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New NCBA president outlines priorities for 2026
Gene Copenhaver, a producer from southwest Virginia, is the new president of the National Cattlmen’s Beef Association. Copenhaver tells the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network about his cattle operation and a business relationship with the state of Iowa. He says that while he is excited to lead in his new position as NCBA president, NCBA leadership is a team effort. Copenhaver tells Iowa Ag Radio about the priorities for NCBA in 2026 and beyond. Gene Copenhaver spoke with the Iowa Agribusiness...
Live bird exhibition ban lifted
Today, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship announced the March 23 order that cancelled all live bird exhibitions at fairs and other gatherings of birds due to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been lifted. It has been 30 days since USDA...
Bees & agriculture: what does the future hold?
For the past few years, we have been talking about the use of insecticides in agriculture and the effect it is having on the pollinators that are depended on in the ecosystem. Sometimes the discussions were heated. Sometimes the discussions were only inclusive to one...
AgriGold agronomist talks early season crop management
As we start the month of June, many farmers are either finished with planting or are wrapping it up soon. Of course, that doesn?t mean all the work is done. Now, it?s time to look for crop emergence and stands. Southwest Iowa AgriGold Agronomist Sue Brakhane, who is...
Farm Bureau gathering input on Farm Bill
The American Farm Bureau Federation is working on gathering farmers? priorities as the 2023 Farm Bill is starting its process of being created by lawmakers. AFBF Vice President of Public Policy, Sam Kieffer, says over the summer many lawmakers will be gathering...
Southwest Airlines invest in sustainable fuel project
Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) announces an investment into SAFFiRE Renewables, LLC (SAFFiRE), a company formed by D3MAX, LLC (D3MAX), as part of a Department of Energy (DOE)-backed project to develop and produce scalable, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Funded...
FSA offers penalty-free early termination of expiring CRP contracts
It is nothing new to see farmers requesting early termination of Conservation Reserve Program acres. Usually, it is granted in the final year with an applicable penalty. This allows producers to bring their acres back into production and not lose a large chunk of...
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More Ag News
South American Weather and Crop Update (2-28-23)
While the rains here in Iowa have been helpful, the rains in Brazil have done more harm than good. Harvest has been delayed- which means planting is delayed too- and farmers are worried about missing the optimal planting conditions. Allendale commodity broker Greg...
Senator Grassley voices CRP concerns
The Senate Committee On Agriculture will hold a farm bill hearing Wednesday regarding conservation programs including the conservation reserve program or CRP.Iowa U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley says that President Biden?s executive order, which is commonly referred to as...
Drought monitor finally sees significant improvement
Heading into this winter, there were a lot of questions about the drought conditions. We didn?t get nearly enough precipitation before the ground froze, so it looked like those heavy moisture deficits were going to stick around until spring. However, we?ve had a very...
Don?t try succession planning on your own
When you look at the family farming operation, ask yourself this one question; ?did I do this on my own??Were you the one who first turned the ground and built the buildings?Are you the only one who tills, plants, sprays, fertilizes, protects, harvests, and hauls your...
USDA report says farmers adopting precision ag at different rates
Farmers are adopting precision technologies at different rates. A USDA report says the largest farms are adopting auto-steer guidance technology at significantly higher rates. After sorting farms into five equally-sized groups, the agency found that among farmers who...
