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First confirmation of ASF in Spain since 1994
Late last month, African swine fever (ASF) was confirmed in Spain for the first time since 1994. ASF was first found in two dead wild boars in the Barcelona area, located in the Catalonia region. Eleven more wild boars, found dead in the same area, later tested positive. Catalonia accounts for about 8% of Spain’s hog production. U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Vice President for Economic Analysis Erin Borror said Spain is the European Union’s largest pork producer and the number two global...
Putting safety first when managing manure systems
Manure from hog operations is a renewable, sustainable resource that adds significant value to agricultural systems. However, as with all aspects of agriculture, safety is the first priority when managing manure systems says Marguerite Tan, director of environmental...
Fall tillage and field angles matter for Iowa soybeans
It has been a smooth fall across most of Iowa, with combines running steadily and fields opening up early. Harvest went about as well as anyone could hope for, but that does not mean the season was without its challenges. Disease pressure was the bigger story in 2025,...
RFID technology protects swine industry with traceability
No matter how prepared we think the swine industry is, it’s always important to stay vigilant against foreign animal diseases. If an outbreak were to occur, efficient and accurate swine traceability may help reduce the number of animals impacted and the response time....
“Cantina Vibes” promotes U.S. variety meats in Mexico
Variety meat exports provide critical returns for U.S. pork and beef producers, and Mexico is a leading destination for these products. The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) is promoting pork and beef variety meat items to bars and casual restaurants in Mexico as an...
A new tool for Iowa growers to battle white mold in soybeans
White mold is a major robber of soybean yields, and it has become a big enough issue for growers that BASF has developed a new tool designed to battle the threat. Zorina™ Fungicide has received EPA registration approval and will be available for growers next season...
Secretary Naig requests nominations for renewable fuels marketing awards
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today invited Iowans to nominate fuel marketers and gas stations in their communities for the Renewable Fuels Marketing Awards. The Secretary’s annual awards recognize retailers that go above and beyond in their efforts to...
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Jay Theiler of Agri Beef Company elected chair of USMEF
The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) concluded its Strategic Planning Conference in Indianapolis Friday with election of new officers. Chairing USMEF for the 2025-26 term is Jay Theiler, executive vice president of corporate affairs for Agri Beef Company in Boise,...
Naig: USDA is back and Iowans stayed committed
The federal government is back open following the longest shutdown in United States history. Congress reached an agreement late last week, the President signed it, and agencies have been working their way back to normal ever since. USDA entered the restart period in a...
Grain markets react negatively to November WASDE
Friday brought us the first WASDE report in two months, and the markets had lofty expectations. However, the figures from this report were disappointing and caused a negative reaction in the grain prices to end the week. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said...
Increased biofuel demand could boost farm economy
At a time when the farm economy is facing a downward turn, farmers and ranchers are looking for expanded market opportunities. Faith Parum, an economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation, said increased biofuel production could be one avenue to increase farm...
The push for a skinny farm bill before the end of the year
Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) was asked on Friday if a skinny farm bill can be passed before the end of the year. Grassley says that Senate Ag Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) is working towards that goal. Grassley expands on the landscape of the Senate and potential...
