Top Stories
Improving the return on fresh cow protocols
While advancements in managing clinical milk fever have reduced cases, its invisible counterpart, subclinical hypocalcemia, remains a significant challenge for fresh cows. Dr. Curt Vlietstra, a professional services veterinarian with Boehringer Ingelheim, said freshening is especially critical for disease prevention in dairy cows. Vlietstra said fresh cow management and prevention of subclinical hypocalcemia begins before cows start calving. Vlietstra said it’s important to follow a two-bolus...
NCGA campaign calls for a level playing field
The National Corn Growers Association launched a grassroots advocacy campaign to encourage the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to provide a level playing field for biofuels like ethanol. The organization wants corn growers and advocates to make their...
SCN Coalition launches new Profit Checker tool
We have talked for years about the damage that Soybean Cyst Nematodes (SCN) do to soybean fields around the country. They are a pest that has only a few methods for attack, and they are adapting well to those methods. However, it seems that it has been hard to put...
U.S. Export Sales Report (9-28-23)
A fairly normal report ahead of tomorrow’s Quarterly Grain Stocks Report. Both corn and soybeans mostly came within the estimates. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave a breakdown of this week’s U.S. Export Sales Report. The markets are looking for any news to...
“Surprises in soybeans” the story of this growing season
In row crop agriculture, farmers generally know which diseases and pests they will likely face in their fields during the growing season. However, this season has managed to deliver some surprises to soybean growers. That is Ryan Dunsbergan soybean product manager...
National Cattle Congress queen reflects on 2023 fair season
Wrapping up Iowa’s County Fair and Festival season with our final royalty visit, always a popular attraction and feature at Iowa’s County Fairs and Festivals. Emily Ingalls is serving as National Cattle Congress Queen this year from Van Horn, and she says it's been an...
IDALS to offer crop insurance discount program
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced today that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship will again offer its crop insurance discount program for acres that are planted with cover crops. Farmers and landowners who plant fall cover crops...
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More Ag News
U.S. Export Sales Report (4-4-24)
Another week of uneventful export sales has come and gone with little reaction from the markets. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the latest numbers for corn. Beans were much worse off, though, as this week marked the eleventh week in a row of...
Summertime E15 waiver decision timeline
The clock is ticking, and time is running out for the Biden EPA to decide on a summertime E15 waiver which would allow for summer sales at the pump. A waiver is needed for sales of E15 to be allowed this summer, before a more permanent rule allowing for E15 sales goes...
New technology key to increasing ag productivity
Technological developments in agriculture have enabled continued output growth without requiring many additional inputs. Innovations in animal and crop genetics, chemicals, equipment, and farm organization have made it possible for total agricultural output to nearly...
Producers “egg”cited about the this year’s Easter egg consumption
With the easter holiday now past us, you have probably sworn off ham for at least six months even though you know it won't be the case because Iowa's pork farmers do such a great job producing delicious pork. You are also probably still eating the discount candy you...
Smallest drought area since 2020
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported a sizable drop in drought areas around the U.S. “After wet weather and an early spring across much of the country, drought has decreased to around 18 percent of the U.S. by the end of March, down from 20...
