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U.S. red meat exports thrived in 2024
Exports of U.S. pork eclipsed previous highs in both volume and value in 2024, according to year-end data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). Beef export value climbed 5% from 2023 despite a slight decrease in volume, as unit export values were record high. December pork exports totaled 267,132 metric tons (mt), slightly below last year’s large volume, while value increased 1% to $771.8 million. USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom said the increases were...
Cattle producers want to keep Section 199A around
Several tax bills have been recently introduced in Congress in order to protect several key tax provisions from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and ensure cattle producers can keep more of their hard-earned money. In the latest episode of the National Cattlemen’s Beef...
Tips to extend the life of farm tires
Every minute in the field counts, and durable tires are the key to keeping up. Firestone Ag Tire expert Bill Durivage says tire technology and design boost durability, allowing you to cover more ground with fewer replacements and greater reliability. Proper tire tread...
Farm Bill progress: optimism meets legislative realities
With a new Congress in place and fresh leadership in the Senate, the timetable for the next Farm Bill is taking shape amid shifting political priorities. Lawmakers face the challenge of crafting bipartisan legislation that addresses agriculture, nutrition, and rural...
U.S. agriculture directly in the bullseye
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum said she doesn’t believe the U.S. will impose tariffs on Saturday, February 1, as President Donald Trump had pledged. Reuters says her administration has already put a response plan in place if it becomes needed. The report says...
Ethanol industry confident in new EPA head Lee Zeldin
The ethanol industry is confident that newly confirmed EPA chief Lee Zeldin will be supportive of its top issues. Zeldin, a former New York Representative, has been critical of ethanol in the past, but the industry is confident that will change now that the...
Weak La Nina will continue into February
In December, the weather officially entered into a weak La Nina phase once again. Justin Glisan, state climatologist for Iowa, said there are plenty of recent data points to compare this winter to, as we saw a “triple dip” La Nina from 2020-2022. Glisan said a weak La...
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Protecting your pasture cattle from parasites
Parasites will be close by when cattle are out on pasture. Good pasture management and a strategic deworming protocol can limit the chances of parasites affecting the efficiency and performance of your beef herd. Dr. D.L Step, a professional services veterinarian with...
Lower domestic cattle inventory to start the year
USDA’s first Cattle Inventory report for 2025 reflects a year over year decrease says USDA livestock analyst Mike McConnell. The overall herd size continues to contract with numbers remaining very low, but McConnell says that there are some interesting takeaways from...
Secretary Naig launches the Choose Iowa butchery innovation grant program
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today announced the launch of the Choose Iowa Butchery Innovation Grant program. Small-scale meat processors and custom lockers are encouraged to submit proposals to expand meat processing capacity within Iowa. This grant is...
Strong U.S. red meat presence at Tokyo’s Yakiniku Business Fair
With support from USDA, the Beef Checkoff Program and the United Soybean Board, U.S. beef and pork were showcased at the Yakiniku Business Fair in Tokyo, one of the most important annual trade shows for Japan’s restaurant sector. Tom Kasatani, U.S. Meat Export...
What will tariffs mean for fertilizers?
EDIT: Since the following article was published earlier this morning, the White House announced that tariffs on Mexico would be suspended for a month. The deadline came and went, and the United States has placed tariffs on some of our closest trading partners and...