Top Stories
House Ag Committee beginning farm bill markup this week
After another delay- this time due to the weather- the House Ag Committee will begin the markup process for the next farm bill. With so much outdated legislation, Congress has their work cut out for them to modernize the top ag policy. Iowa Congressman Randy Feenstra said there are several priorities for Farm Bill 2.0. Perhaps at the top of that list is research funding, with things like New World Screwworm and African Swine Fever posing a threat to U.S. livestock. For more information, visit...
Young farmers and ranchers have a unique leadership opportunity
Young farmers and ranchers should mark their calendars for March 13–16 for the upcoming Young Farmer and Rancher Leadership Conference. Bev Flatt, a Tennessee farmer and member of the American Farm Bureau’s YF&R Committee, said attendees will have a lot to look...
Trump defends tariffs in Iowa speech
President Trump was in Iowa on Tuesday to deliver a speech, campaigning to hold onto the House and Senate in the midterm elections. President Trump pushed back against critics of his tariff policies in front of an Iowa audience including many farmers. Trump says his...
Groups applaud president’s call for year-round E15
The Renewable Fuels Association applauded President Trump for strongly reaffirming his support for America’s ethanol industry. During a stop in Des Moines, Iowa, he called on Congress to send a bill approving year-round E15 to his desk “very quickly.” Trump said he...
Winter no longer a break as HPAI resurfaces in Iowa
Winter weather typically gives Iowa poultry producers some relief from Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, but this season continues to challenge that expectation. Iowa has confirmed a new HPAI detection in Kossuth County involving pheasant production, a reminder that...
U.S. Cattle Inventory Report preview
USDA is set to publish the U.S. Cattle Inventory Report on Friday. The report will update the numbers of the size of the U.S. beef cattle herd. Dr. Derrell Peel, a livestock market economist for Oklahoma State University, says the numbers could show that the industry...
U.S. dairy experiencing changing industry dynamics
As farmers and ranchers work to adapt to changing economic conditions across the farm economy, one sector in particular is undergoing significant shifts. Danny Munch, an economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation, said that U.S. dairy production is reaching...
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More Ag News
Cutting nitrogen inputs without cutting yields
As input costs continue to rise, farmers are looking for ways to reduce costs while maintaining yields. Nitrogen is one of the costliest inputs, and fortunately there is a way to reduce the amount of nitrogen you apply without kneecapping your yields. Mark Peterson, a...
As Iowa farmers hold grain, crop protection continues
With grain prices under pressure and supplies heavy, many Iowa farmers are making the decision to hold grain in storage longer while waiting for better marketing opportunities. According to the USDA, ample production combined with softer demand has kept prices below...
Fareway donates nearly $300,000 of ham to Iowa food banks
Earlier this week, Fareway Stores made a donation of approximately 69,000 pounds of variety hams to the Food Bank of Iowa. The full retail value of this donation is $297,961.61, and that donation will quickly make it to food-insecure Iowans across the state. Annette...
Farmers play a key role in producing Super Bowl snacks
Super Bowl Sunday is consistently one of the highest demand days for food across the U.S., supporting the farm economy. Faith Parum, an economist for the American Farm Bureau Federation, said Super Bowl Sunday can really reflect the abundance of American agriculture....
Saving time on your cattle operation through data and analytics
Time is money for farmers and producers and products that can help simplify data and analytics can save producers time and allow them to keep their operation running smoothly. Dustin Balsley is founder and Chief Operating Officer of Performance Livestock Analytics and...
