Top Stories
Rural lenders eye finish line for overdue Farm Bill
After years of delays and temporary extensions, the long-awaited Farm Bill could finally move forward as lawmakers prepare to bring it to the House floor this week. For agricultural lenders like Farm Credit, the bill represents far more than traditional farm programs. It also includes critical updates for lending tools and mental health resources that directly impact rural communities. Christy Seyfert with Farm Credit says the organization has been pushing hard for lawmakers to get the bill...
USMCA panel limits U.S. dairy access in Canada
The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement went into effect on July 1st 2020 and was designed to allow for more balanced and reciprocal trade between the three North American trade partners. However, a recent USMCA dispute panel argued that Canada’s dairy import...
Groups respond to small refinery exemptions decision
A coalition representing farmers and ethanol producers responded to last week’s decision of the Fifth Circuit Court on Small Refinery Exemptions under the Renewable Fuels Standard. The Court remanded to the Environmental Protection Agency its rejection of six small...
2024 Seed purchasing decisions are upon us
Decision time is upon us for 2024 seeding decisions. In order to make informed ones though, we need to know about performance in 2023. The growing season featured high moisture stress, high heat stress for a lot of us in Iowa, fertility stress for some of us as well,...
The grills may be cold, but pork is still hot
With the mercury dipping to the single digits at night and the sprinkling of snow on the ground, many of you are probably putting your grills away or under their covers for the season. (Unless you are a die-hard like me, but that’s a story for another time.) The idea...
Helping farmers overcome some of the toughest challenges
In row crop production there is a seemingly endless cycle of new challenges that confront farmers each year. Fortunately, growers are very adept at taking on new problems and using the tools at their disposal to overcome those obstacles. Nick Schweizer is the Director...
Pork and beef exports to China strengthen
U.S. beef and pork exports to China received a boost recently. China’s General Administration of Customs approved 18 U.S. beef establishments and 12 U.S. pork establishments for export to China – the first new U.S. plants cleared for export to China in about 10...
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More Ag News
E15 ready for the summer driving season
This weekend is the unofficial kickoff of summer. Many schools are out, pools are opening, grills are heating up, and vacations are being planned. That is why with all the busy activities you have planned; it is important to save money wherever you can. That is where...
Previously dry soils are now too wet in some areas
While we have received a lot of rain recently, it still has not been enough to rid the state of drought yet. In fact, large portions of the state are still in drought conditions. Mark Licht, Iowa State University professor of agronomy and ISU Extension and Outreach...
Increased tariffs on Chinese imports could cause retaliation
The Biden administration is continuing current tariffs and adding new ones. Dave Salmonsen, senior director of government affairs with the American Farm Bureau Federation, says that the increases are primarily tech focused. Salmonsen says there are a couple of reasons...
NPPC, Farm Bureau lead coalition to urge congressional fix to Prop 12
The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) joined forces with the American Farm Bureau Federation to garner support from 900+ agricultural stakeholders supporting the federal fix to California Prop. 12 to be included in the 2024 Farm Bill. Laying out robust arguments...
Taxpayer groups speak out against Farm Bill subsidy costs
As the House and Senate Ag Committees have released their versions of the Farm Bill, we are seeing reactions from all over the place. Mostly we focus on the programs that are included in the titles from an Ag perspective. We talk about the Commodity Credit...
