For Nate Meixell, Lake Crystal, Minnesota (Blue Earth County) Saturday, July 25, 2026. Filed by The MI Farm AI Desk. Weather, Blue Earth County, MN
What this means for today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Heat index values as high as 103. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Source: NOAA National Weather Service via the MI Farm AI weather layer for Blue Earth County, MN, pulled this morning. Hour by Hour, the day ahead
Source: NOAA National Weather Service hourly forecast and station observations, pulled this morning. Spray WindowDo NOT spray right now. Wind at your nearest weather station is about 13 mph right now, gusting 13 (the hour-by-hour table above is the NWS forecast, which can read lower). That is over the wind ceiling most labels set (glyphosate and fungicides cap at 10 mph, dicamba and 2,4-D at 15). It will drift onto neighbors or off your field. Wait for a calmer window. Grain and Livestock, corn, soybeans, wheat, cattleFriday's close. Markets closed for the weekend. These are the most recent settled prices; the boards reopen the next trading day. Futures board (front month): corn Dec 2026 $4.6425/bu (+0.0025, +0.05%); soybeans Nov 2026 $12.4800/bu (+0.1050, +0.85%). Chicago board, as of 2026-07-24.
Source: Chicago Board of Trade. Cal's Market ReadAt Friday's close, corn steady; and beans added about 10 cents. Recent trend, over the last 5 sessions, corn has firmed and beans have firmed. That is the backdrop your cash bid is moving against. Here is our read on why. Cutting the other way, demand still reads firm per AgWeek: Moisture-deficit concerns continue to add up across the upper Midwest. Honest truth, the tape does not hand us one clean reason today, so take this as our best read, not gospel. Stocks point higher into the open, S&P futures up about 0.1 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. AgweekTV Full Show: Oilseed boom, crops and heat, swine education, state fair ag ed
we'll see why canola and sunflower acres are up. Livestock producers need to keep animals cool in extreme heat and humidity. Stopping woody encroachment. A Minnesota farm celebrates 150 years.
Read the full article. AgWeek, Sat Jul 25, 2026 5:30 AM CT 2. Moisture-deficit concerns continue to add up across the upper Midwest
That means drought concerns in the region will continue. It'll bring dangerous heat and humity, but outside of isolated storms, conditions look dry for much of July. Jul 4 By AgweekTV Weather Weather pattern shifts as calendar switches to July StormTRACKER meteorologist Lydia Blume explains how June's cooler weather pattern will shift to heat heading into July. Jun 20 By AgweekTV Weather Mostly cool and dry conditions likely to persist into late June StormTRACKER meteorologist Lydia Blume looks at recent rainfalls, drought conditions and what the forecast for the next two weeks looks like in terms of temperature and precipitation.
Read the full article. AgWeek, Sat Jul 25, 2026 5:30 AM CT 3. USDA announces August reopening of Arizona port for cattle imports from Mexico
Beginning August 24th, the department says it will open the Douglas, Arizona port to cattle trade. "Are they going to be fat cattle? "And again, additional flight dispersal coming on the end of this year." Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins says following the reopening of the Douglas, Arizona port of entry, operational steps will be implemented simultaneously for subsequent openings at the Santa Teresa, New Mexico and Columbus, New Mexico ports. USDA says the reopening of the southern ports is contingent on Mexico's adherence to the Join Action Plan.
Read the full article. Brownfield Ag News, Fri Jul 24, 2026 9:09 PM CT 4. An Outdoorsman's Journal
That means more trail for future Ice Age Trail hikers. Moving rocks large and small to and from the trail is difficult but important work. An outdoor-adventures writer since 1989, he enjoys hobby farming, adventure and anything outdoors. Visiting an American-chestnut tree can still be a celebration even though it's not what it would have been 125 years ago.
Read the full article. Tri-State Neighbor, Sat Jul 25, 2026 1:00 AM CT 5. USDA to reopen southern border cattle trade
The department will open the Douglas, Ariz., port on Aug. "The closure of the Southern ports of entry for the last year has been a tough but necessary action to control the spread of NWS in Mexico and protect the American livestock industry. The plan includes coordinating with Mexico to track and develop a risk-based trapping plan, as well as support Mexico's hiring of over 500 surge staff for trapping and animal movement control. "Importing cattle from Mexico allows beef packers to better meet consumer demand given the tight supply of US cattle."
Read the full article. Agri-Pulse, Fri Jul 24, 2026 9:16 PM CT 6. Ag groups react favorably to Section 301 tariff exemptions
Trade Representative concluded its quick Section 301 investigation Thursday into allegations that 60 countries have not properly enforced prohibitions against importation of products made using forced labor. seed sector remains a committed partner in combating forced labor, and in supporting the innovation pipeline that empowers American farmers to lead the world in agricultural exports," Andy LaVigne, ASTA's president and CEO, said in a statement. jobs, manufacturing, and the economy," William "Bill" Murray, NCA's president and CEO, said in a statement. The tariffs also remove tariffs on UK whiskies; however, that exemption doesn't extend to all imported spirits and wines.
Read the full article. Agri-Pulse, Fri Jul 24, 2026 3:47 PM CT 7. Soybeans rise on weather concerns as wheat dips
Forecasts into early August for large parts of the region are hot and dry, potentially stressing the crop. Corn was mixed, while closing out the week in positive territory. France's AgriMer says 38% of that crop is in good to excellent shape, a dip of 2% on the week and significantly lower than last year because of hot, dry weather. IKAR now has Russia's 2026 wheat crop at 90 million tons with an export potential of 44.5 million tons.
Read the full article. Brownfield Ag News, Fri Jul 24, 2026 3:45 PM CT 8. Democrats poised to nominate Troy Jackson in must-win Maine Senate race
Hundreds of Democrats are gathering in Bangor on Saturday morning for a state convention to pick their Senate nominee after the primary winner, Graham Platner, ended his campaign earlier this month after a sexual assault allegation, which he denied. It's the first time Collins, from Aroostook County, will be facing an opponent who also hails from the same sprawling area. Ahead of the convention, Sen. Sahil Kapur Sahil Kapur is a senior national political reporter for NBC News.
Read the full article. NBC News, Sat Jul 25, 2026 4:00 AM CT 9. Governor Gianforte Cuts Ribbon at Multi-Use Ag Facility
"In Montana, agriculture is more than just our number one industry, it's a part of our way of life. The Analytical Lab provides testing and analytical services to analyze feed, fertilizer, pesticides, groundwater, and other samples used by producers, researchers, and regulatory programs across the state. Nebraska Cattlemen Annual Convention policy committees completed their work on Dec. This event has been held for over 45 years and continues to be the leading information, technology and research outlet for cow/calf producers [...]
Read the full article. Morning Ag Clips, Fri Jul 24, 2026 3:57 PM CT 10. Data and Drones Helping Farmers Squeeze More From Every Acre
Deepak Joshi, a precision agriculture specialist at Kansas State University, said yield data collected by combine harvesters is one of the most powerful tools on today's farms. That longterm view supports more precise input decisions. "Spray drones are not here to replace the ground rig," he said. This study was published June 6 in Environmental Evidence by a USDA Agricultural Research Service scientist and his Swiss colleagues.
Read the full article. Morning Ag Clips, Fri Jul 24, 2026 2:58 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 SafetyNever search for a hydraulic leak with your bare hand. Pinhole leaks spray fluid hard enough to inject it under the skin, a true surgical emergency even when it looks like a small cut. Relieve the pressure first, then hunt the leak with a piece of cardboard, not a finger. Source: National Ag Safety Database; Penn State Extension. Cal Local ObituariesWe note the passing of neighbors across your area, gathered from the local papers this morning. Our thoughts are with their families. Fraser, Edward, Mankato Free Press obituaries. Read the full obituary. Robert "Bob" Schneiderhan, Mankato Free Press obituaries. Read the full obituary. Natvig, George Lee, Mankato Free Press obituaries. Read the full obituary. Barbara Simpson, Mankato Free Press obituaries. Read the full obituary. Adam Johnson, Mankato Free Press obituaries. Read the full obituary. Dauk, Robert "Bob", Mankato Free Press obituaries. Read the full obituary.The Coffee ShopToday in Farm History, Soil Bank Act 1956 (precedent set 1936)On May 28, 1956, President Eisenhower signed the Agricultural Act creating the Soil Bank, the direct ancestor of today's Conservation Reserve Program. The 1956 program paid farmers to idle 28.7 million acres at its peak. The legal mechanism traces back to the 1936 Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act. Source: USDA Farm Service Agency program history. [CAL'S QUIZ]
Who was named the first Commissioner of Agriculture on May 15, 1862?
(a) Isaac Newton
(b) Norman Jay Colman
(c) Henry A. Wallace
(d) Justin Smith Morrill
Answer at the bottom of the Brief. [CAL'S JOKE]
The drone took a picture of the corn maze from above. The farmer's wife said, "It looks like a tractor." He said, "That was the design." She said, "You designed it?" He said, "With your help. You held the GPS. You always do."
The MI Farm AI Desk
Cal "Corn-Bread" Halvorsen, your AI Agronomist and Editor in Chief Quiz Answer(a) Isaac Newton (a Pennsylvania dairy farmer, not the physicist). Lincoln named him on the same day he created the USDA. Newton served until his death in 1867. Source: USDA history office.
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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.