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New seed delivery system designed to deliver more even emergence
Agriculture technology is always striving to make improvements to equipment that can enhance a farmer’s ability to optimize performance. ArrowTube is the latest piece of ag technology from Precision Planting and was on display at the PTx booth at this year’s Commodity Classic in San Antonio Texas. Caleb Stuber of PTx tells the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network that ArrowTube is designed to orient corn seeds tip‑down to improve even emergence and leaf alignment. Stuber says the ArrowTube seed...
Avian flu poultry deaths near U.S. record
Avian influenza losses are nearing a record in the United States this year, as the virus has infected more wild birds that transmit the disease. A new report from Reuters shows more than 47 million birds have died from infections and culling. The outbreak sparked...
USDA uses Inflation Reduction funds to keep farmers on their land
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Tuesday announced that distressed borrowers with qualifying USDA farm loans have already received nearly $800 million in assistance, as part of the $3.1 billion in assistance for distressed farm loan borrowers provided through...
The reasons for rising farmland prices
A recent farmland sale in Plymouth county set a new state record for Iowa going for $26,250 per acre. That sale was for 55 acres and a total of $1.44 million.Karl Setzer, Commodity Risk Analyst with AgriVisor, says there are many reasons why farmland sale prices are...
This year?s crop challenges provide valuable info for future crops
This year was a fairly extreme example of how the weather can interfere with our crops. The eastern part of the state almost got too much rain, but western Iowa had to deal with drought and pest issues. However, this now means we have even more data on how our crops...
Influenza poses a threat to both people and pigs
Flu season is upon us, so it?s important to think about how to keep pigs and their caretakers happy. The National Pork Board (NPB) encourages producers to talk with their families and employees about impacts of the flu, specifically implications to human and herd...
Access to E15 could save drivers billions
In the debate over ethanol and its availability, we have talked about restrictions on when it can be sold and even where it is sold. Proponents of E15 have said that they aren?t trying to force anyone to use the fuel, they just want customers to have a choice. It...
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More Ag News
NPPC is dedicated to improving export climate for pork industry.
When we have been talking about the pork industry lately, we have focused on things like the low market prices, and the Prop 12 issue. However, there is much more to what is going on in the industry. Obviously, when we are dealing with a global economy that is being...
Despite talk of weather pattern changes, the soil is getting dryer
Several areas in the Upper Midwest and the Corn Belt are continuing to struggle with drought. Dennis Todey, director of the USDA?s Midwest Climate Hub in Iowa, said some areas haven?t gotten away from excessively dry weather in several years.Todey said the expanding...
Combatting summer heat stress in dairy cattle
Temperatures can get very hot in rural America from April through September, and the recent weather here in Iowa has been a prime example of that. Combine those high temps with a high humidity index, and dairy cows will get heat stressed. Dr. Glenn Holub is the...
Connecting with consumers online to increase demand for beef
Marketing and promotion of the beef product has changed dramatically over the years.Social media has become a central focus of connecting with consumers.Greg Hanes, Cattlemen?s Beef Board CEO, says social media now plays a large role in marketing beef as it gives...
Midwest drought has Mississippi River level concerns coming back
Remember last summer and early fall when we were so worried about the levels of the Mississippi river? Even though those levels eventually came back up, we are still not out of the woods. Drought has gripped much of the Midwest, and the main tributaries of the Old Man...
