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Cattle producers aren’t surprised that NWS made it across the border
New World Screwworm (NWS) finally made its way into the U.S. last week, but the cattle industry isn’t surprised it happened. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) CEO Colin Woodall said they have been expecting this to happen for a while. Woodall said it’s been 60 years since the U.S. had to deal with the screwworm, and it took almost 40 years to eradicate. Fortunately, Woodall said more help is already on the way. For more information, visit ncba.org.
Pig farmers encouraged to be U.S. SHIP certified
The U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan, or U.S. SHIP, is a producer-driven national program serving as a unified industry playbook centered around biosecurity, traceability, and sampling and testing for animal health challenges. Al Wulfekuhle, board of director with...
Beef Checkoff returns over $13 for every $1 spent
An independent analysis of the Beef Checkoff thoroughly assessed the effectiveness and additional financial benefits produced by the program’s demand-driving activities. The study, conducted by Dr. Harry Kaiser of Cornell University, had objectives to measure,...
Why our markets are under pressure.
The markets are not having a good moment as we speak. The numbers in the red today are proof of that fact. We have seen numbers that suggest that farmers are holding on to large amounts of old crop that they haven’t sold. Usually, this time of year isn’t the greatest...
Several changes for this year’s state fair, but the heart remains
The Iowa State Fair is less than a month away, and the people who run it are excited (with a healthy dose of fear) for it to kick off. Iowa State Fair CEO Jeremy Parsons said several events have taken place on the fairgrounds recently, and that helps them to be...
Despite bullish July WASDE, market expectations should be tempered
It seems like we only get one or two friendly USDA reports to talk about every year, and the July WASDE report was one of them. However, it’s not as bullish as it might initially seem, so expectations for the long term need to be tempered. Allendale commodity broker...
Sun powered sustainability taking shape at Chevron REG in Mason City
Chevron Renewable Energy Group is introducing an enhancement at its Mason City biodiesel production facility that includes the installation of a solar array. The project kicked off with a groundbreaking event at the site that included local leaders and project...
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More Ag News
Agriculture groups react to Ag Secretary nominee
U.S. agriculture groups reacted to President-elect Donald Trump picking Brooke Rollins as his nominee for Secretary of Agriculture. “Brooke Rollins has fought for Main Street and rural America,” says National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Vice President of Government...
Balancing trying to save money without impacting yields
Producers are always looking for ways to farm as efficiently and economically as possible, but in a time of depressed commodity prices that becomes an even bigger priority. Isaac Anderson is a market development agronomist with Winfield United and he says that while...
Trump announces blanket tariff plans, neighboring countries respond
President-elect Donald Trump has laid out his vision for blanket tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China. Trump announced on his social media platform that one of his first executive orders will be to slap an immediate 25 percent tariff on all Canadian and Mexican...
Succession planning can make passing the farm down easier
Farming is full of investments, but those investments aren’t in traditional things like stocks and bonds- they’re in things like land and machinery. Matt Roberts, chief planning officer of the West Des Moines-based Syverson Strege, said that’s why it’s even more...
Menke makes trade visit to Taiwan
Last week Iowa Deputy Agriculture Secretary Grant Menke had the chance to lead a trade mission, with the Iowa Economic Development Council to the countries of Japan and Taiwan. Today we will focus on the Taiwan portion of the trip. While Taiwan isn’t as large of a...
