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Egg prices ease as poultry producers prepare for spring wildfowl migration
A report from the American Farm Bureau has good news for egg buyers. Egg prices have dropped sharply as production recovers from volatility caused by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza infections. While detections in January and February rose sharply, with over 15 million birds infected, it’s still 56 percent fewer birds infected than at the same time last year. Detections slowed in March, reflecting producer progress in managing the outbreak. USDA is urging farmers to be vigilant with...
Rural mainstreet index reaches highest level since 2022
After dropping below growth neutral in March, the June Rural Mainstreet Index expanded above the threshold for a third-straight month to its highest point since May 2022. That?s according to the June monthly survey of bank CEOs in rural areas of a ten-state region...
Elanco?s Skysis system adding a new tracer tool
It?s one thing to have a hog nutrition program that helps you to maximize the feed efficiency of your hogs and get them to the optimal weights as efficiently as possible. It?s another thing to know if each hog is benefiting from the products you are giving them and...
Atmosphere continues to pull moisture from soil
Despite recent rainfall events, drought conditions are unfortunately continuing to expand across the state. The atmosphere is so dry that it?s pulling what little moisture we have out of the soil. Iowa State Climatologist Dr. Justin Glisan provided an update on the...
Congressional spending debate posing new challenges for farm bill writers
A changing political environment for budgeting on Capitol Hill is posing new challenges for farm bill writers, who are already facing a daunting October 1st deadline to complete work on a new bill.Right now within the GOP there are two camps that are butting heads...
Opportunities for red meat export growth in Indonesia
With a massive population exceeding 270 million and a livestock sector hampered by animal health concerns, Indonesia presents significant growth opportunities for the U.S. beef and pork industries. The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) recently added a new...
National drought summary showing a mixed outlook
The Weekly Drought Monitor showed above-normal precipitation and below-normal temperatures resulting in another week of some improvements in the western U.S. The exception is the Pacific Northwest, where drought conditions continue to worsen along the northern Cascade...
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Grassley forecasts turbulent year for farm and spending bills
Senate Ag Committee member United States Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) thinks 2024 could be a turbulent year ahead for the farm and spending bills. In 2023 Senator Chuck Grassley accurately predicted the one-year extension of the 2018 farm bill, and now he says that...
Court upholds Iowa agriculture trespass laws
The 8th Circuit Court unanimously overruled a District Court and upheld Iowa’s 2019 and 2021 agriculture trespass laws as constitutional this week. After several organizations challenged the new law, the district court concluded that the intent requirement renders the...
Red Sea Pirates continue to impact global trade
It is bad enough when our shipping is affected by natural occurrences like drought in the Mississippi River and the Panama Canal. It puts a big obstacle in the shipping lanes and increases costs and shipping times. But when the problems are manmade, it becomes an even...
South Dakota-based Ringneck Energy joins American Carbon Alliance
Today the American Carbon Alliance (ACA) announced that Ringneck Energy has joined as a member of the ACA. Ringneck Energy is located in Onida, South Dakota, and has been in operation since 2018. They have partnered with Summit Carbon Solutions, and their plant is...
South American Weather and Crop Update (1-9-24)
There are still some dry areas in Brazil, but, for the most part, there’s been a healthy amount of rain for the region. However, there are now concerns that the rain could actually start to impact harvest progress. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an...
