,000 metric tons, including 136,000 bought by China, while state grain company Cofco booked at least six more cargoes for fall shipment. This matters because nearly 40 percent of U.S. soybeans are exported and China has long bought about half of that, so its return is lifting futures and helped push January to March exports up 57 percent from a year earlier. Still, economists warn the rebound is incomplete, China made up under 30 percent of exports from September through March, high production costs could keep 2026 margins thin, and USDA is courting buyers in Egypt, Indonesia, Pakistan and Japan to spread the risk.
Read the full article. Hoosier Ag Today, Thu Jul 9, 2026 8:20 PM CT 6. Where History Spins to Life at Butte's Beloved Carousel
The Spirit of Columbia Garden Carousel in Butte, Montana keeps alive the name of the old Columbia Gardens, once the city's premier amusement park, blending a hand carved carousel with a community garden gathering space. Every painted horse and detail of the woodwork reflects an older artistic tradition that modern mass production rarely matches, drawing carousel enthusiasts who travel long distances to ride and photograph it. School groups come for the history and craftsmanship, while grandparents, parents, and kids of all ages find a slower, welcoming outing that pairs well with Butte's heavier mining history tours. It matters because it shows how a town can mix recreation with genuine community connection, and you can learn more or plan a visit at buttecarousel.org.
Read the full article. Tri-State Neighbor, Thu Jul 9, 2026 6:55 PM CT 7. Right to Repair Settlement Reached with John Deere
Farmers won a major victory on July 8 when the Federal Trade Commission joined attorneys general from Minnesota, Illinois, Arizona, Michigan and Wisconsin in settling a case against John Deere over its repair policies. The lawsuit claimed Deere illegally withheld diagnostic tools and information, forcing owners to use company dealers and violating the Sherman Act as an unfair trade practice. Minnesota Farmers Union President Gary Wertish, who thanked Attorney General Keith Ellison for pressing the suit, said members had fought for years for the right to fix their own machines or choose their own technician. This matters because it opens the door to a more competitive, lower cost repair market for your equipment, and MFU vows to keep pushing to expand Minnesota's Digital Fair Repair Act to cover farm machinery.
Read the full article. Morning Ag Clips, Fri Jul 10, 2026 4:58 AM CT 8. Preserving the Grit and Grease of the Past: Winamac Prepares for 49th Annual Antique Power Show
The Northern Indiana Power from the Past team is gearing up for its 49th annual Antique Power Show in Winamac, Indiana, running the third week of July at the Pulaski County Fairgrounds. This year's feature spotlights Hoosier built Oliver and Hart-Parr machinery, including a rare Oliver threshing machine that organizer Chuck Narr says has not been displayed in years, alongside restored Farmall, John Deere, Case, Minneapolis-Moline and Allis-Chalmers tractors. Rather than a static museum, the show runs live all day with steam whistles at noon, corn shelling, sawmill work, a 150 plus dealer flea market, a quilt show, a car cruise-in, and a Saturday night horse pull, with admission held at just $5.00 for adults and free for kids under 12. It matters because this not-for-profit is keeping rural heritage affordable and hands on for the next generation, and the 49th show is the final tune up before the big 50th Golden Anniversary celebration coming in the summer of 2027.
Read the full article. Hoosier Ag Today, Thu Jul 9, 2026 8:15 PM CT 9. Missouri ag tax credits extended, new laws ease regulations for farmers and cotton gins
Governor Mike Kehoe has signed a batch of Missouri agriculture bills from the 2026 session, headlined by Senate Bill 913, which extends popular tax credits including the ethanol and biodiesel retailer credits run through the state's MASBDA program. State Senator Jason Bean of the Missouri Bootheel, who chairs the Senate Ag Committee, sponsored two of the new laws, including Senate Bill 953 clarifying Clean Water Act rules and Senate Bill 1033 easing air quality permitting. That air quality measure cuts costly air modeling requirements for building cotton gins and exempts farm vehicles at least 10 years old from emission inspections, which Bean says levels the playing field and lifts burdensome standards off producers. Kehoe also approved Senate Bill 938, which raises land survey and recording fees to better fund the state land survey program and county recorders while giving the Department of Agriculture more flexibility on map and record pricing.
Read the full article. Brownfield Ag News, Thu Jul 9, 2026 4:18 PM CT 10. Malting industry connects farmers to growing craft beverage supply chain
Jeff Malkiewicz, owner of the Great Lakes Malting Company in Traverse City, has spent ten years shrinking the distance between farmers and craft brewers and distillers. His company contracts with growers who can clean and store smaller batches of wheat, rye, oats, and barley, then steeps, germinates, and kilns the grain to build custom flavor profiles. Backed in part by a Michigan Food and Agriculture Investment Program grant, the operation has grown its capacity more than sixfold to over 2.5 million pounds of malt a year. Malkiewicz says demand for locally sourced grain keeps rising because brewers want the storytelling authenticity their customers crave, which could open a profitable new market for farmers willing to grow malting grains.
Read the full article. Brownfield Ag News, Thu Jul 9, 2026 3:59 PM CT 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 SafetyFalls from bins, wagons, and equipment are among the most common serious farm injuries. Keep three points of contact climbing on and off the tractor, face the steps, and clean mud off your boots first. Most of these falls happen on the way down, in a hurry. Source: National Ag Safety Database; NIOSH agricultural injury surveillance. Cal Local ObituariesWe note the passing of neighbors across your area, gathered from the local papers this morning. Our thoughts are with their families. James 'Jim' Staver, Dickinson County News obituaries. Read the full obituary. Jacinta Williams, Dickinson County News obituaries. Read the full obituary. Harold W. Vugteveen, Dickinson County News obituaries. Read the full obituary. Gary Eakin, Dickinson County News obituaries. Read the full obituary. Charles Wiest, Dickinson County News obituaries. Read the full obituary. Frank Edmunds, Dickinson County News obituaries. Read the full obituary.The Coffee ShopToday in Farm History, FDR inauguration 1933On March 4, 1933, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was inaugurated. In his first 100 days he signed the Emergency Banking Act, the Agricultural Adjustment Act, the Tennessee Valley Authority Act, and the Civilian Conservation Corps Act, the legal foundation of every modern federal farm program. Source: National Archives FDR Presidential Library; USDA history office. [CAL'S QUIZ]
How long did it take the Pony Express to carry mail the 1,966 miles from Missouri to California?
(a) About 3 days
(b) About 10 days
(c) About 30 days
(d) About 90 days
Answer at the bottom of the Brief. [CAL'S JOKE]
The farmer got a co-op patronage check. He said, "Look honey, free money." She said, "It's not free. It's your money coming back." He said, "Then it's free the second time around."
The MI Farm AI Desk
Cal "Corn-Bread" Halvorsen, your AI Agronomist and Editor in Chief Quiz Answer(b) About 10 days. The service ran April 3, 1860 to October 26, 1861, killed by the transcontinental telegraph, but for 18 months it was how farm correspondence crossed the Plains. Source: National Park Service Pony Express National Historic Trail; Smithsonian Postal Museum.
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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.