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USMEF bolstering Mexico’s in-home consumption of U.S. pork
Mexico’s demand for U.S. pork has soared in recent years, and 2025 was no exception. Pork exports to Mexico were record-large for the fifth consecutive year at 1.24 million metric tons, valued at $2.85 billion. But the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) continues to identify opportunities for further growth, and a good example is the relatively low percentage of pork dishes that are prepared at home, rather than in restaurants and other foodservice outlets. Gerardo Rodriguez, USMEF regional...
Weather and labor continue to challenge railways
One of the main metrics for railway service quality is unfilled grain car orders, the number of cars a shipper ordered but didn?t receive. Danny Munch, American Farm Bureau Federation Economist, said the data shows shippers are waiting a long time to get the grain...
Fertilizer prices look to be coming down for now
Farmers have been dealing with higher input costs not long after the market for their grains got better. Fertilizer was the main concern as it jumped over 300% at one time. The essential nutrients were causing economic hardships to producers who claimed that too much...
World Pork Expo set for milestone 35th anniversary celebration
The 2023 World Pork Expo returns to the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa, from June 7 through 9. This year marks the 35th anniversary of the annual event focusing on education, innovation and networking within the pork industry. National Pork Producers...
Hinson talks foreign ownership of U.S. farmland
A recent issue that has been making its way through the House and the Senate is the foreign ownership of U.S. land, specifically when it comes to farmland. The Chinese Communist Party in particular has been bold with its purchases of U.S. farmland. Iowa 2nd District...
Iowa officials react to E15 rule delay
Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said it will propose a rule authorizing the year-round sale of gasoline blends containing 15 percent ethanol in several midwestern states. However, the rule would delay action and not take effect until 2024. While this...
Senator Grassley optimistic about 2023 farm bill deadline
U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa holds a weekly conference call with ag broadcasters and reporters. This week Senator Grassley was asked if he thinks a farm bill can be completed and agreed upon by September of 2023 or whether the deadline will have to be...
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More Ag News
The return of avian influenza in commercial poultry
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been confirmed in a commercial flock in South Dakota, the first this fall and of course as consumers we think about possible egg shortages. For producers, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig encouraging “everyone to...
August pork exports powered by Mexico’s record import pace
August pork exports totaled 226,519 metric tons. Led by Mexico and its record pace of imports. Kelli Wicks, manager of international market development with the National Pork Board, compared the five-year and three-year averages for value of U.S. pork. Wicks says that...
Secretary Naig announces Wright County water quality project
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced today that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has formed a partnership with Wright County and the Wright County Soil and Water Conservation District to launch the first phase of the Boone River...
Dairy Checkoff’s Pizza Partnerships moving “extra cheese”
When you think about a piping hot pizza, what is one of the first things you notice? If you said the melted cheese, we can be friends. If you didn’t, then please read on and I will explain to you why you were wrong. Nothing beats that warm piece of pizza and the...
IFBF launches cash bid comparison tool for members
Recently, the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation launched their online Cash Bid Search tool, which allows farmers to see cash bids for corn and soybeans within a 60-mile radius on a 10-minute delay. Zach Brummer, IFBF’s farmer education program manager, said the tool has...
