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Central America is a growing market for U.S. red meat exports
Central America will continue to be a growing market for exports of U.S. pork and beef, due in large part to the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). Ricardo Zúniga, founding partner of Dinámica Americas and featured speaker at the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Spring Conference in Oklahoma City, said he is bullish on the economic outlook for Central America, but he cautioned that a number of factors could limit the region’s growing demand for U.S. beef and...
Scout from the combine seat as weed escapes show
The combines are running full throttle across Iowa, and while farmers are focusing on bringing in the crop, another reality is emerging along the field edges and in bare spots: weeds that slipped through this year’s control programs. Those escapes may look harmless...
Government shutdown adding more uncertainty to the ag markets
The agriculture industry and ag markets have been dealt a lot of uncertainty in 2025. From the tariffs of the trade war to the new world screwworm shutdown of the border between Mexico and the United States, the markets have dealt with many unknowns. Now amid the...
Low Mississippi River levels again set to disrupt harvest shipping
For the fourth straight year, water levels in the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers will soon be critically low, forcing shippers to light-load grain barges during harvest season. As barge rates get higher, those higher costs are making their way down to the farm level....
Applications are open for 2026 CME Group Beef Industry Scholarship
The National Cattlemen’s Foundation (NCF) is encouraging college students who are pursuing careers in the beef industry to apply for the 2026 CME Group Beef Industry Scholarship. Ten students will be selected to receive scholarships worth $1,500 each. NCBA Senior Vice...
Korean pizza chain adding U.S. pork sausage to menu
In South Korea, pizza chain Pizza Alvolo was looking to add something new to its menu. When it turned to the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) for assistance, USMEF Senior Marketing Manager for Foodservice in Korea Elly Sung suggested U.S. pork sausage. After...
Strong yields & weak margins: Financial pressures mount on farmers
The 2025 season has been defined by both resilience and strain in the farm economy. Strong yields in many regions helped keep optimism alive, but they were tempered by financial pressures that have made every decision more critical. Interest rates remain historically...
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More Ag News
Skor outlines path to year-round E15
The push for year-round E15 is gaining new urgency as the ethanol industry looks to secure long-term certainty after months of political churn in Washington. Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor says the past year brought meaningful progress for higher blends, but the work is...
Leveraging genetic diversity to combat annual crop issues
Farmers have to deal with unique combinations of diseases, weather events, and pests each crop season. Fortunately, there are things they can do to mitigate the risks of these annual problems. LG Seeds Agronomist Dave Hoy said genetic diversity is one of the main...
Record corn crop and supply and use forecasts
In the latest USDA forecast how is the record corn crop expected to be divided between supply and demand? World Agricultural Outlook Board Chair Mark Jekanowski breaks down some of the details. The season ending average price for corn was $4.00 per bushel, that’s a...
U.S. Export Sales Report (11-20-25)
With the government slowly reopening, the weekly government reports- including the export sales- are covering the data that was missed during the shutdown. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said it will take a while for the government to catch up. This report...
Secretary Naig congratulates winners of the Iowa Restaurant Association’s culinary competition
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today congratulated the winners of the Iowa Restaurant Association’s (IRA) Culinary Competition. The annual event highlights the creativity, skill and imagination of Iowa’s top chefs while celebrating the depth and diversity of...
