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Strong protein demand meets ongoing producer challenges
Growing consumer interest in protein-rich diets is helping drive optimism across the livestock industry, even as producers continue to manage risk and long-term investment decisions. Marshall Hansen, Senior Vice President of Corporate Proteins with Farm Credit Services of America, says understanding the needs of individual sectors is central to how lenders work alongside producers. Hansen says that specialized focus comes from teams dedicated to specific segments of the livestock industry,...
Be early and active when managing post-emergence weeds
With most of the crops planted at this point, it’s time to be thinking about post-emergence weed management already. Northeast Iowa Beck’s Agronomist Lee Koenigsfeld said it’s important to take care of weeds while they are small and easy to kill. When it comes to...
U.S. cattle herd may be rebuilding due to strong demand
Signs are pointing to a rebuilding of the cattle herd in response to continued strong consumer demand driven by increasing quality. That was the message from CattleFax CEO Randy Blach to attendees of the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Spring Conference as it got...
GT Thompson stresses farm safety net as tax bill heads to Senate
House Ag Chair GT Thompson says the Trump Tax Bill, which is now headed to the Senate, will improve the farm safety net. While most of last week’s House debate on the president’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” focused on SNAP and Medicaid savings opposed by Democrats, Ag...
Ethanol industry urges Reynolds to veto eminent domain bill
Iowa ethanol advocates and farmers are urging Gov. Kim Reynolds to veto a bill restricting carbon sequestration pipelines. The advocates said in a press conference Thursday the bill is “extremely problematic” to biofuels, farming, energy and Iowa economies. The bill,...
Butterfield’s lullaby: 24 simple notes that carry a lot of weight
If you slept through history class, you did not miss anything about General Daniel Butterfield. Nobody really talks about him. However, there is not an American who does not know at least something about him, even if they do not realize it. AUDIO: Profit Matters...
Some farmers are having to replant in Northeast Iowa
It’s never a pleasant thought, but it’s important for farmers to understand when they might have to pull the trigger and replant some crops. Northeast Iowa Beck’s Agronomist Lee Koenigsfeld said planting was mostly done in his area, but some farmers have had to get...
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Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program (RFIP) grants boost biodiesel access at Iowa fuel retailers
At its first meeting of the new fiscal year, the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program (RFIP) awarded $1,124,750 in grants to support biofuel expansion across Iowa. The funding will assist 20 retail sites in adding B11 biodiesel and 4 sites in adding E15. “We are...
USDA cuts could strain Iowa farm services
Farmers across the country rely on their local USDA offices for a range of services, including conservation programs and crop insurance support, but concerns are growing that these services could be at risk. With staffing shortages already placing strain on field...
Corn exports set marketing-year low in latest report
After many weeks of outstanding corn export sales, the numbers this week came in well below expectations and led to a negative close in the corn marketplace. Sam Trainor, AgMarket.Net hedging strategist, the corn exports set a marketing-year low. However, Trainor said...
Iowa farmers are still waiting for a new farm bill
While Congress’s One Big Beautiful Bill budget package included approximately $66 billion investment in key farm programs, there’s still work to be done. Brian Glenn, director of government affairs with the American Farm Bureau Federation, said a key focus was on...
Grassley cites Brazil tariff threat as probably the most important
Brazil is one of the United States’ biggest competitors in agricultural trade. The nation of Brazil has surpassed the United States as the world’s largest soybean exporter and is also one of the top exporters of beef, often competing with U.S. producers. Therefore,...
