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New World Screwworm prompts vigilance, not panic
The confirmation of New World Screwworm cases in Texas and New Mexico has put cattle producers across the country on alert. However, veterinarians and livestock industry leaders say producers in the Midwest should remain vigilant without overreacting. New World Screwworm is caused by the larvae of a parasitic fly that lays its eggs in open wounds on livestock and wildlife. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae feed on living tissue, creating serious animal health concerns if left untreated....
Floods leading to enhanced weed and disease pressure
This year will be remembered for the staggering amounts of rain that we received over the course of the growing season. While the weather itself caused plenty of damage, there are going to be more issues in the future from the flooding that occurred from the rain....
Farm Progress Show field demonstrations will showcase the newest ag innovations
The Farm Progress Show returns to Boone Iowa August 27th-29th and this year’s show will once again feature live field demonstrations. The show rotates host sites between Boone and Decatur Illinois and in 2022 poor weather did not allow for field demonstrations at the...
U.S. pork industry fueling jobs and economic growth
The U.S. Pork Industry has a significant impact on America’s agricultural and overall economy. The National Pork Producers Council released a new economic contribution report detailing the impact. Holly Cook, an economist for the NPPC, talked about the main takeaways....
Secretary Naig announces new Choose Iowa food purchasing pilot program
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today announced the launch of the Choose Iowa Food Purchasing Program – Food Bank Pilot. The pilot program, which was authorized during the 2024 legislative session and is an initiative of the state’s Choose Iowa Program, aims...
Return of wet conditions means the return of mosquitoes
There were a few things that became a new normal while we dealt with the drought of the past couple of years. A lot of it was unpleasant. Dry ground, brown grass, and fire hazards were just a few we can name. However, if you were going to look for a silver lining in...
South American Weather and Crop Update (7-30-24)
For the last few months, the weather has been mostly static in South America, and that trend isn’t getting bucked any time soon. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said Brazil is still seeing dry weather in its major growing areas. McBride said it’s the same...
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Hemmes reflects on time on United Soybean Board (Part 2)
On Friday, we started talking with April Hemmes, a Hampton, Iowa farmer who had spent the better part of a decade working with the United Soybean Board (USB) and has now stepped down. We talked about the growth she had seen and the improvements made both to innovation...
Iowa Cattlemen continuing to push for better farm bill
At this point, it is very likely that the 2018 farm bill will get extended for another year. This is not what the ag industry was hoping for, but that doesn't mean that the battle is over. Iowa Cattlemen’s Association CEO Bryan Whaley said the ag industry needs to...
Informing the influencers of pork consumers
Pork producers are great at telling their stories to each other, but the focus needs to be on the consumer. The National Pork Board recently invited a social media influencer and avid cook from Los Angeles to a farm to see how pigs are raised. Morgan Wonderly, NPB...
Soybean oil exports remain strong
The USDA published the December World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates this week and made just one change to the domestic soybean balance sheet. A 60-cent month over month decrease in the season ending average price with the price now at $10.20 per bushel....
Judge blocks rule strengthening protections for temporary farmworkers nationwide
The regulation, which grants organizing and safety protections to H-2A visa holders, had already been overturned in a number of states. A federal court blocked a rule strengthening legal protections for temporary farmworkers from going into effect nationwide. The U.S....
