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Secretary Naig announces 33 renewable fuels infrastructure grants to expand E15 access across Iowa
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced today that the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program (RFIP) Board approved 33 ethanol infrastructure grants during its quarterly meeting on March 11, supporting new and expanded biofuel infrastructure projects at fuel retailers in 25 counties across Iowa. The approved ethanol projects represent more than $2.12 million in state cost-share grants and will help fuel retailers install or upgrade equipment needed to offer E15 (Unleaded 88),...
PRRS is still a real threat to hog herds
We have been spending so much of our recent time worrying about how to prevent African Swine Fever and tracking its march around the globe. While occurrences have lessened, it is still a very real threat. However, we cannot ever put all our eggs into one basket when...
Growth in farmland values continues
Growth in farm real estate values remained strong but showed some signs of easing alongside higher interest rates. The Kansas City Federal Reserve says the average interest rates on farm loans increased from record lows at the beginning of last year to decade highs by...
Red meat demand poised for rebound in China
Consumer demand in China is returning as a COVID wave eases and residents respond to the government?s elimination of most COVID-related restrictions. This increased activity, paired with economic strength for the Chinese consumer, points to a strong second quarter for...
WHO rejects plant-based COVID vaccine
Medicago, a drug manufacturer in Quebec City, Canada, has announced that it is closing down operations. While Health Canada has approved Medicago?s plant-based vaccine, the World Health Organization (WHO) has officially given notice that Medicago?s vaccine will not...
Pork industry still waiting for Supreme Court decision on Prop 12
The United States pork industry is still on hold, waiting for a decision from the Supreme Court regarding its case against California?s Prop 12. The law would try and regulate pork that is imported to California from other states.Tyler Bettin is the director of...
Naig says ?There was no improvement? in Mexico?s corn proposal
The latest chapter in the proposed Mexican ban on GMO corn unfolded last week. The Mexican government says that it will back off on the GMO ban for yellow corn, but will keep it in place for white corn. However, they want to see an open transition to non-GMO yellow...
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More Ag News
Yield implications of drier moisture soybeans
A lot of talk recently about soybean harvest moisture, associated yield loss, and management. We see some areas of the state receiving some much-needed rainfall, not only to help soil moisture but also soybean harvest moisture according to South Central Iowa Farmer...
Precision ag upgrades can help farmers with harvesting
Precision ag upgrades are aftermarket technology add-ons that can be installed on farm equipment that a grower already owns. Upgrades can improve machine performance and application accuracy. Or even improve the entire production process by automating repetitive...
NCBA helps secure passage of animal health priority
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association hailed the reauthorization of the Animal Drug User Fee Act. The act allows the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine to collect fees from animal health companies, which fund the agency’s review and approval process for new...
What will lack of a Farm Bill mean?
On Saturday, Congress barely avoided a government shutdown, but left farmers and the food insecure in the lurch as they did nothing to fix the expiring Farm Bill. Now, before there is any panic, the funding already secured for programs will remain as the government...
NASCAR Cup Series coming to the Iowa Speedway in 2024
Today, NASCAR announced that it is bringing a Cup Series race to the Iowa Speedway for the first time on Sunday, June 16th, 2024. The state of Iowa has been working hard for many years to bring the Cup Series to the Iowa Speedway, which is one of the most challenging...
