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Top takeaways from June Cattle on Feed Report
The June Cattle on Feed Report offers some of the latest trends from the cattle feedlots. USDA livestock analyst Michael McConnell provides some details. McConnell explains why there are more cattle in feedlots than a year ago at this time and says a big reason is a slower inflow and outflow of cattle. That was USDA livestock analyst Michael McConnell.
Getting the right parts the first time with CLAAS connect
Often referred to as the “next step in farming,” the CLAAS connect digital ecosystem is a cloud-based platform that provides farmers with unprecedented access to vital information at their fingertips. Now, machine maintenance can be much more efficient and much less...
October red meat exports higher than last year
Exports of U.S. beef and pork posted year-over-year increases in October, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). October beef exports totaled 105,269 metric tons (mt), up 1% from a year ago, while value increased 3%...
John Deere pleased with S7 combine performance this year
At Commodity Classic in March, we talked to Bergen Nelson at John Deere about their new S7 combines. These combines take the technology of the X9 and bring it to a smaller scale for smaller farming operations. Now, this fall, we have caught up with Bergen for his...
CLAAS innovating its forage technology to celebrate 50 years
This year marks 50 years of the CLAAS JAGUAR forage harvester, and they have spent the year celebrating by continuing to innovate. Next year will bring even more improvements, with an earlage adapter and an enhanced chopping drum. Daryl Theis, head of sales and...
How long will this time of low crop profit margins continue?
USDA is projecting that 2024 will be the second straight year of falling crop prices and slim profits. How long should farmers expect this trend to continue? USDA Chief economist Seth Meyer says that to break out of this negative pattern, the United States ag markets...
John Deere announces more Iowa layoffs
John Deere has another round of layoffs scheduled at its plant in Iowa. The facility in Waterloo Works, Iowa, is the company’s largest plant. The state’s Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification, or WARN, website says the company will lay off more than 100...
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Proposed port service fees would hurt red meat exports
The office of U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) held hearings this week on a proposal to impose a service fee for each U.S. port call of a Chinese-operated ship, or a per-net-ton service fee applied on the ship’s carrying capacity. While they do support the overall...
Recapping the winter weather season
For the most part, the 2024-2025 winter season in Iowa was mild with warmer temperatures and not much precipitation to help replenish soil moisture levels. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says that the final numbers from the winter months of December, January, and...
Producers have until April 15th to enroll in key safety net programs
Agricultural producers who have not yet enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2025 crop year have until April 15, 2025 to revise elections and sign contracts. Both safety net programs, delivered by USDA’s Farm...
Secretary Naig praises Iowa farmers during Iowa Ag Week
National Ag Week and Day were two weeks ago, and Iowa celebrated Iowa Ag Week last week. However, the events come to a culmination tonight in Ankeny for the Ag Leaders Dinner. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds is expected to speak along with Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig. It’s...
Enhanced corn traits can help battle rootworm pressure
The weather has warmed up significantly as of late, and that means that planting season is right around the corner. The team at DEKALB is excited to see how the proven VT4PRO technology will perform against this year’s pest pressure. Seth Irwin, DEKALB product...
