The one-year extension of the farm bill in 2023 did leave a bit of a sour taste in the mouth of legislators and ag groups that pushed hard for a new five-year farm bill. However, the one-year extension does serve a vital purpose says Mike Stranz, vice president of...
Despite a drop in key operating costs, Rabobank says contracted margins in 2023 will continue into the new year. Soybean farmers are likely to achieve good margins in the 2024 season, but corn farmers will feel their margins pressured by ample supply. Wheat margins...
There are many juggling pins in the air for the agriculture industry in Washington, DC. Yesterday we talked about the E15 situation with EPA, we still need a Farm Bill, and farmers need the tools to do their jobs properly and shipping lanes that are open for us to...
Spotty rain has entered the forecast in South America. While it would possibly be enough rain for our growing season, both Argentina and Brazil need significantly more rain than that. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the latest weather...
The December World Ag Supply and Demand Estimates showed that China will cut back on soybean imports. Mac Marshall, vice president of market intelligence for the United Soybean Board, said the slowdown isn’t a surprise. “Margins for hog producers have been tough...
As 2023 begins to wind down, members of Congress are already looking to 2024 and what will be a busy year for agriculture in government. Ag focused members of Congress have signaled their hopes of crafting a new five-year farm bill and are trying to create a blueprint...
Midwestern farmers thinking of diversifying their rotations with small grain crops like cereal rye, oats, barley, triticale and wheat can now apply for financial assistance through Practical Farmers of Iowa’s extended rotation cost-share programs. The programs – which...
We cover many stories throughout the year, and obviously, some take up more of our time than others. Some stories develop for a year or more. Sometimes, those longer stories are unavoidable, like the Farm Bill. Those are the stories you follow for almost two years...
Newly elected U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Chair Randy Spronk is looking forward to continuing his career of advocating for the U.S. meat industry. A past president of the National Pork Producers Council and the Minnesota Pork Producers Association, Spronk has...
There’s a little less optimism about the ag economy going into 2024 than heading into 2023, but the outlook for the year isn’t entirely gloomy. Instead, Iowa State University Professor Chad Hart said it may be a case of things returning to normal. “The idea is, I'm...
