For Mark Matuska, Milford, Iowa (Dickinson County) Friday, October 9, 2026. Filed by The MI Farm AI Desk.
Weather, Dickinson County, IA
What this means for today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. Wind 5 to 15 mph through the day (see the hour by hour table below). New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Source: NOAA National Weather Service via the MI Farm AI weather layer for Dickinson County, IA, pulled this morning. Hour by Hour, the day ahead
Source: NOAA National Weather Service hourly forecast and station observations, pulled this morning. Next hours, the forecast ahead
Source: NOAA National Weather Service hourly forecast and the nearest station observation. Wind this morning at your nearest weather station was about 5 mph. Rain WindowWe could not get a reading right on your field this morning. The nearest weather station (Estherville IA, about 16 miles northwest) 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: 0.09 inches expected Next 72 hours: 0.15 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 2026-10-09.
Soybeans Today (Nov 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 2026-10-09.
Grain and Livestock, corn, soybeans, wheat, cattleCal's Grain Call: Corn is $4.85/bu through NEW Cooperative, Milford, 74 cents over your cost to grow it (a consideration, not an order, 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 steady; and beans added about 6 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. Cutting the other way, demand still reads firm per Morning Ag Clips: USDA Announces ARC/PLC Payments for 2025 Crop Year. Honest truth, the tape does not hand us one clean reason today, so take this as our best read, not gospel. 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. Soybean discoloration reported in southwest Iowa as harvest delays continue
"It hasn't impacted the quality of the seed as of yet," he says. "It just needs to quit raining until we get it all picked." Schaaf says the discoloration hasn't resulted in dockage at his local grain elevator or processor. The seed coat discoloration is more of a light brown, which is closer to the color of the crush anyway. If you get into the purple stuff, it might become an issue." Sheldon says soybean basis has remained strong as harvest delays tighten supplies with some processors bidding as much as $1 above board price to secure beans.
Read the full article. Brownfield Ag News, Thu Oct 8, 2026 3:33 PM CT 2. Harvest Weather: Hurricane Isaias Threat Weakens, but Midweek Showers and Frost Loom
Chief Meteorologist Ryan Martin delivered his latest harvest weather forecast presented by Beacon Credit Union noting that the threat of significant rainfall from Hurricane Isaias has diminished compared to earlier projections . That will increase the likelihood of not seeing any harvest done in those areas over the Sunday timeframe, but it doesn't last long-termeverything should be gone by Monday morning . We're looking at anywhere from a quarter to one inch combined out of those with about 60 to 70% coverage . "And then for the week of the 19th, we go back to mostly dry conditions, at least until the next round of cold air dives southward the 22nd into the 23rd ." Producers can review Martin's full harvest forecast and daily weather maps on Hoosier Ag Today .
Read the full article. Hoosier Ag Today, Thu Oct 8, 2026 6:46 PM CT 3. Hurricane Isaias shouldn't impact Gulf export operations
Damaging winds in excess of 100 mph and coastal flooding are expected; however, minimal impact is expected for Gulf export operations, according to ADM Investor Services. Bloomberg said, "Shares of Deere & Co. and other farm equipment manufacturers plunged after the Federal Trade Commission and US Department...
Read the full article. Tri-State Neighbor, Thu Oct 8, 2026 4:29 PM CT 4. Ethanol a 'promising' option for methanol-powered vessels, study says
That's the takeaway from a report out Thursday on ethanol's potential as a low-carbon fuel for the global maritime shipping industry. The renewable fuel is an especially a strong candidate in relation to methanol. As low-emissions methanol production and supply ramps up, ethanol could bolster fuel flexibility and curb supply chain risks. "As underscored by this study, ethanol can seamlessly transition into the growing fleet of methanol-fueled vessels with only minimal adjustments needed."
Read the full article. Agri-Pulse, Thu Oct 8, 2026 3:49 PM CT 5. Nobel Peace Pize award goes to South African jurist 'Navi' Pillay, recognized for 'promoting peace and international law'
She was announced as the winner of this year's prize early Friday morning at a press conference by the Norwegian Nobel Committee held in Oslo, Norway. She will officially receive the award at a ceremony on Dec. She was recognized for her work in "ensuring that war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide are prosecuted."
Read the full article. Washington Examiner, Fri Oct 9, 2026 4:14 AM CT 6. Man shot by ICE in New York City
The New York Police Department (NYPD) first reported a shooting "involving federal law enforcement agents" occurred at approximately 4 p.m. in the Bronx's Marble Hill neighborhood, clarifying that city police...
Read the full article. The Hill, Thu Oct 8, 2026 7:12 PM CT 7. USDA Announces ARC/PLC Payments for 2025 Crop Year
Corn growers are expected to receive $5 billion in payments. The change will help better reflect the crops being produced on Wisconsin farms and ensure more growers can participate in programs tied to base acres. The WCPB utilizes checkoff funds to develop and defend markets, fund research and provide education about corn and corn products. The 2025 to 26 projected ending stocks in the April report for corn and soybeans remained the same as the estimates a month earlier, while the wheat ending [...]
Read the full article. Morning Ag Clips, Fri Oct 9, 2026 5:00 AM CT 8. Farmers Union Donates Pork to Second Harvest Heartland
The pork will be distributed through Second Harvest Heartland 's 1,000-plus food shelf and meal program partners across its 59-county service area in Minnesota and western Wisconsin. "Agricultural producers are vital partners in our work to end hunger, and we are grateful for the continued support of Farmers Union Enterprises." About Minnesota Farmers Union Minnesota Farmers Union works to protect and enhance the economic interests and quality of life of family farmers and ranchers and rural communities. This contribution reinforces Keystone Cooperative's commitment to strengthening food security. "Indiana's pig farmers care deeply about their communities and are committed to giving [...]
Read the full article. Morning Ag Clips, Fri Oct 9, 2026 5:13 AM CT 9. Tillage practices viewed from space
Department of Agriculture's Environmental Quality Incentives Program invested a total of $133.7 million in no-till and reduce-till practices, out of a total of $10 billion in conservation financial assistance. Tillage practices are a critical component of natural-resource challenges like soil erosion, and the consequences of erosion. Xiaocui Wu is a post-doctoral student and Kaiyu Guan is a professor in agroecosystem sensing and modeling at the University of Illinois-Agroecosystem Sustainability Center. Jonathan Coppess is an associate professor with the University of Illinois-Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics.
Read the full article. Tri-State Neighbor, Fri Oct 9, 2026 1:00 AM CT 10. Your Roadmap to a More Profitable No-Till Operation
The long list of more than two-dozen speakers at the 35 th annual NNTC, slated for Jan. 13 with in-depth exclusive workshops, including the following: Ray McCormick Diversifying Your No-Till System to Weather Tough Times: The Vincennes, Ind., No-Till Living Legend, who spoke at the inaugural NNTC 35 years ago in Indianapolis, shares the steps he's taken and what he may do this coming growing season to minimize the use of expensive inputs or eliminate them altogether. Get full access NOW to the most comprehensive, powerful and easy-to-use online resource for no-tillage practices. Provide expert analysis and decision support to increase productivity and profitability.
Read the full article. No-Till Farmer, Thu Oct 8, 2026 11:00 PM CT Around the WorldThe world news moving your markets this morning, the same read from Cal's desk that runs on your dashboard. USDA Grain Prices: Soybeans Top Cash Bids, Corn and Wheat Follow, News and StatisticsThe data, drawn from the official USDA AgTransport Socrata JSON rows, covers 45 latest slice rows spanning week 39 of 2026. Illinois followed with an elevator bid of 12.85 for soybeans, sourced from GeoGrain Subscription. Washington recorded an elevator bid of 5.16, Montana 4.34, and North Dakota 4.25 for hard red spring wheat. Soft white winter wheat was reported at Portland with a 30-Day to Arrive bid of 7.3. Great Lakes Toledo recorded a corn bid of 4.46 under the 30-Day to Arrive category. Our team will review your request and reply to your business email. IndexBox (via world wire). Read the full story.Local ObituariesWe note the passing of neighbors across your area, gathered from the local papers this morning. Our thoughts are with their families. John FolsomDickinson County News obituaries. Read the full obituary.James McCreaDickinson County News obituaries. Read the full obituary.Brad O'MaraDickinson County News obituaries. Read the full obituary.Donald 'Doc' RonsiekDickinson County News obituaries. Read the full obituary.Hank KowalikDickinson County News obituaries. Read the full obituary.Joe GieslerDickinson County News obituaries. Read the full obituary.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 SafetyWear a properly fitted dust mask or respirator in grain dust, moldy hay, and confinement barns. Years of breathing it cause farmer's lung and chronic bronchitis. A surgical mask is not enough for mold spores, match the respirator to the dust. Source: National Ag Safety Database; NIOSH agricultural respiratory health. Cal The Coffee Shop[FROM FARM HISTORY] Robert Bakewell breeding adopted 1936
Robert Bakewell's 1700s English livestock-improvement methods, line breeding, performance recording, and progeny testing, were formally adopted by the U.S. dairy industry in the 1936 Dairy Herd Improvement program. Average U.S. cow milk yield in 1936 was 4,300 lb per year; today it is over 24,000 lb. Source: USDA NASS dairy historical series. [CAL'S QUIZ]
When the USDA was created in 1862, what fraction of Americans worked on farms?
(a) About 1 in 4
(b) About 1 in 2
(c) About 9 in 10
(d) About 1 in 10
Answer at the bottom of the Brief. [CAL'S JOKE]
A stranger walked into the diner. Six farmers looked up at once. The stranger waved. The farmers nodded. The stranger sat down. The farmers went back to talking. That was the welcome ceremony. Everybody passed.
The MI Farm AI Desk
Cal "Corn-Bread" Halvorsen, your AI Agronomist and Editor in Chief Quiz Answer(b) About 1 in 2. In 1862, roughly half of Americans were farmers. By 1900 it was about 38%. By 1950, 15%. Today it's near 1%. Same country fed, fewer people doing it. Source: U.S. Census of Agriculture historical series.
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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.