Top Stories
Meat demand is rising even as prices climb higher
As the summer grilling season kicks off, consumers may find higher prices at the meat counter. However, those prices might not reduce demand. Bernt Nelson, an economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation, said consumers are eating more meat than ever before as pitmasters fire up their grills. Nelson said beef continues to be the centerpiece for many cookouts, but pork and poultry are catching up. Nelson said shoppers heading to the grocery store can still stretch their food dollars when...
Grassley sows doubt on farm bill’s Senate prospects
The U.S. House of Representatives passed its version of the farm bill on April 30th by a 224–200 vote. With passage through the House, this is the furthest a farm bill has advanced since 2018. However, despite passage in the House, the farm bill still has a long way...
U.S. red meat exports were strong in March
March exports of U.S. pork were among the largest on record, concluding a very strong first quarter, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom said increased year-over-year to...
Secretary Naig announces first round of 2026 urban water quality projects
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today announced the first-round of 2026 urban water quality projects, marking the start of a multi-phase investment that will bring new conservation practices to communities of all sizes across the state. These locally led...
E15 heads to House vote under cloud of distrust
A standalone bill allowing nationwide year-round sales of E15 is still expected to receive a vote in the U.S. House this week, but the path to that vote has created growing frustration among many agriculture state lawmakers. The tension began when Speaker Mike Johnson...
Grain markets monitoring three major headlines
The ag marketplace has been all over the place recently. This week alone saw double-digit moves in both positive and negative directions for corn and soybeans, with both markets finishing the week higher. There are a few major news factors that have led to this...
Farm Bureau’s “Farm State of Mind” unveils new mental health resource
The challenges facing farmers and ranchers can take a toll on mental health and well-being. The American Farm Bureau Federation’s “Farm State of Mind” initiative helps provides access to information and resources that promote farmer and rancher mental health and...
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More Ag News
Ernst talks fertilizer costs, trade, and supply chains
Fertilizer supplies and pricing continue to be a major concern for farmers as global tensions and trade uncertainty influence the ag economy heading towards the second half of the growing season. While many producers were able to secure products ahead of spring...
Significant cuts to the U.S. wheat crop defined May’s WASDE report
With how dry it has been in the wheat growing regions of the U.S., many analysts were expecting to see a cut to the new crop wheat production numbers in the May World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report. This month’s report did show exactly that,...
National Farmers Union endorses “Fertilizer Transparency Act”
American farmers are feeling the pressure of high fertilizer costs, and the National Farmers Union is bringing that message to Capitol Hill. Layla Soberanis, NFU senior government relations representative, said the organization has endorsed a newly introduced bill...
Grassley discusses E15 vote in the House
The United States House of Representatives will vote on year-round E15 legislation this week. United States Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) was asked about the legislation’s chances of passing in the House. Grassley also discusses what the next step for that legislation...
DOJ continuing investigation into alleged meatpacking antitrust violations
The U.S. Department of Justice is intensifying its investigation into possible antitrust violations in the beef packing industry, prompting renewed calls from ranching groups for greater competition and market transparency. Federal officials said investigators are...
