Top Stories
Demand for soy oil driving price to the upside
When petroleum diesel prices rise, renewable diesel and biodiesel become more competitive. As the crude oil price has climbed in the weeks since the beginning of the war in Iran, soy oil prices have followed suit. However, it’s not just the war that is causing price movement to the upside. In March, the EPA finalized its RFS rule, mandating the highest biodiesel and renewable diesel blending volumes in history for 2026–27. This has led to another boost in demand for domestically produced...
Turning watermelons and their waste into plastic
Agriculture is known for its innovation. It is about finding new uses for the things we produce and finding ways to use more of our biproducts and cast-offs, so we can cut down on product waste. It is in that spirit that we are hearing about a breakthrough in which...
Managing parasites in cattle herds
Especially in years where input costs rise, it’s important to make sure your cattle are as healthy as possible. While many illnesses can be detected by the eye, some are much harder to notice. Parasites are invisible pests that can severely affect the efficiency of...
Record pork exports to Mexico among latest export highlights
U.S. pork exports posted another strong performance in October, led by record-large shipments to Mexico and broad-based growth elsewhere. U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO Dan Halstrom said that, on top of Mexico’s performance, October pork exports...
Economic hurdles no match for U.S. Pork promotion efforts
Promoting U.S. pork is an ongoing process but Dr. David Newman, senior vice president of market growth for the National Pork Board says that everyone in the pork industry is working towards increasing demand after a rough year for producers. Newman says that the Covid...
Feed industry applauds FEED Act
The American Feed Industry Association appreciates the introduction of the innovative Feed Enhancement and Economic Development Act. Supporters say it will improve the regulatory environment for new animal feed ingredients. The FEED Act will amend the Federal Food,...
Watch your mental health during the holidays
WARNING! The following contains a lot of references to holiday songs, specials, and movies. This morning, as I was driving to the studios, Andy Williams tried reminding me that, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” However, as I watched “The Muppet Christmas...
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More Ag News
Crops will still need timely rainfall this summer
Iowa has seen no shortage of rain recently, and while we are starting to see consequences of too much rain, having our soil profiles refilled is a blessing as the growing season kicks off. However, that water that is stored in the soil won’t last forever. Iowa State...
Determining the best management strategies for late planted corn
Due to the frequent rainfall this spring, many farmers in Iowa were racing against the May 31st final planting date to ensure full crop insurance coverage on their planted corn acres. Because of the race against the calendar not all corn was planted in ideal...
Strong demand for U.S. beef in Colombia despite restrictions
Colombia is the only trading partner to impose restrictions on imports of U.S. beef as a result of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) being detected in some lactating dairy cows. Homero Recio, U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Latin America representative,...
HPAI detected in a commercial turkey flock in Cherokee county
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) have detected a case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Cherokee County, Iowa. The affected...
Canadian wild hogs near American border
Feral hogs are not just a problem in our Southern states. We have been monitoring an increasing problem with feral hogs in Canada as well. These pose a threat to our northern states as well. Canada has been using a monitoring their feral pigs with a tag and track...
