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Reference price adjustments aim to support farm income
After more than a decade without major updates, reference prices used in federal farm programs are being adjusted, a change that could impact producer revenue moving forward. In an interview with the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said those updates were included in the same H.R. 1 legislation passed last summer that also addressed tax policy affecting agriculture. Reference prices play a key role in the farm safety net, helping determine support...
U.S. Export Sales Report (9-8-23)
We’re in the new crop marketing year, but there’s still not too much excitement in the export sales. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride provided an update on the latest numbers. McBride added that we have seen some flash sales, but they’re not as big as we would...
Going out in the field for early harvest advice
Underway, at least partially in some areas, is harvest 2023 in the dryer areas with chopping and even some combining. From 40 to 140 bushels per acre in the same field is one of the reports that Pioneer’s outstanding Field Agronomist Troy Duetmeyer in Northeast Iowa...
Federal reserve releases August summary of current economic conditions
The Federal Reserve released its August Beige Book update, a summary of commentary on current economic conditions from the Fed. The report includes several observations on the U.S. agricultural economy. Drought was affecting several of the Fed’s districts across the...
EPA extends herbicide proposal comment period
We have talked on more than one occasion about speaking up for your industry. This comes in many forms. Yesterday, Andy talked about telling the story of agriculture and putting your face to the story. We have also talked about speaking up when you see misinformation...
This year’s crop challenges brought plenty of lessons for seed hybrids
Continued drought conditions and some powerful storms have provided challenges for crops this year. There was a lot of variability in both of those factors across the entire Grain Belt, but most areas saw at least some complications. Mitch Heisler, Wyffels product and...
New fungicide offers better white mold protection for soybeans
White mold is a disease that affects soybeans primarily in the northern U.S. soybean producing states and is identified by a fluffy, white growth on soybean stems. While it may not get as much attention as soybean cyst nematode, it is also a significant yield reducer...
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Latter half of 2024 could hold optimism for dairy prices
Dairy prices have been low for some time, but there may be reasons for optimism during the second half of 2024. Lucas Fuess, the senior dairy analyst for Rabo AgriFinance, says the industry needs to get through the next few months first. Looking ahead to the second...
USDA Angola trade mission successful for U.S. red meat
The USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) recently led an agribusiness trade mission to Angola from Feb. 26-29. U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Africa Representative Matt Copeland, who participated through support from the Beef Checkoff Program, said having key...
Secretary Naig to announce 26 Choose Iowa grants on March 20th
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig will announce the recipients of 26 Choose Iowa Value-Added Grants during an event at Cortum Farm and Co. near Indianola on Wednesday, March 20. The announcement event, which is part of Iowa Ag Week, will begin at 2:30 p.m. The...
Bayer agronomist talks about strategies for 2024 growing season
The weather has been throwing us for a loop in agriculture. Whether you are an advocate of permanent climate change, climate cycles, or just luck of the draw; you know that something is going on. No matter what is causing it, we have to be prepared to navigate it to...
Expiration of Tax Cuts and Jobs Act would hurt family farms
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is a comprehensive tax cut package enacted in 2017. Dustin Sherer, director of government affairs for the American Farm Bureau, says it’s important legislation for farmers and ranchers. A new Economic Research Service report shows that if the...
