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Examining the factors currently influencing the grain markets
Geopolitics, trade, and weather are all making an impact on the grain markets in recent weeks and that trend looks to continue as the calendar turns to May. Commodity broker Greg McBride of Allendale says that the upcoming meeting between President Trump and Xi Jinping the President of China, will be closely watched. Weather is also a major factor in the marketplace with dryness in the wheat growing regions of the U.S. offering support to wheat prices in recent weeks. However, McBride says...
Virtual cattle fencing being used in Wisconsin
We are always looking for the latest in technological advances. Trying to better what we do, so we can work smarter and not harder. One of those tedious jobs that many livestock producers do is putting up fences. Whether it is digging post holes or hammering in...
Hearing on carbon-capture pipeline ends in Iowa
Summit Carbon Solutions presented a request to Iowa regulators to build a $5.5 billion carbon capture pipeline. Local reports say Iowa regulators recently concluded a hearing on the subject. However, deciding whether the company should get a construction permit and...
Winding down harvest in Iowa
Ahead of schedule on harvest here in Iowa as we start to wind everything down. The weekly Crop Progress/Harvest Progress report is out from USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service Upper Midwest Regional Office, where the statistician is Brian Gallagher. “Corn...
South American Weather and Crop Update (11-14-23)
It’s a tale of two countries right now in South America. Brazil is too dry for planting, and Argentina is too wet. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the current weather patterns. In the longer-term forecasts, both countries are expected to get...
Grassley says he will strive for new five-year farm bill in ‘24
Last weekend leaders of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees came to an agreement on extending the lifespan of the 2018 Farm Bill by one year. That is United States Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) who says that he agrees with leaders from both ag committees who...
Consumers warned about increased chances of fraud during the holidays
Fraudulent opportunities seem to come up more and more. Myself, I probably get four or five calls a day trying to get the best of me. As the holidays approach, these scammers will get more aggressive, and we need to be aware of those attempts. The folks at AARP are...
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More Ag News
Ernst discusses latest biofuels developments
Yesterday, we shared the thoughts of Growth Energy’s Emily Skor about the state of things in the ethanol sector. One of the things that she mentioned she was most concerned about was what she perceived to be the waning support of lawmakers to find a permanent solution...
Finding profits in tight profit margins
Profit margins are always tight for farmers, with some years feeling tighter than others. However, there’s almost always a way to look through those margins and find the best profit levels possible. Chad Hart, Iowa State University professor of economics and ISU...
First quarter of 2024 sees phenomenal pork exports
The U.S. Meat Export Federation says March exports of U.S. pork were steady with last year’s volume but were slightly higher in value, according to data released by USDA. Kelli Wicks, manager of market growth for the National Pork Board, said diversification has been...
NCBA official outlines difficult final stretch for farm bill
House Ag Chair GT Thompson has set a May 23rd markup date for his GOP farm bill proposal, but there is still a long road ahead for the proposal. NCBA’s Executive Director of Government Affairs Allison Rivera says she is encouraged that House Ag Chair GT Thompson has...
May WASDE includes an initial U.S. crop assessment
The May World Ag Supply and Demand Estimates report includes USDA’s first assessment of domestic and international supply and demand prospects. The 2024-2025 U.S. corn outlook calls for larger supplies, greater domestic use and exports, and higher ending stocks. The...
