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Cattle producers aren’t surprised that NWS made it across the border
New World Screwworm (NWS) finally made its way into the U.S. last week, but the cattle industry isn’t surprised it happened. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) CEO Colin Woodall said they have been expecting this to happen for a while. Woodall said it’s been 60 years since the U.S. had to deal with the screwworm, and it took almost 40 years to eradicate. Fortunately, Woodall said more help is already on the way. For more information, visit ncba.org.
A drop in soybean condition ratings
USDA is reporting a drop in condition ratings for soybeans and a possible frost in parts of the Upper Midwest. That is USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey. There was no change to the corn condition rating this week with the number remaining at 65% good to excellent....
Koch completes $3.6 billion purchase of Iowa Fertilizer Co.
Koch Ag & Energy Solutions successfully purchased OCI Global’s fertilizer plant in Wever, Iowa, for $3.6 billion. After announcing the pending sale last year, the finished transaction gives Koch access to a state-of-the-art facility and its related businesses. The...
Keeping new dairy calves healthy from respiratory diseases
While we have talked at length about what H5N1 or bird flu looks like for dairy herds, we have to remember that this isn’t the only health concern we face. There are still the old standards we have to guard against, and at this time of year, we see more calves moving...
Congress returning with work to do for agriculture
Congress has a lot on its plate with few work weeks remaining this year, including keeping the government fully funded. Ryan Yates, managing director of government affairs with the American Farm Bureau, talks about a couple of the big projects Congress needs to deal...
South American Weather and Crop Update (9-3-24)
Heat and dryness have stuck around in Brazil, and those temperatures in particular are raising concerns for the next crop. Ben Breisch of Allendale gave an update on the latest weather patterns in South America. Since the soil in South America is much different than...
Grassley speaks about the headwinds facing the ag economy
The United States agriculture economy is facing numerous headwinds as the final quarter of the year approaches. Commodity prices are on the decline year over year, USDA is forecasting a record ag trade deficit, ag equipment manufacturers are laying off workers, and...
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More Ag News
New technologies increasing the effectiveness of seed treatments
The value of seed treatments is very apparent to soybean growers. Additional protection from diseases is welcomed by producers who are planting earlier and encountering wet and cool conditions, says Dair McDuffee of Valent. McDuffee says that seed treatments are...
Growth Energy statement on 45Z guidance
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Growth Energy—the nation’s largest biofuel trade association—issued the following statement after the U.S. Treasury released its long-awaited guidance for the Section 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit. “This long-overdue guidance is far from...
Dairy starts 2025 on shakier ground
In the last couple of months, we have seen some solid footing return to the dairy markets. After years of nothing going their way, losses of dairy farms, and a market that was allowing producers to barely survive at best, it was nice to see good fortune return to...
Long-term contract reached for East and Gulf Coast ports
On Wednesday night, the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) announced that they reached a tentative agreement on all items for a new six-year master labor contract covering ports on the East and Gulf Coasts. The...
Farmers may shift grain acreage in 2025
Early indications are that U.S. farmers will increase planted grain acres this year despite continuing low prices. That’s according to a survey done by Farm Futures magazine. In the survey conducted in December, farmers in major corn-producing states seem swayed by an...
