Top Stories
Farm Bureau hopes for early 2025 Farm Bill
2025 will be a fresh start in the push for a new modernized and updated five-year farm bill. Ag groups and ag state lawmakers will be hopeful that farm bill work gets completed early in the year, but will that come to fruition? Two farm bill extensions were too many. But how quickly can agriculture recover from the legislative setback, given a new Congress must be seated and cabinet nominees confirmed? That is American Farm Bureau’s Director of Government Affairs Joe Gilson. Congress passed...
Pork herd contractions slowing in most regions
A new Q4 2024 pork report from Rabobank says improved profitability is slowing herd contractions in most regions. However, producers are taking a cautious approach to expansion. Disease pressure in parts of Europe, South Korea, and Southeast Asia are slowing...
Pork industry continues to improve animal welfare
Animals are a large investment and risk for producers. It can be a high reward if the markets and demand hold. Like crops, producers do all they can to protect their investment. You needn’t look any further than what has happened with the Pure Prairie Poultry mess to...
Low-crop-price relief still an active topic on Capitol Hill
Relief for low crop prices in a lame-duck session is still an active topic on Capitol Hill as prospects for a new farm bill this year dwindle with the close of the 118th Congress. American Farm Bureau’s Joe Gilson has been meeting with farm lawmakers and staffers,...
U.S. Export Sales Report (10-31-24)
Once again, the weekly export sales have been great for both corn and soybeans. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said we almost had record-setting sales in both grains. Flash sales also continued to come it at a great pace. McBride said there are a few factors...
Western Region FFA VP brings rural and urban experience
There are four new regional vice presidents on this year’s National FFA Leadership team. One is Abigale Jacobsen, the West Region Vice President from Elk Grove, California. Jacobsen said her background, with plenty of rural and urban experience, gives her a unique...
Secretary Naig announces the creation of the Iowa organic advisory council
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today announced the formation of the Iowa Organic Advisory Council within the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and appointed seven Iowans to serve on it. A similar Organic Advisory Council existed previously...
Video
More Ad News
Biologicals provide most benefit for producers with a supplemental approach
The biological market has expanded very quickly in recent years and biological companies are striving to demonstrate their value to producers as part of a supplemental crop plan. Brent Lackey is the head of biologicals product marketing with Syngenta and he says that...
Recent rains soaking deep into the soil profile
After one of the driest starts in recorded history for October, the end of the month brought plenty of rain. At this point, the weather is now continuing with a wetter pattern. Justin Glisan, state climatologist for Iowa, gave an update on the latest conditions. Since...
Adding value to the U.S. pork industry through innovation
Research-backed innovation uses technology, consumer trends and cuts to add value to the product. Kevin Sheehan, director of processor engagement at the National Pork Board, said innovation has been very beneficial to the packer side of the industry. Sheehan said...
Tractor manufacturers slow production as demand declines
As farmers struggle with low crop prices, relatively high interest rates and increased input costs, fewer are making big-ticket purchases like tractors, combines and farm implements, resulting in a backlog of inventory across the globe. Machinery manufacturer AGCO has...
What would a major animal disease response look like?
We talk at length about the diseases that affect the livestock industry, whether it is H5N1, PRRS, or BRD. One of the things we have been blessed to not discuss, though, is African Swine Fever (ASF) or any other foreign animal disease (FAD) of that caliber. We know...