Top Stories
July was strong for pork exports, weak for beef
July exports of U.S. pork were slightly below last year but accounted for a larger share of production, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). Market access obstacles continued to weigh heavily on exports of U.S. beef, with the vast majority of plants still ineligible to ship to China. USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom said pork exports totaled 238,922 metric tons (mt), down just 1% from a year ago, while value fell 4% to $680.9 million,...
Two webinars will examine impact of excessive farm heat on people and produce
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach’s Farm, Food and Enterprise Development team is holding two webinars in August that will explore the role of intense heat on farmers and growers, as well as their crops. “Heat exposure is an increasing problem for...
New capital gains updates may help Iowa succession
The capital gains provisions in the Reconciliation Bill have become a hot topic, in part because they paint with a broad brush. While critics argue that the changes are a tax break for billionaires, the reality is more nuanced, especially for the agricultural sector....
Plenty of rain for Iowa crops as pollination continues
June is historically the wettest month in Iowa, and this year was no different. Heading into July, we normally expect things to dry off a little bit, but that’s where things have been surprising. Dr. Justin Glisan, state climatologist for Iowa, said some farmers have...
Landscape of potential tariffs continues to shift
Several major developments have taken place when it comes to trade. This includes delays in the implementation of country-specific tariffs, as well as new threats of tariffs against the European Union, Mexico and Brazil. Dave Salmonsen, senior director of government...
Disease pressure looms despite Iowa’s strong start to growing season
When driving through the countryside this season you have probably been doing a lot scouting from the highway and noticed that the crops in Iowa have looked excellent. That has been reflected in the crop condition ratings with this year’s crop appearing to be poised...
Ernst supports mental health care for Iowa farmers
U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) introduced the bipartisan Farmers First Act to support access to critical mental health resources for Iowa farmers. Farmers are 3.5 times more likely to die by suicide than the general population. The...
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More Ag News
Iowa producers can optimize grain storage with GrainVue
For many years, grain storage has been a largely manual process. Once the grain is in the bin, farmers have to constantly monitor the conditions to make sure nothing spoils and leads to yield loss. However, the latest technology makes it to where grain storage...
Indonesia trade deal could remove burdensome non-tariff barriers
Last week, the White House announced a framework for negotiating a trade agreement with Indonesia. U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Vice President of Economic Analysis Erin Borror said that, while Indonesian tariffs on U.S. red meat are only 5%, the country places...
Forcivo fungicide to bring extended residual control to Iowa fields
New tools to help control foliar disease are always welcomed by farmers and the latest fungicide from Corteva Agriscience is close to market availability for growers in Iowa. Forcivo™ Fungicide boasts three active ingredients and extended residual control to give...
Representatives Flood and Carter reintroduce Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Information Act
U.S. Representatives Mike Flood, R-Neb., and Troy A. Carter, Sr., D-La., have reintroduced the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Information Act. The SAF Information Act directs the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) to include data on SAF in its Petroleum...
Low supply keeps Iowa farmland values firm
Iowa farmland remains one of the most closely watched indicators of the state’s agricultural economy strength. Even with falling commodity prices and tighter profit margins, interest in ground across the state hasn’t let up. Farmers and landowners alike are keeping a...
