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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 are enjoying higher price points. Weis said there are a couple things that producers can do with their swine herds to protect them from excessive disease and increase their return on investment. The strong swine economy can...
Naig highlights IDALS 2025 legislative wish list
The Iowa Legislative Session is officially underway, bringing new opportunities to address key issues across the state. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) has outlined its priorities for this year, focusing on initiatives to support Iowa’s...
Despite political turmoil in South Korea, U.S. red meat demand remains strong
Embattled South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been arrested and indicted after briefly imposing martial law in December. Yoon also faces an impeachment trial that will determine if he is formally removed from office. U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Vice...
Breakthrough BRD vaccine could save U.S. cattle industry $1 billion in costs
U.S. cattle supplies have been at historically low levels. This is made even worse by bovine respiratory disease (BRD), which kills an estimated 8 million calves every year. Fortunately, a professor from Louisiana State University has been working on a solution to the...
Cattle on feed report shows lower placements
The first USDA Cattle on Feed report for the year shows lower placement of cattle on feedlots compared to the same period last year. That is USDA livestock economist Mike McConnell. 11.8 million head of cattle were on feedlots as of January 1st which is a 1% decline...
Ethanol production rises in mid-January
Ethanol output rose during the seven days ending on January 17 as inventories climbed to their highest level in nine months. Data from the Energy Information Administration says production increased to an average of 1.099 million barrels a day, up from 1.095 million...
LG Seeds preparing Iowa farmers for 2025
The past few years in agriculture have been nothing short of tumultuous, with Iowa standing at the forefront of weather extremes. From historic floods to unprecedented droughts, farmers have faced shifting conditions that have tested their resilience and adaptability....
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Fiscal year ag trade at the midway point
We have reached the halfway point of the ag trade year, and it is a good time to analyze the numbers for imports and exports thus far. USDA economist James Kaufman says exports are down from last year while imports continue to increase. Kaufman expands on the ag trade...
USDA’s Rollins says Proposition 12 ‘Just not sustainable’
At a U.S. House Appropriations Committee hearing on the U.S. Department of Agriculture budget, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins weighed in on California Proposition 12 and similar laws that affect livestock production. In response to a question from Committee...
Modern Ag Alliance pushes late for labeling legislation
Even though the Iowa Legislature was scheduled to adjourn last week, work at the Capitol is far from over. Lawmakers remain locked in negotiations over unresolved budget issues, keeping the session alive past its intended deadline. Amid the ongoing debates, the Modern...
Is emergence the secret to higher corn yields?
In a perfect world all corn plants would emerge simultaneously within the same window. Unfortunately, farmers operate in an imperfect world and ideal, even emergence is not a given. In a year with tight margins, AgriGold Agronomist Brett Leahr says that growers can...
Mental Health Awareness Month: It’s okay to not be okay
May is Mental Health Awareness month. The stresses of farming can easily take a toll on you or your family members, especially during a busy time like planting season. In his weekly commentary provided to farm broadcasters, American Farm Bureau Federation Zippy Duvall...
