Top Stories
Will the cattle cycle turn in 2026?
The CattleFax Outlook Seminar, held as a part of CattleCon 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee, said there are signals showing changes ahead in 2026. The U.S. cattle and beef industry enters 2026 with strong but volatile market conditions, as historically tight cattle supplies, record-setting beef demand, and elevated policy and weather uncertainty continue to support prices, even as markets appear to be near cyclical highs. “Tight inventories and exceptional demand remain the dominant forces shaping...
Vilsack authorizes additional CCC funds for HPAI response
On Wednesday, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack approved Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) funding to assist USDA?s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) response to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).The virus has been confirmed in 29 states,...
Status of cattle market reform: House Ag Committee
Yesterday, we discussed the hearing held in the Senate Ag Committee chambers about the situation with marketing in the cattle industry. The strains on some producers and the grip that the ?Big-4? meatpackers (Cargill, JBS, National Beef, and Tyson) have on the...
U.S. Ambassador to China offers honest look at U.S.-China relationship
If there was one takeaway from last week?s U.S.-China High Level Agricultural Dialogue, it?s that the relationship between the two countries is among the most important for both sides. Speaking virtually from his station overseas, U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas...
Secretary Naig announces funding for 17 urban water quality projects
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig has announced that 17 urban water quality projects will receive funding from the state?s Water Quality Initiative. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) will provide financial and technical assistance...
What are the chances we make our corn production goals?
It?s already been talked to death before the seeds were even in the ground. Producers all know that we can?t afford any preventable losses in production this year. So, what are our chances of getting to our production goals?USDA has set a lofty corn production goal...
Status of cattle market reform: Senate
Cattle market reform bills are moving in both chambers of Congress. Yesterday, the Senate Ag Committee held a hearing on the situation that just a small handful of companies control roughly three-fourths of the marketplace, and what can be done to encourage more...
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More Ag News
Spring Planting Survey shows farmers adjusting to markets & input prices
As we get ready to get going on the 2023 growing season, the biggest question people want to be answered is what do farmers intend to plant. It sets the tone in the markets. It tells the rest of the global marketplace what we hope to have available, and it informs...
Energy department allocates $118 million to biofuel projects
Late last week, the Department of Energy announced $118 million in funding to help expand U.S. biofuel production. Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor says the funds will undoubtedly accelerate the innovations taking place at U.S. ethanol plants. ?It will open many new...
Providing carbon credit opportunities for livestock producers
Most people think of row crop opportunities when they talk about carbon credits, but there are opportunities for livestock producers who own land as well. The folks at Graze Master Group saw this potential and partnered with Agoro Carbon to offer some carbon credit...
NCBA anticipates issues with lesser prairie chicken listing
State and regional cattle groups, along with the National Cattlemen?s Beef Association, are suing the Biden administration over the lesser prairie chicken endangered species listing proposal. NCBA Associate Director for Governmental Affairs Sigrid Johannes said the...
Taking every precaution necessary to prevent African Swine Fever
The Iowa Pork Producers Association held its annual meetings at the Iowa Pork Congress in Des Moines this week. As can be expected, the African Swine Fever virus was a central topic of discussion.The national pork board recently put together a trip to Europe to study...
