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Food and agriculture generate 20 percent of all U.S. economic activity
Every year, the Feeding the Economy report provides a comprehensive look at the full economic footprint of U.S. food and agriculture. Among the report’s biggest takeaways is that food and agriculture support $10.4 trillion in total U.S. economic output, representing about 20 percent of all economic activity. The sector supports almost 29 million jobs, or roughly 30 percent of total U.S. employment, even though on-farm jobs account for less than two percent. Food and agriculture generate over...
Small machines with big impact on Iowa farms
Utility vehicles may not always be the largest machines on an operation, but John Deere says they are often among the most used. As farms continue to look for efficiency in daily tasks, the company says feedback from producers is shaping how newer Gator models are...
Doubts around year-round E15 linger
Agreement on legislation to allow year-round E15 sales continued to elude farm and oil interests despite a Sunday deadline. A draft plan by the House GOP’s Rural Domestic Energy Council failed to win support by the weekend from mid-sized oil refiners who killed...
U.S. and Taiwan sign reciprocal trade agreement
Last week, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative announced the signing of a reciprocal trade agreement between the U.S. and Taiwan. U.S. Meat Export Federation President and CEO Dan Halstrom said the agreement includes significant market access gains for U.S....
NASCAR partnering with POET to use new zero-carbon fuel
As part of a new partnership with POET, NASCAR has become the first major U.S. motorsport to utilize zero-carbon ethanol. This makes POET, which is already the nation’s largest biofuel producer, the Official Biofuel Partner of NASCAR. POET Founder and CEO Jeff Broin...
Full-scale beef herd rebuild remains on hold
Typically, when beef prices are at a high level in the grocery store and herd numbers are low, the response is a rebuilding of supply. Nate Kauffman, the senior vice president and Omaha branch executive for the Kansas City Fed, says the numbers show there should be...
Secretary Naig calls on Congress for year-round E15 access
Today, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig urged the U.S. House of Representatives’ Rural Domestic Energy Council to find agreement to make year-round E15 available to drivers around the country. Secretary Naig, a longtime biofuels advocate, reinforced the...
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More Ag News
Congress will have increased oversight over the president’s latest tariffs
The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled 6–3 that IEEPA (International Emergency Economic Powers Act) does not authorize the president to impose tariffs. This invalidates all tariffs based solely on IEEPA. Following the ruling the administration pivoted to Section 122...
U.S. farmers turn to specialty crops as profit margins tighten
Some U.S. farmers are turning to specialty crops and alternative enterprises as low commodity prices and high input costs squeeze traditional farm profits. Extension specialists say interest is rising in wine grapes, specialty grains, produce and agritourism ventures....
Signup period for Dairy Margin Coverage Program ends this week
The signup deadline for the Dairy Margin Coverage Program ends on Thursday, February 26. Trey Forsyth, the vice president of government and regulatory affairs for the National Milk Producers Federation, said the DMC has been improved by multiple changes. Forsyth said...
South American Weather and Crop Update (2-24-26)
With all of the uncertainty in the U.S. ag marketplace, South America may be positioned to take some global market share back. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said the latest weather forecasts look mostly good for their crops. McBride said harvest progress in...
Naig highlights Iowa results as E15 access grows
As questions continue in Washington about the future of year-round E15, Iowa leaders say the state is already seeing what expanded access can do. From more fuel choices at the pump to stronger demand for corn, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig says Iowa’s...
