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Iowa response limits pseudorabies trade impacts
Iowa's response to a recent pseudorabies case demonstrated how established animal health protocols can protect both livestock and export markets. The virus was detected in a small commercial swine herd after pigs that had previously been housed in Texas were moved into Iowa. Those animals had been exposed to feral swine, which are known carriers of pseudorabies in parts of the southern United States. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said Iowa's response followed long-established disease...
Third stopgap passes with farm, disaster aid
The third time was the charm, as the House and then the Senate passed stopgap funding legislation with farm and disaster aid to avert a midnight Friday government shutdown late last week. The legislation passed 366 to 34, clearing a two-thirds ‘yes’ vote threshold to...
Secretary naig cheers USMCA dispute resolution decision
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig provided the following statement after a United States – Mexico – Canada Agreement (USMCA) dispute resolution panel ruled against Mexico’s baseless decree banning imports of genetically modified corn. “Iowa produces more corn...
Unnecessarily burdensome EU deforestation rule has been delayed
The European Parliament this week voted to delay implementation of a deforestation regulation- which was scheduled to go into effect on December 30th- for a year, providing a reprieve for U.S. cattlemen. The rule will require imports of beef and other goods to include...
Marketing pork to different types of consumers
The Pork Checkoff is re-imagining pork in consumer hearts and minds to build a bigger appetite for pork. National Pork Board Member Bill Luckey said the recent consumer segmentation research project showed a wide range of pork consumers. Short-term and long-term...
Iowa’s late-season H5N1 outbreaks are thanks to warmer fall
As we are now in winter, we know that prolonged exposure to colder temps will not be far away. Mother Nature has already given us a taste or two here in December. As much as we don’t always like the brisk cold, it is going to be a necessity to stop the latest round of...
Meals on Wheels providing food and company to isolated seniors
The holiday season is a joyous time for most of us as we gather with our families, enjoy great meals, and share gifts with each other. For some people, though, the holidays can be a difficult time to get through. All across Iowa, there are many seniors who spend the...
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More Ag News
Making a list and checking it twice before planting season
Preparing for the growing season means a lot of maintenance and check lists for growers. Some of the items on the check list are obvious, seed selection, planter maintenance and optimization, and field work. However, there are several factors that might not be top of...
Trump tariff pause appreciated by farmers
Farmers across the U.S. were pleased to hear most countries will get a 90-day reprieve from the new individualized tariffs announced April 2—an opportunity for negotiations with our trading partners that could lead to consensus and potentially avoid permanent tariffs,...
Crop nutrition is more important than ever
With the ag economy facing mounting pressure from rising input costs, unpredictable weather, and tightening margins, this season is shaping up to be one of the most challenging in recent memory. Farmers are feeling the weight of uncertainty, and every decision carries...
Friendly April WASDE report meets quiet market expectations
With the intense volatility we are experiencing in the ag economy right now, the commodity markets are closely watching every single headline that pops up in the news. Today brought the release of the April WASDE report, which is the first major ag report to be...
Tariff volatility continues with 90-day pause
The past week has been full of tariff whiplash. President Trump yesterday announced a 90-day pause in the reciprocal tariffs in place on many U.S. trading partners. Dave Salmonsen, senior director of government affairs for the American Farm Bureau Federation, said the...
