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South American Weather and Crop Update (3-3-26)
As harvest wraps up in Brazil for the soybean crop, the safrinha corn crop is being planted right behind it. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said the weather forecast looks good for both processes to continue smoothly. While progress is behind the usual pace, McBride said there are still no major concerns with the amount of harvest progress that has been made so far. Some groups are lowering their estimates for Brazil’s 2026 harvest total, but McBride said it’s still going to be...
Axne talks current efforts to combat supply chain issues and food prices
Last Friday, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced an investment of $11.1 million for Crystal Freeze Dry LLC in Panora, Iowa, to help the company expand its capacity to manufacture freeze-dried egg products and create job opportunities for rural Iowans. These funds...
Growing season weather challenges don’t slow down Iowa soybean harvest
Morey Hill, a soybean farmer and Iowa Soybean Association board member from central Iowa, tells the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network that he has learned through many years of farming how to tell when his soybeans are ready for harvest. His method might not be the same...
Farm financing demand edges higher
Strong agricultural prices continue to support the farm economy, but the rapid rise in production expenses could pressure profit margins. That?s pushing the demand for farm financing higher. Larger-sized operating loans are continuing to boost farm lending activity....
Why are input costs staying so high, & what is fertilizer?s future?
As the combines roll across Iowa, many producers' minds are already on the 2023 growing season. While there are many factors that go into a crop, this year a lot of folks are focused on those large dollar signs. Cost is the one factor that overreaches all of...
Vilsack announces $11.1 million investment for Crystal Freeze Dry LLC
Today, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced an investment of $11.1 million under the Food Supply Chain Guaranteed Loan Program for Crystal Freeze Dry LLC, which will help the company expand capacity to manufacture freeze-dried egg...
Plenty of uncertainty surrounding the effects of Mexico?s 2024 ban on GMO corn
The Mexican government announced it will be phasing out GMO corn and glyphosate by 2024. Mexico is one of the largest importers of U.S. corn, so that announcement caused concern in the U.S. agricultural sector. David Widmar, an agricultural economist with Agricultural...
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More Ag News
Economic viability begins in your hog nursery
?Let?s start at the beginning; a very good place to start.?Okay, I don?t claim to like ?The Sound of Music? by any means, but I know that it is a very famous line in the movie. There is a lot of truth to that saying and its many incarnations over the generations. Its...
Drought continues to expand across the state
Despite decent rainfalls over the weekend, drought conditions continue to expand across Iowa. At this point, it?s going to take a lot to even make a dent on moisture deficits in some areas. Iowa State Climatologist Dr. Justin Glisan gave an update on the U.S. Drought...
Prop 12 timeline delayed, but industry concerns still remain
Pork already in the pipeline will get an added six months to be sold in California before the standards of Proposition 12 go fully into effect under an agreement between the courts and the California Department of Food and Agriculture. The product must be produced by...
Connecting with customers to deliver sustainable pork products
Studies from within the pork industry have shown that customers value sustainable pork products and seek out those products in the marketplace, says Chris Hostetler the director of animal science with the National Pork Board.Chris says that customers often purchase...
NPPC talks about strategies in trade
Last week, we started a conversation with Maria Zieba, Vice President of International Affairs for the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC). In the conversation we talked a little bit about the strong start that trade has had in 2023 for the pork industry. Also, we...
