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Interior seeks flexibility on predator management
When I visited Washington, D.C. recently, I had the opportunity to speak with Karen Budd-Falen, Associate Deputy Secretary at the Department of the Interior, about several wildlife management issues affecting western ranchers. Among the topics discussed were wolves and grizzly bears, both of which continue to generate debate between livestock producers, wildlife advocates, and government regulators. Budd-Falen said wolf management remains particularly complex because different populations are...
Grassley discusses farm bill framework from Senate Ag Republicans
This week Senator John Boozman (R-AR), the ranking member of the Senate Ag Committee, unveiled the Senate Republican-drafted framework of the farm bill. Republicans have been stating for months that there should be more “farm in the farm bill.” Senate Ag committee...
Reflecting on the outstanding “Purchase Moore Hamann Bacon” campaign
A marketing initiative by the Iowa Pork Producers Association went viral last football season, encouraging consumers to purchase more ham and bacon through a clever name association. Kevin Hall, Iowa Pork Producers Association Communications Director, said the idea...
Uneventful June WASDE provides little market support
We weren’t expecting much from this month’s WASDE report, and those expectations turned out to be correct. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said this was a very neutral report. However, McBride said that this neutral report does not change the issues we’ll face...
Ag stakeholders react to Republican farm bill framework
Several key agricultural groups and stakeholders issued responses to the Senate Ag Committee Republicans’ farm bill framework. Gregg Doud, President and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation, calls it a strong framework that marks another important step in...
NPPC is working globally to keep animals safe and trade moving
Earlier this week, we started a conversation with National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) VP of Government Affairs Maria Zieba. We discussed why it is important to have an international coalition to collaborate on finding solutions to foreign animal disease (FAD)...
South American Weather and Crop Update (6-11-24)
It’s been yet another week of dry weather in South America. We’ll see later this week if the USDA or CONAB adjust their projections based on this. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the latest weather conditions. There’s going to be some rain in...
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World Food Prize laureates receive their honor
World Food Prize week in Iowa culminated last Thursday with the award of what is considered the "Nobel Prize of Agriculture.” The laureate awards were awarded to two advocates of plant genetic diversity and global seed banks. World Food Prize Foundation President...
Farm loans soar as ag economy deteriorates
Farmers are taking out loans at a rate and scale not seen in years as weakened crop prices weigh on the agricultural sector, according to a report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. The volume of new operating loans increased at its fastest pace since 2017,...
Rural Mainstreet Index showing lackluster results
The economy has been in a weird place. The DOW is strong, the dollar is strong, job numbers seem better than anticipated, and consumers are still paying for what they want. However, buying power is lower because prices are higher. Look no further than your local...
TN visa program is a key part of the ag labor force
With agricultural labor challenges across the entire sector, some farmers and ranchers are turning to a unique type of visa to alleviate the burden. Samantha Ayoub, an associate economist for the American Farm Bureau Federation, said the TN visa program is meant to...
Champion Seed looking at different ways to cut input costs
Every year, farmers have to consider what they can do to minimize inputs while still maximizing their yields. Brandon Hulme, an agronomist with Champion Seed, said they’ve been looking at biologicals as a solution that will utilize the nutrients in the soil in order...
