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USDA finalizes specialty crop assistance program details
The USDA announced it has finalized the Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers Program, announced late last year. Danny Munch, an economist for the American Farm Bureau Federation, said the funds are part of the USDA’s broader Farmer Bridge Assistance Program. The assistance is available to farmers who planted specialty crops in 2025 and reported those acres to the Farm Service Agency. Munch said the USDA is already preparing pre-filled applications for eligible farmers. For more information,...
Strong demand for U.S. beef in Colombia despite restrictions
Colombia is the only trading partner to impose restrictions on imports of U.S. beef as a result of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) being detected in some lactating dairy cows. Homero Recio, U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Latin America representative,...
HPAI detected in a commercial turkey flock in Cherokee county
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) have detected a case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Cherokee County, Iowa. The affected...
Canadian wild hogs near American border
Feral hogs are not just a problem in our Southern states. We have been monitoring an increasing problem with feral hogs in Canada as well. These pose a threat to our northern states as well. Canada has been using a monitoring their feral pigs with a tag and track...
This May will be remembered for severe weather
Before this month, we were all worried about the drought conditions in Iowa as it continued for over 200 weeks. However, we’re now completely on the other end of the spectrum, as there is no longer any drought listed in Iowa. Iowa State Climatologist Dr. Justin Glisan...
U.S. Export Sales Report (5-31-24)
Corn markets continued their trend of decent sales numbers, while soybeans continued their much less favorable trend. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the latest export sales. At this time of year, McBride said the export numbers generally...
Is the Senate any closer to a compromise on the farm bill?
After the release of the House version of the farm bill two weeks ago, eyes in Washington D.C. turned towards the Senate chamber and whether the two sides of the aisle are any closer to coming to agreement on the Senate's version of the farm bill. United States...
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International buyers already preparing for next week’s election
Theoretically, in eight days it should all be over. Of course, I am talking about the current election cycle. We should soon know who our representatives will be in Washington and Des Moines, and we should hopefully know who the new President will be as well. I say...
Rain is slowly returning to relieve dry soils
As harvest continues across the state, there’s been very little relief from the excessively dry weather. In fact, the drought monitor has only continued to expand in more areas. Justin Glisan, state climatologist for Iowa, said that, while the weather has been good...
Getting to know pork consumers and their buying habits
The National Pork Board’s consumer segmentation study divided consumers into seven different groups based on their consumption priorities for pork. Patrick Fleming, vice president of demand development for the National Pork Board, says as the name implies, the Tasty...
A “fast and furious” harvest season
It has been a “fast and furious” corn and soybean harvest this fall, that’s according to USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey. Warm and dry conditions have given farmers good conditions for fieldwork which has led to a quick harvest pace, says Rippey. Rippey says the...
Mississippi River system levels dropping
For the third year in a row, the Mississippi River is experiencing low water levels during harvest season. In the spring and early summer, precipitation and water levels were quite robust. Mike Steenhoek, executive director of the Soy Transportation Coalition, says...
