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USDA cattle numbers show ongoing herd decline
The USDA released its latest Cattle Inventory Report last Friday, just ahead of this week’s National Cattlemen’s Beef Association convention in Nashville. While the overall change in cattle numbers was modest, the data continues to reinforce a long running trend of tightening supplies across the U.S. beef industry. As of January 1, 2026, the total U.S. cattle and calf inventory stood at 86.2 million head, down slightly from a year ago. The report keeps the industry on a familiar trajectory, as...
Vilsack says pandemic was a wakeup call for nutrition insecurity
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack says nutrition security concerns grew during the COVID-19 pandemic.During a recent appearance at the Teacher?s College at Columbia University, Vilsack said his agency is concerned about nutrition security.?We learned from this pandemic, the...
Midwest 2022 weather concerns
Severe weather is a concern for the Midwest this year, as it always is. Eric Snodgrass of Nutrien Ag Solutions cited the December 15th outbreak as a sign of more severe outbreaks to come.?That December 15th event, it went from Colorado to Wisconsin and nine hours,...
USDA updates eligibility for Spot Market Hog Pandemic Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has clarified the definition of a spot market sale and hog eligibility under the Spot Market Hog Pandemic Program (SMHPP), which assists producers who sold hogs through a spot market sale from April 16, 2020, through Sept. 1,...
Congresswoman Hinson calls for nationwide waiver for biofuels
Not since 2008 have fuel prices been this high, and we have surpassed the records set fourteen years ago. The hit to the wallets of Americans is staggering, especially at a time when we are seeing high inflation on the costs for all our necessities, including food....
U.S. Export Sales Report (3-17-22)
This week?s U.S. Export Sales Report was positive overall. Allendale?s Director of Brokerage Mike Lung said corn exports exceeded expectations, while soybeans came within expectations.?Corn beat expectations, coming in at 2,040- the high end was 1,600- and soybeans...
Heads Up helping producers combat white mold and SDS
Heads Up Plant Protectants is making sure farmers have another tool in the toolbox when it comes to battling sudden death syndrome and white mold.Colin Dutcheshen, vice president of Heads Up Plant Protectants, says their Canadian-based family company manufactures...
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Omnibus bill included pesticide registration improvement act
The recently-passed omnibus spending legislation contained the reauthorization of the Pesticide Registration Improvement Act, something important to CropLife America. The organization says it will strengthen and improve the Environmental Protection Agency?s pesticide...
U.S. beef exports set record in 2022 while pork rebounded
America?s beef exports will set a record in 2022 as sales totals are expected to reach $12 billion when all shipments are tallied. While demand growth in China played a significant part, U.S. Meat Export Federation President and CEO Dan Halstrom said the U.S. beef...
LG Seeds agronomist talks 2023 preparations
In the state of Iowa, Mother Nature gave us an interesting year. You either saw the right amount of rain, more rain than you needed, or you looked at pictures of rain because that was all you had. No matter what we dealt with, that means we will have crop protection...
AFBF listening to farmers for 2023 Farm Bill
When it comes to the 2023 Farm Bill, there?s one thing that farmers have been vocal about: don?t fix what isn?t broken. American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Economist Danny Munch said that many of the previously established programs have worked well for farmers, so...
December hogs and pigs report shows lower inventory
The December Hogs and Pigs report shows numbers lower than expected for inventory. However, the report provided a surprise with an increase in breeding herd numbers for the first time in two-and-a-half years.That is Iowa State University livestock economist Dr. Lee...
