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Beef prices expected to keep rising in 2026
Beef prices are expected to continue climbing in the coming year as tight cattle supplies in the United States and abroad strain the global market, analysts said. U.S. cattle inventories remain near multi-decade lows following years of drought that forced ranchers to shrink herds. At the same time, Brazil, the world’s largest beef exporter, is seeing reduced exportable supplies due to herd cycles and strong domestic demand. The combination is limiting available beef at a time when consumer...
Farmers are dealing with severe financial stress
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) is bringing attention to the financial plight of the country’s farmers and ranchers. A recent AFBF Market Intel Report shows that financial stress is severe and persistent across farm country. John Newton, AFBF vice president...
Naig says Vietnam is ready to buy more Iowa products
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig says the state’s recent trade mission to Southeast Asia revealed significant opportunities for Iowa agriculture in Vietnam. The delegation included Iowa commodity groups representing corn, soybeans, pork, and beef, along with...
USDA releases more missing export sales data
More of the missing export data from the government shutdown was released this morning. The most recent report includes data of the week ending October 9th. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said the corn numbers line up well with the expectations from the USDA....
Consider flavorful pork for holiday meals
Many families are indulging in the sizzle, sear, shred, or slice of pork as they finalize their menus for the Thanksgiving celebration. Whitney Hemmer, a registered dietitian with Fareway Meat and Grocery, says pork opens the door to a variety of delicious options for...
With margins tight for farmers, precision spraying technology makes a big difference
As harvest wraps up, the average person not involved in agriculture might think farming is done for a while. However, as every farmer knows, farming might be done for this growing season, but it’s already time to start thinking about next spring. Bryce Baker of PTx...
Secretary Naig urges CARB to quickly implement E15 to benefit California drivers
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig submitted formal comments to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) urging swift action to make E15 available to California drivers. CARB is currently evaluating its implementation plan for allowing the sale of E15, a...
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Lessons learned from this growing season to be applied next year
Every growing season is like a year spent in the agronomy classroom for growers. Every time a farmer thinks they have seen it all, mother nature finds a way to throw a curveball. This year disease pressure was prevalent throughout the Corn Belt and southern rust was...
Covering both genotypes of PCV2 with one vaccine
One of the most influential diseases in the swine industry is porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2). What makes it tricky to handle is the fact that there are two strains to worry about: PCV2a and PCV2d, with the latter having taken over as the predominant genotype in U.S....
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza detected in a commercial turkey flock in Hamilton County
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) have detected a case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1 HPAI) in a commercial turkey flock in...
AFBF emphasizes need for economic assistance
There are still many challenges facing farm country. During a recent phone call with Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins, American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall took the opportunity to discuss two important issues facing agriculture. Duvall said he had a great...
Iowa dairy farmers brace for market & labor challenges in 2026
As 2025 winds down, northwest Iowa dairy farms are taking stock of a year that brought both optimism and new pressures. Sioux County dairy producer Christina Zuiderveen says harvest conditions set a positive tone, even though the year still delivered its share of...
