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Next week’s heat dome could stress Iowa crops
We’re roughly halfway through the growing season here in Iowa, and there are varying crop conditions across the state. Much of the crop looks very strong currently, but there are some areas struggling with disease, pest, and weather issues. Dan Bjorklund, technical agronomist at Landus Cooperative, said he’s seeing corn growth at the V10 through V14 stages across the state. Bjorklund said the farmers who waited for the optimal planting conditions are seeing more even growth in their fields....
Boozman renews commitment to more farm aid
Senate Ag Chair John Boozman renewed his commitment to more farm aid during a committee hearing this week. Despite acknowledging USDA’s earlier $12 billion in farm aid as a big push for the industry, Boozman pointed out the need for more to be done to stop the...
New markets emerge across Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia is becoming one of the most promising growth regions for U.S. grain exports. Rising populations, expanding economies, and a growing middle class are creating new demand for livestock feed, food ingredients, and transportation fuels across the region....
Most Iowa crops are entering the middle of the season in excellent condition
There haven't been too many road blocks for the crops in Iowa this year. While some storms have been severe, the plentiful weather events have provided plenty of rain. Landus Cooperative Technical Agronomist Dan Bjorklund said he has seen varying corn heights across...
New World Screwworm influence in the ag markets
The initial reaction in the ag marketplace to the first detection of New World Screwworm in a calf in south Texas in early June was a bit surprising to many market analysts. Generally, a negative headline can send the markets to the downside in a dramatic way, at...
Secretary Naig announces 11 Choose Iowa Dairy Innovation Grants during dairy month
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today announced that 11 Iowa dairy farms and businesses have been awarded Choose Iowa Dairy Innovation Grants. The announcement was made during a Dairy Month visit to Gav-n-view Farm near Lansing, one of this year's grant...
Getting the most out of reciprocal trade agreements
Recently, the USDA hosted a trade mission to Argentina and Ecuador. While the two markets are distinct from each other, they also have many similarities. USDA Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke Lindberg led the mission and said he was...
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More Ag News
New report showcases positive impacts of biofuels on ag productivity
U.S. Farmers and Ranchers in Action's recent report from S&P Global Energy shows biofuels' potential for boosting farm profitability and rural economies. For Chip Bowling, vice chair of U.S. Farmers and Ranchers in Action, expanding the market for biofuels is...
Scouting now helps manage future rootworms
Corn rootworm larvae are already active in many Iowa fields, but much of the damage they cause remains hidden below the soil surface. Agronomists say that makes scouting and monitoring especially important, even when crops appear healthy above ground. Dan Etter, a...
Swine industry is combatting misinformation about California Prop 12
True animal welfare starts with supporting hog producers, not creating legislation to impede their ability to raise their livestock. As swine industry leaders push to get legislation to nullify California Proposition 12 on the Senate version of the farm bill, another...
Grassley discusses the USMCA ahead of July 1st review
Last week President Trump said that he does not plan to renew USMCA (U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement) ahead of its mandatory July 1 review. On Tuesday United States Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) was asked about the president’s comments and whether Grassley and other...
U.S. Senators call for more action against NWS
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators is urging the USDA to take additional steps to contain the growing New World Screwworm outbreak in the U.S. The lawmakers, led by Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, sent a letter to USDA expressing concern about the threat the...
