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December adjustments to USDA beef production and steer price forecasts
USDA made slight adjustments to the beef production forecast for 2025 and 2026 in the December beef outlook. World Agricultural Outlook Board Chair Mark Jekanowski explains the alterations. USDA also adjusted month over month steer prices lower for both 2025 and 2026. Jekanowski says the beef production increase both years points to heavier weights of steers. He points to recent price weakness in cash and future prices for the lower price projections.
Weekly Iowa crop progress and condition report
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is released weekly April through November. Additionally, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and...
Food safety important for July 4th cookout
As we get ready to celebrate our independence this Thursday, there will be lots of fun activities. We think of the fireworks displays and the safety required to take care of those involved, but what about something as simple as the July 4th cookout? Have you thought...
Corn acreage and storage numbers send market price lower
The USDA published the Acreage and quarterly Grain Stocks reports on Friday and several factors combined to send the corn price in the ag marketplace to the downside. On Friday the ag marketplace reacted with a double digit drop in the corn price after the USDA...
Smithfield Foods delivers 34,000 pounds of protein to NW Iowa
Smithfield Foods delivered 34,000 pounds of protein to Rock Valley, Iowa, to provide free, restaurant-quality hot meals to victims, first responders and volunteers impacted by severe flooding across Northwest Iowa. As a local employer with more than 600 employees in...
Real Pork Scholar Program invests in the future of the pork industry
The Real Pork Scholar Program is one way the Pork Checkoff is establishing a firm foundation for the future of the U.S. pork industry. Hailey Schweke, a graduate student at the University of Minnesota and a Real Pork Scholar, said this program is focused on...
USMEF takes deep dive into Mexican market at U.S. Red Meat Symposium
The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) recently held its inaugural U.S. Red Meat Symposium in Mexico City as U.S. red meat exports are hitting record levels in Mexico. With support from USDA, the Beef Checkoff Program and the National Pork Board, the symposium...
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Pork fits in with Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations
Hispanic Heritage Month honors Hispanic people who’ve contributed much to American culture. Jose de Jesus, assistant vice president for consumer marketing at the National Pork Board, talks about Hispanic Heritage Month. Ponle (Pawn – leigh) Pork, translated to “Add...
CLAAS introducing more hay tools to North America lineup
Originally introduced this past spring to European farmers, a popular expanded lineup of CLAAS tedders and mowers will make its way over to North America for the first time in 2025. Producers will be able to check out an expanded DISCO mower line and three new, wider...
FBN expansion of Gradable gives more access to sustainability programs
This fall Farmers Business Network and ADM announced that they have launched a joint venture, Gradable. The new company is an expansion of the Gradable technology platform that has been enabling FBN customers to enroll in programs that provide a premium for grain...
Mississippi River falls during record harvest season
Farm Policy News says that as the fall harvest of record corn and soybean crops is in full swing, Mississippi River conditions continue to get worse. It’s stalling barges trying to move up and down the channel, especially in the Lower Mississippi River. That means...
Possible expansion for dairy on the horizon?
It had been a rough few years for the dairy industry. The markets had not been good, and we had been seeing family farms closing up shop left and right. Those who were fighting to keep going said that they felt that good times had to be on the horizon once again....
