Top Stories
Naig says Iowa agriculture needs stability in uncertain cycle
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig says farmers and agribusinesses across the state are facing growing pressure from multiple directions, including higher operating costs, workforce challenges, and continued uncertainty in the broader farm economy. Speaking this week in Des Moines, Naig said many operations are feeling squeezed as expenses remain high and margins tighten, a situation he described as feeling like death by a thousand cuts. He said those pressures extend beyond the farm gate...
NPPC opens World Pork Expo by talking about change
Since 1988, the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) has presented the World Pork Expo. The World Pork Expo started off largely as a promotional event with a few company booths and a live animal show. However, the pork industry has changed immensely since then, so...
Pork trade slower, but mood at WPX is optimistic
The economy is making everybody rethink their budgets. It also means that trade is being affected around the globe. The Biden Administration hasn?t put the same focus on trade that the Trump administration did, and you can read into that anything you like.Political...
South Korea to open duty-free quota for imported pork
To combat inflation, South Korea is the latest country to suspend their duties on some of their imported food items, pork included. Korea?s government is planning to establish a tariff rate quota (TRQ) that will allow pork imports to enter at zero duty. Along with...
Farmers National Company: land prices up 20%
The stronger land prices of late 2021 continued higher through the first half of 2022. After a calm period at the start of the year with prices steady, prices took another jump up as a result of the outbreak of war in Ukraine and ongoing inflation fears. Farmers saw...
Navigator CO2 Ventures partners with POET for carbon capture
We have talked in the past about the new Heartland Greenway Project that will be spanning a large chunk of the upper Midwest and has much of its operation in Iowa. Navigator CO2 Ventures LLC is leading the way on carbon disposal with this project. The project is aimed...
Farm Bureau announces iFarmiVote voter toolkit for rural America
As we enter the middle of 2022, we know that the inundation of political ads and commentary is only going to increase. Not only are there local and state elections, but it is also the midterms for the Congressional elections, and it will be interesting to see which...
Video
More Ag News
Strong interest in U.S. beef at Gulfood in Dubai
With support from USDA, the Beef Checkoff Program and the Texas Beef Council, the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) promoted U.S. beef at Gulfood, one of the world?s largest food trade shows. The event was held Feb. 20-24 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. USMEF CEO...
A strong year for Iowa pork producers
Kevin Rasmussen is a farmer from Humboldt County Iowa who served as the Iowa Pork Producers Association President in 2022 and now serves on the board of directors. He says that 2022 was a year of smooth sailing.Rasmussen says that a big focus in 2022 was helping to...
Chief Ag Negotiator talks top trade priorities
Doug McKalip is busy in his role as Chief Agricultural Negotiator with the U.S. Trade Representative?s Office. At the recent USDA Ag Outlook Forum, McKalip talked about some of his top priorities.?The first focus would be on keeping markets we have open,? McKalip...
Iowa to request emergency E15 waiver for 2023
States seeking year-round E-15 may request an emergency waiver for the 2023 summer driving season. The Environment Protection Agency announced a proposal this week to allow year-round E-15 in states that requested the waiver. However, the proposal delays...
ARC/PLC signup deadline fast approaching
The temperatures are turning warmer. Soon, we will be back in daylight savings time. The itch to get the dirt turned and the seed planted is starting to affect us all. It?s almost time to start the 2023 crop season here in Iowa. However, before you do any of that, you...
