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Congress leaving town with no Prop 12 fix
The National Pork Producers Council is deeply disappointed in Congress’ decision to relinquish its responsibility to produce a five-year farm bill and an overdue federal solution to California’s Proposition 12. The organization says pork producers don’t have the luxury of waiting for Congress to pass a new five-year bill. “After years of losing money and forcing family farms out of business, we needed the certainty to make decisions,” says Lori Stevermer, NPPC President and a Minnesota pork...
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...
Partisan gridlock and the election could again delay farm, ag spending bills
Partisan gridlock and fallout from the November election could again force Congress to postpone key decisions for agriculture into 2025. It’s not just the farm bill, but USDA and other spending bills are also stuck in months of political gridlock in a narrowly divided...
Coastal port strike will have a big impact on meat and livestock industries
Longshoremen at ports along the East and Gulf Coasts are set to strike when their current labor contract expires at midnight tonight. U.S. Meat Export Federation Vice President for Economic Analysis Erin Borror said a shutdown will have a significant economic impact...
Veterinarian shortage reaching crisis level
Veterinarian shortages are not new. Anyone who ever needed a vet in the middle of the night will tell you that. And any rural vet called in the middle of the night will agree. What is new is the realization that it is about to get worse. “If our veterinary workforce...
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Pork fits in with Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations
Hispanic Heritage Month honors Hispanic people who’ve contributed much to American culture. Jose de Jesus, assistant vice president for consumer marketing at the National Pork Board, talks about Hispanic Heritage Month. Ponle (Pawn – leigh) Pork, translated to “Add...
CLAAS introducing more hay tools to North America lineup
Originally introduced this past spring to European farmers, a popular expanded lineup of CLAAS tedders and mowers will make its way over to North America for the first time in 2025. Producers will be able to check out an expanded DISCO mower line and three new, wider...
FBN expansion of Gradable gives more access to sustainability programs
This fall Farmers Business Network and ADM announced that they have launched a joint venture, Gradable. The new company is an expansion of the Gradable technology platform that has been enabling FBN customers to enroll in programs that provide a premium for grain...
Mississippi River falls during record harvest season
Farm Policy News says that as the fall harvest of record corn and soybean crops is in full swing, Mississippi River conditions continue to get worse. It’s stalling barges trying to move up and down the channel, especially in the Lower Mississippi River. That means...
Possible expansion for dairy on the horizon?
It had been a rough few years for the dairy industry. The markets had not been good, and we had been seeing family farms closing up shop left and right. Those who were fighting to keep going said that they felt that good times had to be on the horizon once again....