Top Stories
Keys to optimizing a pig’s first litter
A gilt’s first litter is notoriously difficult. From low birth weight to high mortality, poor performance has become so ordinary for these litters that producers often come to expect it. Dr. Brad Lawrence of NOVUS tells the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network that it is well known that a gilt’s first litter comes with numerous challenges. He says the health and heartiness of a gilt’s first litter traces back to the start of the gilt’s own life. Lawrence says that the development of the gilt...
Uneventful June WASDE provides little market support
We weren’t expecting much from this month’s WASDE report, and those expectations turned out to be correct. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said this was a very neutral report. However, McBride said that this neutral report does not change the issues we’ll face...
Ag stakeholders react to Republican farm bill framework
Several key agricultural groups and stakeholders issued responses to the Senate Ag Committee Republicans’ farm bill framework. Gregg Doud, President and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation, calls it a strong framework that marks another important step in...
NPPC is working globally to keep animals safe and trade moving
Earlier this week, we started a conversation with National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) VP of Government Affairs Maria Zieba. We discussed why it is important to have an international coalition to collaborate on finding solutions to foreign animal disease (FAD)...
South American Weather and Crop Update (6-11-24)
It’s been yet another week of dry weather in South America. We’ll see later this week if the USDA or CONAB adjust their projections based on this. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the latest weather conditions. There’s going to be some rain in...
Potential farm bill provisions outlined in Senate proposals
Senate Ag Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow and Ranking Member John Boozman have now both offered outlines of the farm bill for consideration. Joby Young, the executive vice president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, listed some of the key provisions in the...
BASF unveils Nemasphere, a new nematode resistance trait
On Monday, BASF unveiled the first and only biotechnology trait for Soybean Cyst Nematode, called Nemashphere. The new trait will provide growers with SCN resistance without limiting yield potential. SCN is the number one yield-robbing pest in soybeans in the United...
Video
More Ag News
World Food Prize laureates receive their honor
World Food Prize week in Iowa culminated last Thursday with the award of what is considered the "Nobel Prize of Agriculture.” The laureate awards were awarded to two advocates of plant genetic diversity and global seed banks. World Food Prize Foundation President...
Farm loans soar as ag economy deteriorates
Farmers are taking out loans at a rate and scale not seen in years as weakened crop prices weigh on the agricultural sector, according to a report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. The volume of new operating loans increased at its fastest pace since 2017,...
Rural Mainstreet Index showing lackluster results
The economy has been in a weird place. The DOW is strong, the dollar is strong, job numbers seem better than anticipated, and consumers are still paying for what they want. However, buying power is lower because prices are higher. Look no further than your local...
TN visa program is a key part of the ag labor force
With agricultural labor challenges across the entire sector, some farmers and ranchers are turning to a unique type of visa to alleviate the burden. Samantha Ayoub, an associate economist for the American Farm Bureau Federation, said the TN visa program is meant to...
Champion Seed looking at different ways to cut input costs
Every year, farmers have to consider what they can do to minimize inputs while still maximizing their yields. Brandon Hulme, an agronomist with Champion Seed, said they’ve been looking at biologicals as a solution that will utilize the nutrients in the soil in order...
