Top Stories
Interior seeks flexibility on predator management
When I visited Washington, D.C. recently, I had the opportunity to speak with Karen Budd-Falen, Associate Deputy Secretary at the Department of the Interior, about several wildlife management issues affecting western ranchers. Among the topics discussed were wolves and grizzly bears, both of which continue to generate debate between livestock producers, wildlife advocates, and government regulators. Budd-Falen said wolf management remains particularly complex because different populations are...
South American Weather and Crop Update (7-23-24)
Once again, there is very little that is different when it comes to the weather down in South America, as the dry weather has stuck around. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the latest weather conditions. That dry weather is still allowing...
Mitigating nitrogen loss with a no-burn nitrogen solution
The weather in Iowa this growing season has been unpredictable to say the least. With tornadoes, heavy rainfall and flooding, and even a derecho crossing the state, Iowa has dealt with numerous significant weather issues that bring unique challenges for farmers. With...
Obstacles remain for red meat exports to Canada
Canada is a top five destination for both U.S. beef and pork exports, but shipments are sometimes slowed by regulatory issues. The transition to the Public Health Information System (PHIS) was supposed to simplify this process, but that has obviously not been the case...
Iowa crop progress and condition report
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is released weekly April through November. Additionally, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and...
How are conservation practices handling floods?
When we talk about conservation projects for our fields, we are often sold on what it can do to clean up the water and prevent soil erosion by wind and water. As we have witnessed through the spring and early summer, large amounts of rain have fallen across much of...
Navigating the biological marketplace
Biologicals are among the many new tools farmers can use on their farms. But with any new products, it’s important to make sure you’re getting something of a high quality that will provide the maximum benefit for your farm. Jacob Parnell, head agronomist at Biome...
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More Ag News
Settling into a long-term period of low commodity prices
It’s no surprise to you that market prices for grains are low. They’re nowhere near what we enjoyed a few years ago. Many factors are driving this situation, but understanding them doesn’t necessarily make it any easier. The main question I Have been hearing farmers...
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....
