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NCBA says Prop 12 language critical for cattle producers
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association says language dealing with California’s Proposition 12 law has become one of the most important livestock issues tied to the Farm Bill debate in Washington. During the recent NAFB Washington Watch event, NCBA’s Sigrid Johannes said cattle producers are paying close attention because they believe the issue reaches far beyond the pork industry. Johannes said NCBA has been heavily focused on protecting language included in the House Agriculture...
Low cattle inventory brings higher beef prices
USDA’s biannual Cattle Inventory report showed the nation’s cattle herd at 87.2 million head, down roughly two percent from last year. This is the lowest herd size in 73 years, and it means that we could be seeing record beef prices in the grocery store soon. American...
What to expect in the February WASDE report
The World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) are released each month by the USDA and provide annual forecasts for supply and use of both U.S. and world wheat, rice, coarse grains, oilseeds, and cotton. The January report is typically thought of as a...
Secretary Naig encourages applications for century and heritage farm recognition
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig encourages eligible Iowa farm owners to apply for Century or Heritage Farm recognition as part of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s Century and Heritage Farm Program. The program was created by the...
Iowa agriculture mourns the loss of Bill Northey
It came across social media and the agriculture information chain like a lightning bolt, yesterday. Bill Northey, former Iowa Agriculture Secretary and Former USDA Undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation passed away at the age of 64. Northey was a Spirit...
Building trust with consumers through quality practices
Pork certification programs are designed to help the farmers who raise pigs and also those who transport pigs to continually improve practices. Stephanie Wetter, the director of animal welfare for the National Pork Board, tells the IARN that the two main certification...
Crop insurance reference prices projected to be lower than last year
February is when reference prices are set for crop insurance, so it’s a very important time of year. Deadlines are approaching in just over a month, so it’s important to pay attention now and not let it sneak up on you. Pat Swanson, District 9 director of the Iowa...
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Navigating the biological marketplace
Biologicals are among the many new tools farmers can use on their farms. But with any new products, it’s important to make sure you’re getting something of a high quality that will provide the maximum benefit for your farm. Jacob Parnell, head agronomist at Biome...
Real Pork Trust Consortium brings information to consumers
The Real Pork Trust Consortium is a team of academia striving to listen to and answer consumer questions about pork and pork production. Nick Gabler, an animal science professor at Iowa State University, talked about the Real Pork Consortium and what it addresses. The...
Cattle on feed report offers no clear answers on herd contraction
Overall numbers of beef cattle in the United States remain historically low. The USDA published the latest Cattle on Feed report on Friday but the report did not clear up the future of the cattle herd. The latest Cattle on Feed report from USDA shows that placements...
Low prices continue pressure on farm income
Farmers are on track to harvest some of their biggest corn and soybean crops ever. The Federal Reserve’s Beige Book says the ongoing decline in commodity prices is putting farm income in questionable territory. “Regional Fed banks in Chicago and Minneapolis say the...
Managing stressors for dairy calves
Any livestock producer knows herd health doesn’t begin or end with the germs and bacteria causing illnesses. It is about creating an environment that manages your animal’s overall well-being. Just like humans, stressors can affect an animal's health, and minimizing...
