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Findings from April Cattle on Feed Report
The Cattle on Feed Reports from USDA provide a look at the inventory of cattle in feedlots throughout the United States. The April Cattle on Feed Report shows another year over year decrease according to USDA livestock analyst Michael McConnell. McConnell points out that total inventory was slightly down compared to last year. He also details some of the trends from the April report. McConnell states that the trend of feeding cattle to heavier finishing weights is continuing. The next USDA...
U.S. Export Sales Report (7-27-23)
This week’s export sales were, once again, not remarkable enough to make a noticeable impact on the markets today. Allendale commodity broker Mike Lung provided an update on the numbers.Lung said there were also some flash sales this morning.While the price disparity...
NPPC releases third quarter economic update
The National Pork Producers Council released its Q3 Economic Update. NPPC Economist Holly Cook said this report dives into the consequences of Prop 12 and other factors affecting pork prices.“NPPC’s Quarterly Economic Update provides a snapshot of current market...
Grassley says US Navy should help ensure black sea grain traffic
A senior U.S. Senator says the U.S. should send part of its Navy to the Black Sea to ensure freedom of navigation for Ukraine grain shipments, now threatened by Russia since it pulled out of the Black Sea grain deal.Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says the U.S. should...
USDA: food inflation mostly lower in 2023 compared to 2022
Retail food prices increased 4.8 percent in the first six months of 2023, lower than the rate of midyear inflation in 2022, of 8.2 percent. USDA’s Economic Research Service reports the 20-year average for midyear inflation from 2002 to 2021 was 1.6 percent. All food...
New alliance promoting benefits of carbon capture for rural America
There are great debates happening about the environment and how we should proceed to make things better. That debate has gone on in the way we are managing our soil health, how we handle spraying the products we need to maintain our crop health. Now, there is a great...
Feenstra joins letter to USTR on Brazil’s ethanol tariff
Earlier this year, the Brazilian Foreign Trade Chamber reinstated an import tariff on American ethanol shipped to Brazil. Prior to this announcement, American ethanol exports to Brazil had been duty-free since March of 2022. Now, there is a 16% tariff rate on ethanol...
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Use estate planning to protect your farm’s future
For the first time since 2020, the number of Americans with a will has declined, with only 32 percent of Americans having an estate plan in 2024- a six percent decline from last year. Having an estate plan for farmers and ranchers is especially important, as it...
Ag policy expert predicts 2025 farm bill
Texas A&M’s University’s Ag and Food Policy expert Joe Outlaw, who advises both parties on the House and Senate Ag Committees, says that he believes a new farm bill won’t get done until the summer of 2025. Dr. Joe Outlaw is a professor and Extension economist in...
Secretary Naig honors conservation leaders at Iowa agribusiness showcase
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig presented Leader in Conservation Awards to one Iowa individual and one Iowa business making an impact in water quality and conservation today during the annual Agribusiness Association of Iowa Showcase and Conference in Altoona....
Croplan seed offerings help mitigate whatever Mother Nature’s temper
As we get ready for the 2024 planting season, you may still be trying to fill out a few more acres. Or maybe your plans have shifted as the marketplace has changed. Or maybe you just haven’t finalized the plans you had in mind. If you are looking at filling some more...
U.S. pork and beef exports finished 2023 strong
Led by a record-shattering performance in Mexico and broad-based growth in other markets, U.S. pork exports set a value record in 2023, according to year-end data released by USDA and compiled by USMEF. While 2023 beef exports were below the record totals posted the...
