Top Stories
Farm bill uncertainty persists as lawmakers debate key ag policies
Uncertainty surrounding the next farm bill continues as lawmakers remain divided on several key agricultural and nutrition policy issues. Members of Congress from both parties agree on the need to update farm programs, but disagreements over funding levels, nutrition assistance and regulatory provisions have slowed progress. Reuters reports key sticking points include the future of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, disaster aid funding and proposals to expand year-round sales of...
Iowans invited to participate in soil and water conservation week
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has proclaimed April 30 ? May 7 as Soil and Water Conservation Week and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is inviting Iowans to participate throughout the week. The Department is encouraging Iowans to attend...
Wetlands and bioreactors are important parts of conservation in Iowa
This week is Soil and Water Conservation Week in Iowa, and, as we?ve talked about several times recently on here, wetlands are a major part of the state?s conservation strategy. At the recent wetland event out at the DMACC Dallas County Farm, Liz Ripley, conservation...
U.S. beef sees strong demand rebound in Mexico
U.S. beef exports to Mexico are off to a strong start in 2023, with shipments through February climbing 15% from a year ago in volume (just over 33,000 metric tons) and 13% higher in value ($186.3 million). U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO Dan...
More stability leading to demand return in U.S. grain export markets
Cary Sifferath vice president for the U.S. Grains Council says that the marketing year 2022/2023 (began Sept. 1 2022-Aug 31, 2023) got off to a slow start for grains.The Chinese people were greatly affected by the country?s strict Covid lockdowns which slowed the...
U.S. agriculture reacts to EPA E15 emergency waiver
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued an emergency fuel waiver to allow E15 fuel to be sold during the summer driving season. Reaction from some of America?s leading ag and renewable fuel organizations has been positive. ?U.S. gas inventories are even...
Naig sees ?trade disadvantage? with some Pacific trading partners
Trade around the globe is very competitive. While we like to hang our hat on the reliability and the quality of our products around the globe. However, this is challenging because, currently, other countries can offer products cheaper, or they have better trade...
Video
More Ag News
Fungal disease pressure still prevalent with hot and dry conditions
With harvest 2023 complete and the cold winter months just around the corner, now is a great time to study the ’23 growing season and lessons learned. Kim Tutor is a technical marketing manager with BASF and she says that despite the widespread hot and dry conditions...
Increasing Iowa Conservation Options
A lot of options when it comes to improving sustainability on your farm and in a lot of cases there's cost share available. Of course, cover crops are an increasingly popular sustainability option, and the Iowa Department of Agriculture is starting sign-up on...
USGC 2023/24 corn harvest report shows largest crop on record
According to the U.S. Grains Council’s (USGC’s) 2023/2024 Corn Harvest Quality Report, the 13th such annual survey published globally today, the 2023 U.S. corn crop is the largest on record with the lowest percentage of broken corn and foreign material (BCFM) to date....
IDALS opens Cover Crop Insurance program sign up Dec 1st
Iowa has been working hard to set an example to other states as a leader in nutrient reduction in the soil and water. Farmers are doing what they can to use more eco-friendly practices intended to do a better job of protecting our resources. Even though much has been...
Biologicals are more than just a blanket term
In the ag industry, the term “biologicals” is often used as a blanket term. However, it’s supposed to be used to refer to naturally occurring inputs. Jason Little, vice president of ecosystem strategy with Indigo Agriculture, said they specialize in biologicals around...
