Top Stories
Swine producers taking advantage of strong economic factors
The swine industry has seen some rough times in recent years, but now things are finally feeling much better. When hog prices are good, it’s smart to look at ways to improve your operation while also keeping those profits intact. Chris Ford, vice president of swine lending at Farm Credit Services of America, said swine producers are enjoying the benefits of strong consumer demand. Ford said he has seen producers lock in their profits while still leaving room to participate in potential price...
Pork industry needs producer voices and leadership
Producer leadership is paramount to building trust in the U.S. pork industry. Iowa pork producer Al Wulfekuhle, president of the National Pork Board, said his deep love for the pork industry is why he got involved with the Board. Wulfekuhle said he’d like to see more...
Central Iowa is in the spotlight as Farm Progress Show gets underway
The Farm Progress Show is the largest outdoor farm show in the country and a showcase of the newest innovations and technology in agriculture. The show attracts big crowds and with the crowds comes a big economic boost for the central portion of Iowa. Don Tourte is a...
Secretary Naig announces grants for Iowa schools to purchase local food
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced today that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship will provide $2,000 grants to 137 participating school districts or schools to purchase meat, eggs, produce, dairy and other local foods from area...
Canadian Railroad strike was short-lived
Federal Labor Minister Steve MacKinnon intervened on Thursday to impose binding arbitration on the parties involved, just sixteen hours after Canada's two main railway freight lines locked out Teamster Union personnel. A few weeks prior to the deadline, the union had...
Pro Farmer Crop Tour wraps up with record crop projections
The final estimate from the Pro Farmer Crop Tour shows record yields for both corn and soybeans. Corn yield is set at 181.1 bushels per acre, while soybeans are at 54.9 bpa. Eastern Leg Tour Leader Brian Grete said that, while these estimates are just a snapshot in...
Strong notes for both pork and beef exports in June
June exports of U.S. beef reached the highest value in nearly two years, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). While June pork exports were lower year-over-year, shipments through the first half of the year...
Video
More Ag News
45Z Tax credits could compete with 2017 tax cuts for funding
45Z clean fuel tax credits, which are key to expanding renewable fuel use in aviation fuel, may have to compete for dollars with President-elect Trump’s efforts to preserve his 2017 tax cuts. Will there be a so-far un-finalized 45Z tax credit for sustainable aviation...
East and gulf coast port strike seems more likely
Shippers want to know if there will be a strike because there’s less than a month until the International Longshoremen Association’s contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance is set to expire. Supply Chain Dive says a major development in the prolonged negotiations...
U.S. Export Sales Report (1-3-25)
In the first report for 2025, this week’s export sales were disappointing compared to expectations. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the latest U.S. Export Sales Report. McBride said the exports usually see a seasonal decline at the beginning...
Agriculture still depends on H-2A labor
Demand continues growing for farm labor through the H-2A program. John Walt Boatright, director of government affairs for the American Farm Bureau Federation, said that even though the increase in positions certified was small, it still demonstrates how important the...
Producers shouldn’t see changes to H5N1 programs in Trump 2.0
As we prepare for a new administration later this month, vital programs across the board will likely be reviewed, tweaked, or even dropped once President Trump takes office. However, there are programs that farmers work with that they can’t afford to lose or have...
