Top Stories
Swine producers taking advantage of strong economic factors
The swine industry has seen some rough times in recent years, but now things are finally feeling much better. When hog prices are good, it’s smart to look at ways to improve your operation while also keeping those profits intact. Chris Ford, vice president of swine lending at Farm Credit Services of America, said swine producers are enjoying the benefits of strong consumer demand. Ford said he has seen producers lock in their profits while still leaving room to participate in potential price...
Gas prices should remain mostly unaffected by Hurricane Milton
Back-to-back hurricanes in the southern United States are taking a tremendous toll on everyone involved. One of the few places that likely won’t feel as big of an effect is the price of gas. Patrick DeHaan of GasBuddy.com said Milton, the latest hurricane, likely...
Ag trade deficit continues to grow
The ag trade deficit continues to grow, based on USDA’s latest trade figures for fiscal year ’24 through August. USDA Economist Bart Kenner says US farm exports continue to decrease. Imports on the other hand are on the upswing. That’s nearly twice the farm trade...
Scientists examining corporate influence over food and farm bill
The Union of Concerned Scientists recently released a report analyzing the influence of lobbying on food and agriculture systems. The report finds that agribusinesses, industry associations, and other interest groups have spent more than US$500 million to influence...
Crop protection doesn’t end in the field
We talk about what we need to do to protect our crops in the fields. We use various tools meant to protect our hard work from weeds, disease, and insects. We invest a lot of money into the plants we grow in the field and don’t want to see that investment endangered....
Small changes make the October WASDE report “neutral”
USDA published the October WASDE report at 11am on Friday morning and made slight changes to the numbers that can cause a reaction in the ag markets. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride says the report was not far off from industry expectations going into Friday,...
Seasonal farm-to-table dinner series to highlight Iowa agriculture
The Iowa Tourism Office and Choose Iowa have partnered with the Iowa Restaurant Association to launch a seasonal farm-to-table dinner series, celebrating the connection between Iowa’s agricultural diversity and its culinary talent. The first dinner will take place on...
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More Ag News
Secretary Naig recognizes conservation leaders at Iowa Agribusiness Showcase
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig presented the Secretary’s Ag Leader Award for Conservation to two individuals who have demonstrated significant leadership and made noteworthy contributions toward improving water quality throughout Iowa. Evan Brehm, a...
South American Weather and Crop Update (2-12-25)
The one surprise- if you can even call it that- from the February WASDE report was the cut to some of the production numbers for Brazil and Argentina. At this point, some of the major growing areas have received too much rain. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride...
USTR pick Greer says US must diversify trade markets
President Trump’s United States Trade Representative pick, Jamieson Greer, says the US must become less reliant on China for its farm and other exports. China remains among the top three export markets for US farm goods, but its tariff and non-tariff barriers and...
Keeping an eye on Mississippi River water levels
Grain shippers and farmers are keeping an eye on the water levels in the Mississippi River. Mike Steenhoek, executive director of the Soy Transportation Coalition, said water levels have been a consistent challenge to shipping grains for the last few years. The...
USDA data confirms agritourism is saving some family farms
The latest Census of Agriculture from the USDA, conducted in 2022, is beginning to reveal hard data on the benefits of agritourism for family farms. The numbers confirm what many farmers have experienced firsthand diversifying into agritourism is helping sustain their...
