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U.S. Senators call for more action against NWS
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators is urging the USDA to take additional steps to contain the growing New World Screwworm outbreak in the U.S. The lawmakers, led by Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, sent a letter to USDA expressing concern about the threat the parasite poses to livestock, wildlife, pets, and rural economies. According to the senators, USDA has confirmed 12 active cases of New World Screwworm since early June. "We urge the USDA to take further immediate action to contain and...
U.S. cattle on feed down slightly
Despite the cattle inventory plummeting to the lowest level in 73 years, the number of cattle on feed remains surprisingly strong. Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the U.S. for feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.6 million on...
Secretary Naig talking with international visitors at Borlaug Dialogue event
With the World Food Prize Borlaug Dialogues happening this week in Des Moines, we are seeing many international representatives in town—people who have a large say in trade relations with Iowa in particular and the U.S. in general. It is a great time for us to promote...
Prioritizing nutrition means prioritizing pork
Mindful Choicemakers are one of the seven segments the National Pork Board identified in its segmentation survey. Kristen Hicks-Roof, director of human nutrition for the National Pork Board, said the segment prioritizes healthy eating. Of course, pork is a nutritious...
Vilsack makes urgent call for last-minute farm bill
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack says time is nearly up and it must be decided if there will or won’t be a new farm bill this year. He told members of the American Farmland Trust that action is needed. Vilsack says as a shortened lame-duck session of Congress quickly...
USMEF hosts pavilion at global food trade show
Exporters of U.S. beef, pork, and lamb met with buyers from around the globe at a U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) hosted pavilion at SIAL Paris, one of the world’s largest food trade shows. USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom said that more than 200 countries...
IDALS provides update on the circumstances involving Pure Prairie Poultry, Inc.
On September 30, Pure Prairie Poultry, Inc. notified the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship that, due to their financial position, they were unable to purchase feed for approximately 1.3 million broiler chickens located at 13 Iowa farms. Upon...
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AFBF appreciates release on USDA funding freeze
The White House released a freeze on $20 million in Inflation Reduction Act money for contracts signed with farmers under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, the Conservation Stewardship Program, and the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program. American...
Four farmers elected to Practical Farmers of Iowa’s board of directors
Alec Amundson, Wade Dooley, Brice Hundling and Natasha Wilson are the newest additions to Practical Farmers of Iowa’s board of directors. Elected by PFI members in January, their support ensures farmer priorities continue to guide and ground the organization’s work....
Looking ahead at trade and agriculture policies to avoid complications
Farmers could face growing uncertainty as trade policies under the Trump administration reshape U.S. agriculture unpredictably. While some measures may be intended to protect American farmers, they could also trigger retaliatory tariffs and market disruptions that...
Landus and Talus Ag announce commercial green ammonia production
Landus and Talus Ag recently announced that they have successfully commenced commercial green ammonia production with the first and only modular systems in North America. In a time when import tariffs are likely to disrupt fertilizer supply chains, having locally...
Stronger cattle placements and marketings in January
The February USDA Cattle on Feed report shows a reduction in cattle and calves in feedlots says USDA livestock analyst Mike McConnell. Despite lower numbers of inventory year over year, McConnell says that there are signals of increased numbers of cattle in feedlots...
