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Despite tighter margins, there are still opportunities for profits
The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago recently released its May agricultural market newsletter, and it included data on agricultural conditions in Iowa. Nationwide Senior Economist Ben Ayers said the report highlighted some persisting struggles that Iowa farmers are dealing with. While this tighter ag economy will likely cause producers to hold back on investments like machinery purchases, Ayers said there is still some opportunity to get some profits this year. Ayers said it good that there is...
Gov. Reynolds signs two important cattle bills
Last week, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed two high-priority bills for the Iowa Cattlemen's Association (ICA) into law. The event marked a great victory for today’s cattle producers as well as future generations. ICA CEO Bryan Whaley said the first of the two bills,...
USMEF Spring Conference guest speakers preview presentations
When the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Spring Conference kicks off this Wednesday, May 22, in Kansas City, the lineup of guest speakers will include CattleFax CEO Randy Blach. Blach said he’ll discuss the status of the U.S. cattle industry’s herd rebuilding...
Groups react to House farm bill ahead of markup
Some of America’s leading agricultural organizations are reacting to the House version of the farm bill put forth by Ag Committee Chair GT Thompson ahead of markup on May 23. American Soybean Association President Josh Gackle believes the legislation will...
Moving last of your stored crops requires some strategy
As planting is wrapping up across much of the state, our attention will soon turn back to other matters on our farm. One of those is the bins full of old crop grains that haven’t been marketed yet. If you still hold on to some uncontracted grains, you are likely...
House Ag Chairman Thompson releases 2024 Farm Bill draft
Today, House Agriculture Committee Chairman GT Thompson released a discussion draft of the 2024 Farm Bill- now named the Farm, Food, and National Security Act. The legislation includes twelve titles, covering commodities; conservation; trade; nutrition; credit; rural...
Another negative Rural Mainstreet Index during May
The Rural Mainstreet Index continued below growth neutral in May. It’s the ninth consecutive month that the survey of bank CEOs in rural areas of a ten-state region stayed in the red. Dr. Ernie Goss, an economics professor at Creighton University, says one thing that...
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NCBA concerned over abuse of Endangered Species Act
When I was a broadcaster in Minnesota, one of the hot topics that we dealt with was the dispute over the gray wolf. For a long time, the gray wolf had been on a protected list under the Endangered Species Act. Its numbers had dwindled for several reasons. While the...
How U.S. agriculture can make up for lost commodity sales to China
Rabobank’s RaboResearch team this month released its bi-monthly North American Agribusiness Review. Roland Fumasi the North American Head of RaboResearch says that the report shows certain segments of the ag sector are facing more headwinds than others in 2024. Fumasi...
Gov. Reynolds signs two important cattle bills
Last week, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed two high-priority bills for the Iowa Cattlemen's Association (ICA) into law. The event marked a great victory for today’s cattle producers as well as future generations. ICA CEO Bryan Whaley said the first of the two bills,...
USMEF Spring Conference guest speakers preview presentations
When the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Spring Conference kicks off this Wednesday, May 22, in Kansas City, the lineup of guest speakers will include CattleFax CEO Randy Blach. Blach said he’ll discuss the status of the U.S. cattle industry’s herd rebuilding...
Groups react to House farm bill ahead of markup
Some of America’s leading agricultural organizations are reacting to the House version of the farm bill put forth by Ag Committee Chair GT Thompson ahead of markup on May 23. American Soybean Association President Josh Gackle believes the legislation will...