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Younger consumers continue to cook more pork
Demand for ground pork continues to grow, driven by its versatility in the kitchen and its role as a gateway protein for younger consumers learning to cook with pork. Gen Z and millennial consumers are leading in both purchase frequency and annual spending. Neal Hull, director of state and regional marketing with the National Pork Board, said they are working with retailers to ensure ground pork is prominently placed and easy for shoppers to find in the meat case. Hull said one area they...
USDA Angola trade mission successful for U.S. red meat
The USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) recently led an agribusiness trade mission to Angola from Feb. 26-29. U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Africa Representative Matt Copeland, who participated through support from the Beef Checkoff Program, said having key...
Secretary Naig to announce 26 Choose Iowa grants on March 20th
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig will announce the recipients of 26 Choose Iowa Value-Added Grants during an event at Cortum Farm and Co. near Indianola on Wednesday, March 20. The announcement event, which is part of Iowa Ag Week, will begin at 2:30 p.m. The...
Bayer agronomist talks about strategies for 2024 growing season
The weather has been throwing us for a loop in agriculture. Whether you are an advocate of permanent climate change, climate cycles, or just luck of the draw; you know that something is going on. No matter what is causing it, we have to be prepared to navigate it to...
Expiration of Tax Cuts and Jobs Act would hurt family farms
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is a comprehensive tax cut package enacted in 2017. Dustin Sherer, director of government affairs for the American Farm Bureau, says it’s important legislation for farmers and ranchers. A new Economic Research Service report shows that if the...
Effects of the Tyson plant closure on the hog industry
It was announced this week that Tyson plans to shut down another food production facility—this time, a pork production plant in Perry, Iowa. That plant has nearly 1,300 employees and kills about 8,000 head a day. Karl Setzer with Consus Ag Consulting said that, while...
What would return of La Niña weather pattern mean for growers?
The National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center this week announced that it foresees a transition from El Niño to ENSO-neutral by April-June 2024 (83% chance), with the odds of La Niña developing by June-August 2024 (62% chance). Typically, the La Niña pattern...
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More Ag News
As Pro Farmer Crop Tour continues, crops are mostly looking better
After estimates of a near-record crop in Ohio for a second year and a lot of potential in South Dakota on Monday, the Pro Farmer Crop Tour scouts found even better results in Nebraska and Indiana on day two. Longtime Eastern Leg Scout Bryan Coffman of Iowa said that,...
U.S. Export Sales Report (8-22-24)
Export sales were better than expected this week, potentially in part due to the lower grain prices we are experiencing right now. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the latest numbers. Flash sales in particular have seen increased activity due...
USDA chief economist says farmland values rise, questions strength
USDA Chief Economist Seth Meyer says farmland values continue to rise year-over-year, but questions land value strength amid changing economic conditions on the farm. Or as Meyer says, an increase of $200 an acre, rising to $4 on average for crop and pastureland…...
Soy growers wary of EPA herbicide strategy
American soybean growers are worried about the feasibility of implementation and the impacts of the Environmental Protection Agency’s final Endangered Species Act Herbicide Strategy. Josh Gackle, president of the American Soybean Association, says while there are...
Soy checkoff & State organizations make investment in PNW Soy Meal Port
Earlier this week we talked about the work being done by the beef checkoff to invest dollars into continuing education. The soybean checkoff is also investing in the marketability of the soybeans that we grow. Recently a group led by the United Soybean Board (USB),...
