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Farm bill talks intensify in Congress
Congressional leaders are preparing for renewed debate over the next Farm Bill. Producer organizations are pressing lawmakers to strengthen the farm safety net as growers face weak crop prices, elevated borrowing costs and uncertainty over export demand. Reuters reports commodity groups have called for updates to reference prices, expanded crop insurance support and disaster assistance. The Farm Bill governs major programs including commodity payments, conservation incentives, rural...
October WASDE brings friendly surprises
Going into this month’s WASDE report, there wasn’t a lot of volatility in the grain markets. However, after today’s friendly numbers came in, the markets reacted accordingly, with soybeans leading the way up. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said it’s nice to...
The return of avian influenza in commercial poultry
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been confirmed in a commercial flock in South Dakota, the first this fall and of course as consumers we think about possible egg shortages. For producers, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig encouraging “everyone to...
August pork exports powered by Mexico’s record import pace
August pork exports totaled 226,519 metric tons. Led by Mexico and its record pace of imports. Kelli Wicks, manager of international market development with the National Pork Board, compared the five-year and three-year averages for value of U.S. pork. Wicks says that...
Secretary Naig announces Wright County water quality project
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced today that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has formed a partnership with Wright County and the Wright County Soil and Water Conservation District to launch the first phase of the Boone River...
Dairy Checkoff’s Pizza Partnerships moving “extra cheese”
When you think about a piping hot pizza, what is one of the first things you notice? If you said the melted cheese, we can be friends. If you didn’t, then please read on and I will explain to you why you were wrong. Nothing beats that warm piece of pizza and the...
IFBF launches cash bid comparison tool for members
Recently, the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation launched their online Cash Bid Search tool, which allows farmers to see cash bids for corn and soybeans within a 60-mile radius on a 10-minute delay. Zach Brummer, IFBF’s farmer education program manager, said the tool has...
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Grassley: “I think it’s next year before we get a farm bill”
Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) says that in meeting with Iowans recently, the topic of the farm bill remains a priority. Despite pushing hard for work to be completed early in the year on the farm bill, to allow for elections later in the calendar, progress has...
South American Weather and Crop Update (4-16-24)
Much like what we’ve seen today, there’s quite a bit of rain in Brazil and Argentina currently. However, producers in Argentina are now worried about getting too much rain, which can cause delays. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the latest...
Iowa farmers encouraged to remain vigilant against threat of HPAI
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship today provided an update on the continually evolving situation regarding the spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in dairy cattle and poultry flocks in other states, strongly encouraged both dairy...
Fendt Lodge is set to open on May 1st
On May 1st, Fendt plans to open a new, state-of-the-art facility in Jackson, MN called the Fendt Lodge. The Lodge will be a facility in which farmers can come and experience the new equipment that is coming out, try simulators of the new equipment, and where product...
Conservation efforts having a real impact on emissions
The EPA recently released the Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2022, which shows that the ag industry decreased its greenhouse gas emissions in 2022. American Farm Bureau Federation Economist Danny Munch explains the results. The EPA...
