Top Stories
Heavier cattle weights bring bonuses and challenges at marketing time
As everyone knows by now, the total number of cattle in the U.S. herd is historically low. One of the ways that the low supply is being compensated for to meet the high demand for beef is by keeping cattle on feed longer and feeding them to heavier finishing weights. Dr. Derrell Peel, the extension livestock marketing specialist at Oklahoma State University, says those heavier weights are having an impact. There are also downsides to feeding cattle to heavier weights, including additional...
Farmers may shift grain acreage in 2025
Early indications are that U.S. farmers will increase planted grain acres this year despite continuing low prices. That’s according to a survey done by Farm Futures magazine. In the survey conducted in December, farmers in major corn-producing states seem swayed by an...
America’s farms and ranches at a glance
USDA’s “America’s Farms and Ranches at a Glance” report studies many categories of the American farm. One of those categories is farm income. One of the report’s authors, Katherine Lim, discusses some of the 2023 farm income trends. She expands on the negative farm...
USDA FAS leads successful trade mission to Morocco
The USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service led a trade mission to Morocco on the African continent in early December. FAS Administrator Daniel Whitely says the mission was a big success. Morocco has a large livestock industry, so they need a lot of feed for their...
National Pork Board marketing to a new brand of customer (Pt2)
Yesterday, we discussed the work being done by the National Pork Board (NPB) to change its marketing approach as we work to inform a new generation of consumers. The goal is to work closely with dieticians and medical professionals to highlight how pork is part of a...
South America likely to see few changes in January WASDE
With the January WASDE report coming out this Friday, the weather is a huge focus for the ag marketplace, especially since Argentina is seeing some less than favorable conditions. However, some slight weather troubles aren’t always a cause for concern right away....
Grassley questions EPA response on used cooking oil imports
The EPA and Customs and Border Protection have provided answers about why claimed-to-be used cooking oil, mainly from China, is allowed into the U.S. but Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) isn’t satisfied with the response. Grassley says the Environmental Protection Agency...
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Grassley discusses trade war impact on Iowa’s farmers
United States Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) was in Iowa this week to continue his yearly 99 county tour with question-and-answer sessions during his stops. Senator Grassley says he was asked by Iowans about the potential for payments to farmers impacted by trade...
Egg production down year-over-year
U.S. egg production totaled 8.63 billion in March 2025, a 7% drop from the same month last year. That figure includes 7.35 billion table eggs and 1.28 billion hatching eggs — with 1.18 billion from broiler-type hens and 104 million from egg-type hens. The average...
U.S. Export Sales Report (4-25-25)
The export sales might seem a little low this week, but getting any sales with the state of the global economy and President Trump’s tariffs is a good thing. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the latest corn export numbers from the USDA....
Congress must act to protect family farms
Farmers and ranchers could face higher estate taxes if Congress fails to act before the end of the year. The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act contains provisions that are set to end in 2025, many of which are beneficial to farmers and ranchers. Samantha Ayoub, an associate...
More farmers are tapping into the power of AI
As agricultural technology continues to evolve, farmers are finding faster and more accurate ways to produce their goods. Among the latest tools gaining traction in the farming community is AI, a technology once known mostly for helping students with research or...
