Top Stories
Greater consistency and quality for consumers and retailers
Familiar USDA grading systems, such as those for beef at your local store, are becoming more technologically advanced to ensure greater consistency and quality for consumers and retailers alike. Robert Eaton at the Agricultural Marketing Service explains how artificial intelligence is being used as a time- and cost-saving tool for meat grading. The use of this technology for grading is not limited to beef; as Eaton’s colleague Charles Parr puts it, weeks of development have made it an...
USMCA review begins July 1 with an uncertain future
Mexico and Canada, two of the three USMCA nations, have said they want this collaboration to continue, unlike U.S. President Donald Trump. President Trump, speaking to reporters at the June G7 meeting in France, seemed unconvinced about continuing this collaboration....
Iowa response limits pseudorabies trade impacts
Iowa's response to a recent pseudorabies case demonstrated how established animal health protocols can protect both livestock and export markets. The virus was detected in a small commercial swine herd after pigs that had previously been housed in Texas were moved...
Above normal temperatures and near to below normal rainfall in the forecast
The latest 8-14 day forecast provides details on the upcoming weather for the beginning of pollination season. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says that the Midwest will experience some hot temperatures at the end of June and beginning of July. Rippey says the...
Premium opportunities for row crop markets
Unlike commodity crops, farmers growing premium crops can demand higher prices, with some of them being hard to grow, while others are not. Kelsey Graber, the product line manager for specialty corn at Clarkson Grain in Illinois, highlights the fact that despite...
Clean Fuels: EPA building domestic markets for farmers
According to Clean Fuels Alliance America, the Environmental Protection Agency's finalized Renewable Fuel Standard volumes for 2026 and 2027 will provide an important economic boost for American farmers by expanding domestic demand for biofuel feedstocks. The group...
AgMarket.Net releases USDA Acreage report estimates
Next week, we will finally see the much-anticipated USDA Acreage report. The March Planting Intentions report showed a shift of corn acres to soybean acres, and many estimates are showing that even more acres may have shifted to soybeans since then. Garret Arndorfer,...
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More Ag News
Making every drop count
Despite drones rapidly gaining popularity among farmers as a viable alternative for spraying, they remain a relatively new technology in farming. Tyler Steinkamp, technical agronomist for Winfield United, oversaw the station showcasing how droplets travel after...
Thinking about fall diesel fuel needs
Crude oil prices are returning to levels that were familiar before the United States war with Iran, but diesel and gasoline prices are still higher. It is expected that diesel and gasoline prices will recede to normal levels, but it may take a few months, probably at...
House Ag Chair proposes sweeping change in ag labor program
House Agriculture Committee Chairman G. T. Thompson has introduced legislation aimed at expanding the H-2A agricultural guest worker program and addressing long-standing farm labor shortages. Politico said “The Securing Agriculture's Workforce Act of 2026” would...
Strong hog prices mean producers can improve their operations
The swine industry is much stronger in 2026 than it has been in recent years, and that means producers are able to invest back into their farms and create more long-term benefits. Val Weis, commercial lending officer with Farm Credit Services of America, said farmers...
County fairs teach lessons beyond the ribbon
County fairs are underway across Iowa, bringing communities together to celebrate agriculture while giving thousands of young people an opportunity to showcase months of hard work and preparation. While livestock shows and exhibits often draw the most attention,...
