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George Washington’s cherries reveal agricultural legacy
The story of George Washington and a cherry tree has long been part of American folklore. While historians have dismissed that tale as fiction, a recent discovery at Mount Vernon has revealed a very real connection between the nation's first president and the fruit he cultivated on his Virginia estate. During restoration work at Mount Vernon, archaeologists uncovered bottles of preserved cherries hidden within the mansion. The discovery quickly became more than a routine archaeological find....
South American Weather and Crop Update (10-1-24)
Monsoon season will be starting soon in Brazil, which means they will finally get some much-needed rains. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the upcoming forecast in South America. The longer-term forecast is much the same. McBride added that...
Farmers are already feeling the impact of the expired farm bill
With no new farm bill in place after the 2018 farm bill deadline passed, there are already impacts on U.S. farmers and ranchers. Sam Kieffer, vice president of public policy for the American Farm Bureau Federation, outlined some of the programs that went away. Keiffer...
How has U.S. ag trade evolved in the last 100 years?
A lot has changed in the United States ag trade over the last century. USDA senior economist Sharon Sydow at this year’s ag outlook forum explains where the U.S. ag economy was 100 years ago. Price volatility, foreclosures, and high land values were all thorns in the...
U.S. hog inventory up slightly
The U.S. inventory of hogs and pigs on September 1, 2024, totaled 76.5 million head, up slightly from September 1, 2023, and two percent higher than June 1, 2024. Breeding inventory, at 6.04 million head, was down two percent from last year, but up one percent from...
Rural North Carolina reeling after Hurricane Helene
We are no stranger to storm damage in the Midwest. Hail, tornados, and derechos can wreak havoc on our acres. But for everything we deal with, except for the 2020 derecho, it is nothing compared to the strength of a hurricane. The Southeastern part of the country is...
Quarterly Grain Stocks report didn’t make much of an impact
The grain markets were positioned for an impactful Quarterly Grain Stocks report, but what we got today was simply a neutral and slightly positive report. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said the corn numbers were friendly to the marketplace. McBride said the...
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More Ag News
Protecting your pasture cattle from parasites
Parasites will be close by when cattle are out on pasture. Good pasture management and a strategic deworming protocol can limit the chances of parasites affecting the efficiency and performance of your beef herd. Dr. D.L Step, a professional services veterinarian with...
Lower domestic cattle inventory to start the year
USDA’s first Cattle Inventory report for 2025 reflects a year over year decrease says USDA livestock analyst Mike McConnell. The overall herd size continues to contract with numbers remaining very low, but McConnell says that there are some interesting takeaways from...
Secretary Naig launches the Choose Iowa butchery innovation grant program
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today announced the launch of the Choose Iowa Butchery Innovation Grant program. Small-scale meat processors and custom lockers are encouraged to submit proposals to expand meat processing capacity within Iowa. This grant is...
Strong U.S. red meat presence at Tokyo’s Yakiniku Business Fair
With support from USDA, the Beef Checkoff Program and the United Soybean Board, U.S. beef and pork were showcased at the Yakiniku Business Fair in Tokyo, one of the most important annual trade shows for Japan’s restaurant sector. Tom Kasatani, U.S. Meat Export...
What will tariffs mean for fertilizers?
EDIT: Since the following article was published earlier this morning, the White House announced that tariffs on Mexico would be suspended for a month. The deadline came and went, and the United States has placed tariffs on some of our closest trading partners and...
