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Iowa response limits pseudorabies trade impacts
Iowa's response to a recent pseudorabies case demonstrated how established animal health protocols can protect both livestock and export markets. The virus was detected in a small commercial swine herd after pigs that had previously been housed in Texas were moved into Iowa. Those animals had been exposed to feral swine, which are known carriers of pseudorabies in parts of the southern United States. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said Iowa's response followed long-established disease...
2024 A year without ag market shocks
Compared to the past four years, 2024 lacked a singular event causing shocks in the farm market and farm prices, according to USDA’s Chief Economist Seth Meyer. Meyer says that led to a relatively quiet market year in terms of market shocks. While there was not one...
NCBA President looks ahead to new administration
As he prepares to move back into the White House in Washington, D.C., Republican President-elect Donald Trump has nominated former White House aide Brooke Rollins to be his Secretary of Agriculture. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Mark Eisele said he...
Iowa cattle producers are making their voices heard
Winter is a season that is often full of meetings in the ag industry, as it is generally a good time to plan out the next year. The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association held its annual convention in Ames last month, where members gathered to discuss and vote on their policy...
List of state crop assistance payments
In addition to a farm bill extension through September 30, the American Relief Act of 2025, recently passed by Congress, contains $9.8 billion in market relief payments for 20 covered crops. This economic assistance is intended to offset part of the economic loss...
Consumers aren’t just looking at price as the main purchasing factor
Last week, we talked about the challenges that are involved in helping producers of pork products understand the sometimes volatile relationship between the supply and demand sides of the industry. In that conversation with Glynn Tonsor, an economics professor at...
New leadership in D.C. has work to do for agriculture
Election 2024 is behind us, and some new faces are taking over leadership on the House and Senate Ag Committees. Sam Kieffer, Vice President of Public Policy for the American Farm Bureau Federation, says the four leaders of the committees have a wealth of experience....
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Midwest governors pen letter to EPA Administrator Zeldin
Earlier this month, several Midwest governors- including Govs. Kim Reynolds (R-IA), Larry Rhoden (R-SD), Jim Pillen (R-NE), and Mike Kehoe (R-MO)- sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin urging the EPA to “establish a 2026 RVO...
National Pork Board uses pork to sell more pork
The pork industry uses pork to sell more pork by connecting with consumers who already purchase pork products but are not aware of all the types of pork and cuts available. Patrick Fleming, vice president of demand development with the National Pork Board, explains....
Secretary Naig invites horticulture producers to join Choose Iowa
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced today that the Choose Iowa program is expanding to promote a vibrant array of Iowa grown horticultural products, such as Christmas trees, cut flowers, bedding plants, and ornamental trees and shrubs. Secretary Naig...
Japanese importers get inside look at U.S. beef production
A team of buyers from major Japanese beef importers recently visited U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) headquarters in Denver to learn about U.S. beef production practices. After that visit, the team also got an in-depth view of the full beef supply chain at work in...
Empowering farmers with tools for sustainable growth
Farmers continue to invest time and money into sustainability, whether by adopting new practices or upgrading the methods they’ve relied on for generations. From improving soil health to conserving water and reducing inputs, these efforts reflect a deep commitment to...
