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DOJ continuing investigation into alleged meatpacking antitrust violations
The U.S. Department of Justice is intensifying its investigation into possible antitrust violations in the beef packing industry, prompting renewed calls from ranching groups for greater competition and market transparency. Federal officials said investigators are examining whether consolidation among the nation’s largest meatpackers contributed to inflated beef prices for consumers and reduced prices paid to cattle producers. The four largest beef processors control roughly 85% of the fed...
Sound Ag continuing to optimize synthetic fertilizer
Every year, farmers are looking for more and more ways to cut down on input costs and increase their ROI. Eamon Flood, vice president of sales with Sound Ag, said they’re continuing their focus on optimizing synthetic fertilizer usage. Sound Ag’s main product, Source,...
Grassley discusses updated rules for Packers and Stockyards Act
On Tuesday the United States Department of Agriculture announced the finalization of Inclusive Competition and Market Integrity Under the Packers and Stockyards Act. The final rule goes into effect 60 days after publication in the Federal Register. United States...
AFBF urging Congress to pass minibus funding bill
As yet another federal funding deadline looms, the American Farm Bureau Federation encourages Congress to pass a series of funding bills this week. AFBF Government Affairs Director Emily Buckman said the minibus would avoid a partial shutdown. Buckman said a federal...
Farmers for soil health enrollment deadline extended to March 15
Farmers now have until March 15 to enroll in Farmers for Soil Health, a new cover crop cost share program that pays up to $50/acre over three years for new cover crop acres. Farmers who have planted cover crops previously are eligible for $2/acre. Current enrollment...
We can’t just keep extending the 2018 Farm Bill
We are only in March and already seeing talk that the Farm Bill won’t be done this year. We still have almost seven full months to complete it, and many are already willing to write it off for another year. This means the Farm Bill would either expire or have to be...
Delay to GREET model modifications hindering SAF innovation
Biden administration officials made the recent announcement that they would miss a self-imposed deadline of March 1 to complete modifications to the GREET model for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). The model is important for determining eligibility for the Inflation...
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60th annual Cookout Contest highlights Farm Bureau Day at the fair
Today, August 13th, is Farm Bureau Day at the Iowa State Fair, and it’s a beautiful day to stop by Farm Bureau Park. It wasn’t hard to find the park today either, because the Iowa Farm Bureau hosted its 60th annual Cookout Contest, and the smells were carried on the...
U.S. pork preferred by Mexican consumers
Mexico is a leading market for U.S. pork exports. According to Courtney Knupp, Vice President of International Market Development for the National Pork Board, the cultural connection to pork in Mexico is deeply rooted in family gatherings, which often revolve around...
A Teddy Bear of a Super Bull
Teddy Bear is the big bull of the 2024 Iowa State Fair, weighing in at 3,064 pounds and earning the win in the Super Bull Contest. The purebred Simmental bull was the heaviest of the three bulls competing and is now on display at the entrance to the Cattle Barn for...
Weekly 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...
Iowa Turkey celebrating new look and new menu items
The Iowa Turkey Federation Grill has been a go-to destination for hungry fairgoers for over four decades. They have been offering their traditional staples of a smoked turkey leg and a turkey tenderloin sandwich plus mixing in some new foods here and there. This year...
