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Property rights pressure rises across rural America
It is easy to assume Iowa’s fight over carbon pipelines and new transmission lines is something unique to our state. But the same pressures and frustrations are playing out across rural America. Our neighbors to the south in Missouri are confronting many of the same issues as energy demand grows and the race to build new infrastructure puts landowners directly in the path of major projects. Missouri Farm Bureau President Garrett Hawkins says the concerns he hears from his members almost...
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...
U.S. ag trade deficit widens
The U.S. agricultural trade deficit is projected to increase again to $32 billion in fiscal year 2024, a $1.5 billion increase from the February projection. Those numbers come from the USDA Economic Research Service’s quarterly May 2024 Outlook for U.S. Agricultural...
Livestock groups pushing for more traceability options
As we face threats from foreign animal diseases worldwide, livestock groups are working hard to improve the traceability of where animals have been moving around the country. This information helps detect disease origins and helps us to contain problem areas quickly....
USDA report shows export values falling, import values rising
The United States Department of Agriculture recently released its new forecast for agricultural trade for the year 2024. USDA Chief Economist Seth Meyer says the forecast for exports shows a downward trend compared to last year. The report calls for import numbers to...
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More Ag News
NK Soybeans looks forward to 2025 growing season
As we see more combines hitting the fields to start the 2024 harvest season, we know it is not unreasonable to be thinking about the seeds we will be planting in 2025. This is especially true if this year’s hybrids aren’t meeting your expectations. NK Soybeans is...
Enrollment open for 10th year of PFI’s cover crop cost-share program
Enrollment is currently open for the Practical Farmers of Iowa’s cover crop cost-share program. Morgan Jennings, PFI’s field crops viability coordinator, said the program is now in its tenth year. Jennings said the program is uniquely flexible, as farmers seeding fall...
House passes resolution to disapprove EPA tailpipe rule
The US House passed on a near party-line vote to disapprove EPA’s controversial tailpipe emissions rule opposed by the biofuels industry and top farm group. However, the House 215-191 resolution vote is likely going nowhere in the Democratic-controlled Senate....
Tough times for turkey producers
The nation’s turkey producers are facing tough times in the current agriculture environment. Which goes against the rules of supply and demand economics. That was USDA Outlook Board Chairman Mark Jekanowski, who says that producers have been attempting to keep...
Ethanol depends on reliable rail service
Growth Energy highlighted many issues currently plaguing the nation’s rail service that has resulted in delayed shipments, longer wait times, and higher costs for American ethanol producers. The group’s Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, Chris Bliley,...
