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Midwest set up for beneficial growing conditions
Last week the Midwest and the Corn Belt experienced widespread severe weather with storms, damaging winds, and heavy rains. This week the weather pattern should be more tame but with adequate rainfall still helping crops through critical growth stages says USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey. Rippey says the Midwest is in line for beneficial rainfall for pastures and crops as pollination draws near. Rippey adds that with critical growth stages approaching for U.S. crops, rainfall will be welcome...
Grassley discusses timeline for potential new farm bill in 2025
Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) says that it is looking more and more likely that a new farm bill is not passed in time in 2024. With a time crunch for Congress following the presidential election in early November, and still no farm bill compromise in place, another...
U.S. corn production up while soybean production drops
Friday’s USDA Crop Production Report showed corn production is forecast at 15.2 billion bushels, up less than one percent from the previous forecast, but down one percent from last year. Soybean growers are expected to increase their production by ten percent from...
A Christmas miracle amid a September hurricane
For a few weeks, we have been focused on the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, and Georgia. We have stories of loss and destruction. The disruption of lives has been breaking our hearts and leaving us all struggling to find ways to...
Chefs across Vietnam gather for Porkstars competition
Chefs from across Vietnam recently competed in Porkstars, a cooking competition designed to promote creative uses of U.S. pork. Now in its third year, the livestreamed event is a collaboration between the U.S. Meat Export Federation, the National Pork Board, the...
Gas prices should remain mostly unaffected by Hurricane Milton
Back-to-back hurricanes in the southern United States are taking a tremendous toll on everyone involved. One of the few places that likely won’t feel as big of an effect is the price of gas. Patrick DeHaan of GasBuddy.com said Milton, the latest hurricane, likely...
Ag trade deficit continues to grow
The ag trade deficit continues to grow, based on USDA’s latest trade figures for fiscal year ’24 through August. USDA Economist Bart Kenner says US farm exports continue to decrease. Imports on the other hand are on the upswing. That’s nearly twice the farm trade...
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More Ag News
U.S. Export Sales Report (2-13-25)
Much like the February WASDE report, this week’s export sales did not provide much news for the markets to react to. Allendale commodity broker Ben Breisch gave an update on the latest numbers. However, Breisch said the soybeans are trending in a concerning direction....
Big changes in 2025 to help save money
While inflation finally shows signs of slowing, consumers still face higher costs and an uncertain economic future. A recent AARP survey found one in three older adults feeling financially insecure. Sean Voskuhl, Oklahoma State Director for the AARP, talked about the...
South American bean production and balance sheets
On Tuesday the USDA published the February WASDE report which provides both domestic and global supply and demand estimates. One of the biggest changes in this month’s numbers were to the Argentinian soybean crop says World Agricultural Outlook Board Chair Mark...
Rollins confirmed as Ag Secretary
Brooke Rollins won confirmation as the new Secretary of Agriculture by a 72-28 Senate vote. Several U.S. agriculture groups congratulated the Texan on her confirmation. “America’s pork producers are eager to work with Secretary Rollins to fix the multitude of problems...
Cattle market reversal could spark volatile weeks ahead
After years of steadily climbing numbers and a recent period of volatile price swings, the cattle markets have made a reversal. What once seemed like an unstoppable rally has now shifted course, catching many in the industry off guard. Tight supplies, shifting demand,...
