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North American Bee Strategy aims to improve honeybee health
Honeybee colonies in the U.S. experienced significant losses in 2024, with an estimated 55% of managed colonies reported as lost from April 2024 to April 2025. That is the highest loss rate since tracking began in 2010. In response, the Honey Bee Health Coalition crafted the North American Bee Strategy, which aims to improve pollinator health. Matt Mullica, head of the coalition, said they brought the leading beekeeper organizations in the U.S. and Canada together for this strategy. Mullica...
NPPC identifies animal health tools needed in Farm Bill
Yesterday, we started a conversation with the National Pork Producer Council (NPPC) Director of Animal Health, Dr. Anna Forseth. We got an update on the situation with African Swine Fever and other hog health topics. We started to talk about getting support and tools...
NPPC says House version of the farm bill meets producer needs
The lines have been drawn in Washington D.C. with Republicans asking for more “farm in the farm bill” and Democrats unwilling to budge on shifting funding to farm from food and conservation programs. In late May the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on...
Opportunities increasing for U.S. pork worldwide
One bright spot in the swine industry lately has been the growth and opportunity in the overseas markets. It’s proof that our global pork advocacy efforts are paying off. John Hinners, Senior Vice President of Industry Relations with the U.S. Meat Export Federation,...
U.S. Export Sales Report (6-6-24)
This week’s export sales were status quo once again. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said the corn market has now seen seven straight weeks of strong sales. Status quo isn’t great for the soybeans, though, as they continue to struggle with sales. Soybeans...
HPAI detected in an O’Brien county dairy herd
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) have detected a case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in O’Brien County, Iowa. Final...
NPPC gives update on African Swine Fever
The World Pork Expo brings topics of pork production to the forefront of producer’s minds. Obviously, while we haven’t heard as much about African Swine Fever, it is still a threat and is an integral part of making sure that the industry and its producers have all the...
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South American Weather and Crop Update (10-1-24)
Monsoon season will be starting soon in Brazil, which means they will finally get some much-needed rains. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the upcoming forecast in South America. The longer-term forecast is much the same. McBride added that...
Farmers are already feeling the impact of the expired farm bill
With no new farm bill in place after the 2018 farm bill deadline passed, there are already impacts on U.S. farmers and ranchers. Sam Kieffer, vice president of public policy for the American Farm Bureau Federation, outlined some of the programs that went away. Keiffer...
How has U.S. ag trade evolved in the last 100 years?
A lot has changed in the United States ag trade over the last century. USDA senior economist Sharon Sydow at this year’s ag outlook forum explains where the U.S. ag economy was 100 years ago. Price volatility, foreclosures, and high land values were all thorns in the...
U.S. hog inventory up slightly
The U.S. inventory of hogs and pigs on September 1, 2024, totaled 76.5 million head, up slightly from September 1, 2023, and two percent higher than June 1, 2024. Breeding inventory, at 6.04 million head, was down two percent from last year, but up one percent from...
Rural North Carolina reeling after Hurricane Helene
We are no stranger to storm damage in the Midwest. Hail, tornados, and derechos can wreak havoc on our acres. But for everything we deal with, except for the 2020 derecho, it is nothing compared to the strength of a hurricane. The Southeastern part of the country is...
