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U.S. red meat exporters connecting with buyers in Mexico
Exporters of U.S. beef, pork, and lamb met face-to-face with buyers from across Mexico last week at the U.S. Meat Export Federation’s second U.S. Red Meat Symposium in Mexico City. One of those exporters was Mark Spengler of Greater Omaha Packing Company, who returned after attending the first USMEF Symposium two years ago. Spengler said the event is of high value for his company because it allows a small company to develop personal relationships with buyers across Mexico with just a two-day...
South American Weather and Crop Update (9-19-23)
Still a lot of dryness in the South American weather forecast, but this time there’s some excess heat thrown in there as well. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the latest climate and weather patterns. That extra heat in the forecast is raising...
Extension can’t be ruled out for farm bill
In August at the Iowa State Fair, United States Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) told the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network that he was optimistic that a new farm bill would be completed in time. However, during his weekly ag conference call with reporters on Tuesday...
USDA data shows crop improvement R&D spending expanding
Total research and development spending on crop improvement by the seven largest seed companies increased from less than $2 billion in 1990 to more than $6.5 billion by 2021. USDA’s Economic Research Service reports the spending closely tracks with increases in...
Iowa soybean production mythbusting
Busting myths as they relate to Iowa Agricultural production potentially this growing season. With the extremely dry weather, soybean yields will be key. Certainly things are changing in production row crop agriculture in Iowa. The old norm of course was plant the...
Lawmakers ask FDA to enforce their own rules AGAIN
We have been talking at length for years about what constitutes a dairy product. First, it was products made from nuts such as almonds and cashews. Then, it was other products such as oats and rice. Many of us still wonder where it is you actually milk these products,...
RFA says EPA’s science advisory board missed the mark with ethanol comments
In late August the Environmental Protection Agency’s Science Advisory Board released a report which downplayed the climate benefits of corn ethanol. The ethanol industry immediately responded with vocal disagreement to the report. Geoff Cooper is president & CEO...
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More Ag News
Farm bank lending increased in 2023
Agricultural loan demand increased in 2023, and agricultural lending by U.S. farm banks grew 6.7 percent to $110 billion. The American Bankers Association’s annual Farm Bank Performance Report credits elevated production costs, commodity price volatility, and a return...
South American Weather and Crop Update (3-26-24)
Argentina is still dealing with crop concerns from the amount of rain they’ve gotten as of late. Even with that rain, though, dryness is still looming over South America. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the latest weather conditions in Brazil...
Vibrant market for U.S. red meat in South Korea
An agribusiness trade mission organized by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) is underway in Seoul, South Korea, led by Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis Taylor. The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) helped coordinate the...
Naig gives update on legislative efforts for agriculture
As the state house gets ready to wind down for the year, and tractors and farms get ready to wind up, we have decided to take a look at a few of the initiatives that the Iowa government looked at concerning agriculture policy. Two of those come right to the forefront,...
Cattle on feed report shows big jump in February placements
The latest Cattle on Feed report was released on March 22nd by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) and it shows a significant increase in placements in feedlots in February. The latest Cattle on Feed report from USDA indicates that placements in...
