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Screwworm far from Iowa, but worth watching
New World Screwworm remains hundreds of miles from Iowa, with confirmed cases confined to parts of Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico. While there is no indication the pest is moving into Iowa anytime soon, state officials say it's important for livestock producers to understand the risks and remain aware of the situation. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said the New World Screwworm fly is not a new insect to the United States. It was successfully eradicated from the country decades ago, and...
New leadership in D.C. has work to do for agriculture
Election 2024 is behind us, and some new faces are taking over leadership on the House and Senate Ag Committees. Sam Kieffer, Vice President of Public Policy for the American Farm Bureau Federation, says the four leaders of the committees have a wealth of experience....
Iowa Cattlemen’s Association talks policy priorities for 2025
As we kick off 2025, the ag industry is still waiting for an updated farm bill. Following the results of the last election, especially with some agriculture-friendly faces in D.C., there is hope that something can get done this time around. The Iowa Cattlemen’s...
2024 A year of warm weather
A USDA meteorologist's list of top weather events in our nation this year includes what appears to be one of the warmest years on record. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says widespread warm temperatures across the country top the list for 2024. USDA meteorologist Brad...
Ten things that may affect ag in 2025
The majority of agricultural economists in the latest Monthly Monitor say U.S. ag ended 2024 in a recession. Farm Journal’s AgWeb.com says 56 percent of ag economists responded “yes” to the question of a recession. The newest Monthly Monitor asked economists what...
Upgrade your precision tools for 2025 with John Deere
Accuracy is everything in agriculture. The right rates, the right times, the right products, the right vaccines, and the list goes on and on. You have to be precise with what you do and how you are doing it, especially at a time when we are facing higher input costs...
South American Weather and Crop Update (12-31-24)
At this time of year, the crops in South America need plenty of rain. However, that’s not what’s happening in Argentina right now. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the latest conditions in South America. McBride said there is some rain in the...
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Japanese importers get inside look at U.S. beef production
A team of buyers from major Japanese beef importers recently visited U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) headquarters in Denver to learn about U.S. beef production practices. After that visit, the team also got an in-depth view of the full beef supply chain at work in...
Empowering farmers with tools for sustainable growth
Farmers continue to invest time and money into sustainability, whether by adopting new practices or upgrading the methods they’ve relied on for generations. From improving soil health to conserving water and reducing inputs, these efforts reflect a deep commitment to...
An update on natural resource priorities in D.C.
Policy decisions that impact our natural resources have a big impact on anyone who makes their living off of the land, and that’s especially true for cattle producers. We’re currently in a very important time for natural resources policy, as we are still waiting for...
AFBF Feeding Minds Press offers new children’s book
If your kids love blueberries, they’ll love the new book from Feeding Minds Press. The latest publication from Feeding Minds Press, the publishing arm of the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, is “I LOVE Blueberries,” a children’s book written by Shannon...
Breaking down the April Cattle on Feed report
The April USDA Cattle on Feed report shows lower inventory year over year but also includes some signs of attempts at increasing inventory says livestock analyst Anthony Fischer. Marketings of fed cattle increased 1% compared to last year at this time, says Fischer....
