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Western drought intensifies despite Midwest rainfall
Recent rainfall across Iowa and much of the eastern Midwest has helped improve soil moisture conditions heading into the growing season, but USDA Chief Meteorologist Brad Rippey says many areas farther west continue battling intensifying drought conditions. Speaking during a discussion in Washington, D.C., Rippey said drought still covers nearly two-thirds of the United States, with some of the worst conditions stretching across the Plains, the South, and parts of the western U.S. Rippey, who...
Farm bill stalemate continues with the clock ticking
Partisan disputes between Democrats and Republicans were the ultimate roadblock to a new farm bill in 2023 and those same differences are showing up again in the form of food programs vs. farm programs. Ag Republicans and farm groups prefer more dollars to boost ARC...
Twenty years of cash-back dividends from Farm Credit Services of America
For the 20th consecutive year, Farm Credit Services of America is sharing a portion of its net earnings with customer-owners through its cash-back dividend program. Jim Knuth, senior vice president of lending with Farm Credit Services of America, said customers can...
Biomass diesel production grew 25 percent last year
Clean Fuels Alliance welcomed the Environmental Protection Agency’s release of public data for the Renewable Fuel Standard. That data shows U.S. production of biomass-based diesel - including biodiesel, renewable diesel, sustainable aviation fuel, and heating oil –...
Sustainable Aviation Fuel market could be huge boost for Iowa producers
Demand is the key to any success we have in the ag marketplace. Whether it is foreign or domestic demand, we need it to be able to generate a fair market value for the corn and soybeans we produce. This is even more apparent that we have generated a large amount of...
A little extra work can go a long way with rotational grazing
As cattle producers prepare to face a year full of issues like drought and tighter margins, they need to use every resource they can to make things even a little bit easier. Grazing management can go a long way to help with that, especially when it comes to rotational...
Korean consumer confidence in safety of U.S. beef reaches new heights
In 2008, Korean citizens protested the return of U.S. beef to the market following a 2003 finding of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). Now, according to the latest consumer perception survey, a record 70% of Korean consumers say U.S. beef is safe, and nearly 70%...
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Wyffels to showcase new facility during Farm Progress Show
The 2024 Farm Progress Show will be held August 27–29, 2024, in Boone, Iowa. The show is returning to Iowa for the yearly event that is held every other year at the show grounds in Boone. Last year the show was held at the companion site in Decatur Illinois. Eric...
Soy growers promoting pork exports and driving soybean demand
The United Soybean Board recently met in Baltimore to set priorities for the upcoming year. Jim Douglas, who sits on both the United Soybean Board and the U.S. Meat Export Federation executive committee, spoke at the USB meeting about the importance of their...
Pig farmers encouraged to be U.S. SHIP certified
The U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan, or U.S. SHIP, is a producer-driven national program serving as a unified industry playbook centered around biosecurity, traceability, and sampling and testing for animal health challenges. Al Wulfekuhle, board of director with...
Beef Checkoff returns over $13 for every $1 spent
An independent analysis of the Beef Checkoff thoroughly assessed the effectiveness and additional financial benefits produced by the program’s demand-driving activities. The study, conducted by Dr. Harry Kaiser of Cornell University, had objectives to measure,...
Why our markets are under pressure.
The markets are not having a good moment as we speak. The numbers in the red today are proof of that fact. We have seen numbers that suggest that farmers are holding on to large amounts of old crop that they haven’t sold. Usually, this time of year isn’t the greatest...
