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TQA certification promotes efficient and safe animal handling
Transport Quality Assurance®, or TQA, focuses on practical, real-world skills that help handlers and drivers move pigs humanely and efficiently. Stephanie Wetter with the National Pork Board says the program is updated every three years to ensure continuous improvement and maintain accountability for science-based practices and emergency planning. TQA joined Pork Quality Assurance’s certification program 25 years ago and has grown to more than 27,000 individuals certified. Wetter added that...
Iowa Pork Producers Association welcomes new president Matt Gent
The Iowa Pork Producers Association holds its annual meeting each year during the week of pork congress in Des Moines as the president-elect moves into the role of president. At last week’s meeting Matt Gent succeeded Trish Cook as the new president of the IPPA, with...
Food price inflation subsided in 2023
USDA’s Economic Research Service says food-at-home prices increased by five percent in 2023, much lower than the growth rate in 2022 of 11 percent. However, that was still double the historical annual average growth rate from 2003 to 2022, which was 2.5 percent. All...
State Ag Directors agree a Farm Bill must be done this year
We have talked a lot about the Farm Bill, its extension, and its outdated data that is still the basis for food policy in the United States. We have talked in-depth about the gridlock facing the Farm Bill in Congress and how the American people are hanging in the...
Carbon markets can also benefit livestock producers
Carbon markets aren’t just for grain producers to take advantage of. Livestock producers can also utilize certain grazing practices to get some extra revenue from carbon market programs. Del Ficke of Graze Master talked about the opportunities that are available to...
Now’s a great time to evaluate your farm buildings
With the new year comes the potential for lots of changes, even on the farm. Dennis Lee, farm product line manager for Morton Buildings, said it’s a great time to evaluate your farm buildings and see if you need something new. Lee said there are a lot of factors that...
Sen Ernst doubtful of any Farm Bill progress
As we have turned the calendar into 2024, there are question marks around a lot of key pieces of legislation that will have large impacts on the day-to-day lives of almost all Americans. The two bills that are causing the most angst is the spending bill and the Farm...
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More Ag News
Several changes for this year’s state fair, but the heart remains
The Iowa State Fair is less than a month away, and the people who run it are excited (with a healthy dose of fear) for it to kick off. Iowa State Fair CEO Jeremy Parsons said several events have taken place on the fairgrounds recently, and that helps them to be...
Despite bullish July WASDE, market expectations should be tempered
It seems like we only get one or two friendly USDA reports to talk about every year, and the July WASDE report was one of them. However, it’s not as bullish as it might initially seem, so expectations for the long term need to be tempered. Allendale commodity broker...
Sun powered sustainability taking shape at Chevron REG in Mason City
Chevron Renewable Energy Group is introducing an enhancement at its Mason City biodiesel production facility that includes the installation of a solar array. The project kicked off with a groundbreaking event at the site that included local leaders and project...
Secretary Naig anticipates record year for water quality wetlands in Iowa
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced today that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship anticipates a record calendar year for progress toward the construction of Department-sponsored water quality wetlands within Iowa. Over the past few...
Outlook for fall 2024 fertilizer shipments
While we just passed the 4th of July a week ago, it is not unreasonable to think about the supplies you will need for and after the fall harvest. One of the biggest inputs that will be thought about is the fall fertilizer and its availability. In the past, we saw some...
