Top Stories
USDA invests in domestic fertilizer production
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack says his agency is making domestic fertilizer production investments in nine states to increase competition, lower fertilizer costs for American farmers, and lower food costs for U.S. consumers. “When we invest in domestic supply chains, we drive down input costs and increase options for farmers,” Vilsack says. “Through today’s investments, USDA is bringing jobs back to the United States, lowering costs for families, and supporting farmer income.” USDA is investing...
Naig talks about what he wants from Trump 2.0
There aren’t many days left on the Congressional calendar, and a ton of work has been put off for long enough. In what has become more the rule, rather than the exception, we face another government shutdown and another year without updated farm and food legislation....
U.S. ag commodities have always worked together
For many generations, both corn and soybeans have been a high-quality feed for livestock, and the livestock have provided rich manure to fertilize the crops. Gordon Spronk, vice president of the National Pork Board, said the sustainability circle between livestock and...
The correct seed decision considers more than just yield
The first decision of a producer’s growing season is also one of the most important. Selecting the right seed. Not only for your operation but for each segment of your operation, down to the specific field. Robert Cossar is a market activation manager with CROPLAN and...
Secretary Naig opens sign-up for crop insurance discount program
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced today that the sign-up for the state’s Crop Insurance Discount Program is now open and available. Farmers who planted cover crops this fall can apply for a $5 per acre discount on their spring crop insurance premiums....
USMEF participates in USDA trade mission to Morocco
USDA this week is leading a delegation of 50 ag companies and organizations on a trade mission to Morocco. U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Africa Representative Matt Copeland said Morocco is a key trading partner with a free trade agreement and a growing middle...
HPAI should wane over the winter, but the battle is not over
Snow is now on the ground in Des Moines. With this cold snap, it is safe to say that winter has arrived. It comes with many challenges and frustrations, but there are also positives. One of those positives is the expected seasonal slowdown of H5N1 or High-Pathogenic...
Video
More Ad News
Beef-dairy cows providing added-value for producers
A growing trend in animal agriculture is the breeding of dairy cows with beef bulls to take advantage of desirable traits and provide added value for producers. The process, also known as beef-on-dairy, can improve the value of the calf says Olivia Genther-Shroder of...
December starting off with arctic winds
As we get into the colder and drier part of the year, we don’t really see much change to the Iowa drought monitor. However, state climatologist Dr. Justin Glisan said that this year’s drought map looks significantly better than last year. Glisan said a large-scale...
U.S. Export Sales Report (12-5-24)
The weekly export sales continue to look great for corn and soybeans- in fact, soybeans set a record for this week. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the latest report from the USDA. McBride said flash sales have been slightly slower lately....
Last of Iowa’s Ag drainage wells finally closed off
Drainage and water runoff have been an age-old problem in agriculture. We have taken many steps to try and find quicker and more efficient ways to create drainage solutions. While many of us are more used to the tile systems we see today, that wasn’t always the case....
Administration won’t finalize 45Z guidance
Biden administration officials won’t finalize guidelines on new clean fuel production tax credits intended for the airline and biofuel industries before the officials leave office in January. Three sources told Reuters that casts significant doubt on the future of a...