Top Stories
Innovations advancing real Christmas tree popularity
Artificial Christmas trees have risen in popularity over the years but innovations in the real Christmas tree industry in the last decade have provided a surge in popularity for the real deal. Christmas tree grower John Tillman of Washington state says recent advancements have provided producers with a more diverse product and given consumers a greater choice for the holidays. Tilman says traceability of seedlings has given tree farms more confidence in their future fully grown trees. Tilman...
Chief Ag Negotiator says Ag Trade “has gone well” the past years
The ups and downs of trade these past few years have been at the forefront of the market prices, and the Ag economy. We have enjoyed higher prices for our goods, but that also means that our goods are expensive on the global market, and we are having to fight for our...
Overcoming trade barriers to expand U.S. beef trade
U.S. Agricultural Negotiator Doug McKalip told the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association at the group’s CattleCon 24 that doing away with non-tariff trade barriers means that face-to-face talks need to happen with some of the U.S.' biggest trading partners. McKalip...
U.S. Export Sales Report (2-9-24)
A lot of the buzz yesterday was focused on the February WASDE, but we saw the release of the weekly export sales as well. Now, the report didn’t contain any real market movers, but it’s still important to keep an eye on the export situation. Allendale commodity broker...
Farmers encouraged to attend Iowa Farm Bureau’s conference
Beginning farmers know the substantial initial investment it takes to farm, and those who currently farm are facing a projected 25% cut in their net farm income compared to last year. These situations have prompted interest in niche opportunities that require less...
Net farm income forecasted to see a record-setting decrease in 2024
The Economic Research Service forecasts that farm income will decrease by 25 percent in 2024. Danny Munch, an economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation, said it’s the largest year-to-year dollar decrease in net farm income on record. Munch said there are two...
Be mindful of mycotoxin risks in feed grains
After the weather challenges we saw during the 2023 growing season, we need to be vigilant about the quality of the grain we feed our livestock. Different weather patterns bring different risks. The folks at Alltech have completed their analysis of the 2023 harvest...
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More Ag News
Hot weather impacting livestock gains
The hot weather we’ve been experiencing lately has been dangerous for anything and anyone outside, especially when it comes to livestock. Animals want to avoid eating when it’s hot out, as digestion creates even more heat in their bodies. Tyler Schau of AgMarket.Net...
What to expect in the USDA acreage and quarterly grain stocks reports
On Friday the USDA will publish its Acreage and quarterly Grain Stocks reports at 11am. Will the reports be in line with industry expectations, or will there be any surprises included in the data on Friday? Jim McCormick, co-founder of AgMarket.Net, says that the...
Traceability is key to managing foreign animal diseases
Biosecurity has never been more important for the nation’s pork farms, especially in the face of diseases like PRRS and African Swine Fever. Dr. Brent Pepin, director of swine health at the National Pork Board, said the industry is working together to improve...
State disasters declared due to flooding
The governors of Iowa, South Dakota, and Minnesota have all issued emergency declarations as heavy rains that began late last week flooded several rivers in the Upper Midwest. A large number of counties in southeastern South Dakota, southwestern Minnesota, and...
Summer cookout prices are at an all-time high
It’s a common complaint we are hearing during this time of economic hardship; grocery prices are way too high. It wasn’t that long ago when $100 bought you a fully loaded cart, now it buys you three or four bags full if you are lucky. This has negatively affected...
