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Full-scale beef herd rebuild remains on hold
Typically, when beef prices are at a high level in the grocery store and herd numbers are low, the response is a rebuilding of supply. Nate Kauffman, the senior vice president and Omaha branch executive for the Kansas City Fed, says the numbers show there should be some rebuilding underway. Kauffman describes why producers are not eager to add to their herd right now. Despite the smaller herd size, Kauffman says the beef industry is finding ways to continue to meet beef demand by feeding to...
Ongoing Farm Bill discussions could look different in January
The 2023 Farm Bill has been discussed quite a few times in the respective chambers of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees. There have been hearings on climate change, subsidies, and nutrition. This is the biggest food policy document in the government, and...
Dairy industry looking to make some market reforms as well
We have been hearing much about the need for market reform in the beef industry and the debates that have been going along with that. Producers are questioning how much market share is too much when only four packers call the shots on 85% of the marketplace.Beef isn?t...
Basic principles of PRRS control are still effective at preventing outbreaks
Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) can have a devastating economic effect on the swine industry, whether that?s locally or nationally. New strains of the virus often create concern among both producers and veterinarians, but time and time again, the...
USDA acreage report shows farmers staying the course
Farmers have gotten off to a rough start this year when it comes to planting and we have been through the ringer in many forms this growing season. In turn, farmers have planted slightly less acres than last year according to the June 30 acreage report from...
Iowa?s Region 9 crop update
Mother nature is showing farmers who is boss this season, while also showing some favoritism towards certain parts of the state. As the growing season is moving right along for Iowa, some regions are having better luck this year than others. Southeast Iowa has started...
House lawmakers introduce American Port Access Privileges Act
Two California Democrats Wednesday introduced the American Port Access Privileges Act in the House of Representatives. John Garamendi and Jim Costa say the bill follows up on the Ocean Shipping Reform Act. Representative Costa says, ?We need to remove bottlenecks and...
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Fertilizer prices down at an inopportune time
Fertilizer prices skyrocketed for much of 2022, but 2023 is a different story so far. Prices are down almost across the board from this time last year. Unfortunately, as planting season approaches many farmers have already locked in their plans and pricing for...
Safety tips for proper manure application
As spring approaches and once the fields are ready, farmers and manure handlers may be pumping nutrient-dense manure to apply to crop fields. Marguerite Tan, director of environmental programs with the National Pork Board, says safety is where you must start, at the...
U.S. pork seeking tariff relief in the Philippines
The Philippine Tariff Commission is conducting a comprehensive review of its most favored nation (MFN) tariff schedule. The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) filed comments in this proceeding, requesting that recent temporary reductions in the Philippines? MFN...
Davidson Prize winner revolutionizing greenhouse covers
The old saying is that ?necessity is the mother of invention.? There is a lot of truth to that, and it doesn?t always mean that there is a sense of urgency behind every idea. Sometimes it?s just time for an old idea to finally be improved upon, which seems to be...
ERS releases report on U.S. export crop competitiveness
The USDA?s Economic Research Service released a report titled ?U.S. Export Competitiveness in Select Crop Markets,? and it showed the U.S. is still the world?s top corn exporter. The report says that export shares and exports-to-production ratios indicate that the...
