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Nutrient efficiency key in tight margin year
As growers continue making crop input decisions for the 2026 season, fertilizer return on investment remains one of the biggest priorities, especially on rented acres. Keith Byerly with Mosaic says growers want confidence that every dollar spent on crop nutrition returns value in the same crop year, rather than relying on benefits that may stretch into future seasons. That concern is especially important for rented ground, where producers may not know from year to year if they will farm the...
Farmers? share of July 4th food dollar continues to shrink
The National Farmers Union released the 2023 numbers for the Farmers? Share of the Food Dollar Report covering several items typically found at a Fourth of July cookout. The NFU says every year, the troubling trend of farmers earning less of the dollars Americans...
Cost of a July 4th cookout going up like a bottle rocket
Today is Independence Day and we are celebrating across the country. The warm weather will be reminiscent of that hot day in Philadelphia 247 years ago. While we gather for fireworks and time with family, we will likely all notice that the price of having that family...
Creative budgeting needed to fund a ?no-new-money? farm bill
An American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) official says it may take some creative budgeting to meet producer needs in a ?no-new-money? farm bill. Andrew Walmsley, AFBF senior director of government affairs, said the issue is how to meet producer needs for the next...
U.S. pork making headway in Chile
U.S. pork exports to Chile have rebounded in 2023. Through April, shipments increased 30% from a year ago to just over 4,000 metric tons. Sebastian Gr?, a professional chef who serves as the U.S. Meat Export Federation?s (USMEF) program coordinator in Chile, recently...
Biden administration not backing down on WOTUS rule
The Biden Administration is not giving up on its Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule, even after the Supreme Court in May struck down the rule?s cornerstone, the ?significant nexus? test for EPA power over wetlands.The Biden administration?s Environmental Protection...
Rains are welcomed, but more is needed
We have definitely had a more active weather pattern in the past few days. In fact, yesterday was the first day since Thursday that Des Moines did not see any rainfall. Mind you, I am not complaining. We need the rain. I am just pointing out that things have changed...
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AFBF announces new mental health resource for farming families
Mental health is not something that should be taken lightly. It's okay to not feel okay, but it's also important to make sure that you and your loved ones are doing what you can to develop and promote positive mental health. This past Sunday, the American Farm Bureau...
Budget disputes leading to farm bill frustrations
Congress has voted to extend temporary funding again to keep the government open, but in the process has likely produced more delays in writing a farm bill. That has led to frustration among members of Congress hoping to complete work on the farm bill early in 2024....
Fed’s January 2024 beige book on ag economy
The Federal Reserve Board released its January 2024 Beige Book, a summary of its commentary on the current economic conditions in each Federal Reserve District. In the sixth district around Atlanta, Low cattle supply led to higher cattle prices, but consumers are...
Will the grains continue to pull back on price levels?
We are almost one month into the new year, and we have been seeing a lot of red splotches on the grain markets. That’s not to say there has been a general slide, but it feels like there have been more low days than highs. The markets seem to keep retreating from the...
How to adjust your planter for no-till fields
When using no-till practices, the soil is obviously not as soft at the surface due to the residue from the previous crop. If you don’t adjust your planting practices to go along with your no-till practices, then your yields will take a hit. Roger Wilcox, one of the...
