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Secretary Naig calls on Congress for year-round E15 access
Today, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig urged the U.S. House of Representatives’ Rural Domestic Energy Council to find agreement to make year-round E15 available to drivers around the country. Secretary Naig, a longtime biofuels advocate, reinforced the cost-saving benefits of E15 at a time when affordability is top of mind for many Americans. According to the Iowa Department of Revenue’s 2024 Annual Retailers Fuel Gallons Report, E15 sales grew 44 percent from 2023 to 2024, reaching...
Pork policy perplexes a plethora of politicians
It is only a small percentage of lawmakers in Congress that know anything about rural America. Rural areas of the country make up only a small percentage of representation in the House of Representatives. Getting the story out to that many people is a Herculean task...
Iowa?s Region 6 crop update
Once again, the weather is affecting farmers across the state of Iowa. Some in the best way, while others in a not so good way. So far, this growing season, farmers have had to deal with drought conditions, damaging winds, strong storms, and excess amounts of rain....
Chief economist from Steiner Consulting Group highlights Hogs and Pigs Report
The USDA?s quarterly Hogs and Pigs Report showed 72.5 million hogs and pigs, down 1% from last year and down slightly from last quarter. Altin Kalo, Chief Economist at Steiner Consulting Group says inventory increased significantly for a couple of years, but we have...
Mexico and the Caribbean driving soaring demand for U.S. lamb
U.S. lamb exports so far in 2022 are 49% over the previous year by volume. Export value during that same period climbed 76% to nearly $10 million. While much of the growth is in variety meat exports to Mexico, the Caribbean is the largest destination for U.S. lamb...
Vilsack announces Bioproduct Pilot Program
The Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for a new pilot program to support the development of biobased products. Specifically, USDA is looking for products that have lower carbon footprints and increase the use of renewable agricultural materials,...
One in three nursery pigs do not make it to market
You read that headline right, one in three nursery pigs do not make it to market in the US. This is a figure that needs to be improved upon when you consider the cost of each animal, and the potential profit margin each one brings. Before you panic, there are...
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More Ag News
Corn fighting against E15 struggles and Mexico ban
Recently, we?ve talked a lot about corn?s success with export sales, especially when we discuss market prices. But there are two other things that the corn industry is battling right now that are really impeding it from reaching its full potential: the Biden...
Added facilities in Iowa improve production capability for Benson Hill
Benson Hill has been expanding its infrastructure in the state of Iowa in recent years. Jeff Johnson, the vice president of grower supply chain with Benson Hill says that the company?s recent facilities expansion in the state has been a big benefit for Iowa...
USDA trade mission to Panama brings good news for ethanol
Alexis Taylor, USDA Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, took her first trade mission trip to Panama. She led a group of almost 30 U.S. agribusinesses, farm groups, state and regional groups, and state departments of agriculture. Taylor says this...
Finding ourselves in a new trade dynamic
As we navigate this current economical climate, there are things we need to consider. The global marketplace is not the same as it has been in years prior. Countries and populations are changing. We are seeing negative population growth in countries like China and...
Midwest farmers planting more corn and wheat
Midwestern farmers are planning to plant more corn and wheat this spring. An Ag Access survey says farmers will add 27 percent more acres to corn and 32 percent more to wheat. A smaller percentage, at 17 percent, says they?ll increase their soybean acres. The survey...
