Top Stories
Farmers should take more time to market grain
With the current market conditions and overseas trade challenges, many farmers are holding onto their grain for the right time to sell. But holding grain longer brings challenges that can impact its overall quality and value. Even small declines in quality and small amounts of shrink can quickly cancel out the benefits of waiting for a higher market price. John Mays, the senior director of specialty ag at Central Life Sciences, talks about how grain quality can decline during longer storage...
Biosecurity vital for protecting livestock and farmhands from H5N1
The need for robust biosecurity measures for all species is greater than ever after the recent detections of H5N1 in dairy herds. Dr. Marisa Rotolo, National Pork Board’s Director of Swine Health, emphasized the importance of on-farm measures to keep it that way....
Persistent heavy rains creating replant concerns for Iowa growers
Frequent heavy rains in May have created replant concerns for many Iowa growers. What does this mean for the growing season in Iowa and how might agronomic concerns early in the growing cycle factor into the ag marketplace? Matt Bennett, co-founder of AgMarket.Net,...
Grassley, Feenstra, Ernst demand higher RVO levels
Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, both Iowa Republicans, are demanding the Environmental Protection Agency raise 2024 and 2025 renewable volume obligations for biomass-based diesel and advanced biofuels. The lawmakers joined Representative Randy Feenstra, also...
Butterfield’s lullaby: 24 simple notes that carry a lot of weight
If you slept through history class, you did not miss anything about General Daniel Butterfield. Nobody really talks about him. However, there is not an American who does not know at least something about him, even if they do not realize it. Profit Matters 5-27-24...
In times of need, access to food is the top priority
Following the devastating tornadoes that ripped across Iowa this week, many people are in need of food and shelter. Luckily, we have organizations like the Food Bank of Iowa that are already poised to help meet that need and aid in the disaster relief effort. Emily...
Timely rain will still be needed this summer
If you’ve taken a look at the U.S. Drought Monitor over the past several months, then you’d see that there has been a dramatic shift in conditions since this time last year. Much of the state is no longer in severe drought. Iowa State University professor of agronomy...
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More Ag News
Enrollment open for 10th year of PFI’s cover crop cost-share program
Enrollment is currently open for the Practical Farmers of Iowa’s cover crop cost-share program. Morgan Jennings, PFI’s field crops viability coordinator, said the program is now in its tenth year. Jennings said the program is uniquely flexible, as farmers seeding fall...
House passes resolution to disapprove EPA tailpipe rule
The US House passed on a near party-line vote to disapprove EPA’s controversial tailpipe emissions rule opposed by the biofuels industry and top farm group. However, the House 215-191 resolution vote is likely going nowhere in the Democratic-controlled Senate....
Tough times for turkey producers
The nation’s turkey producers are facing tough times in the current agriculture environment. Which goes against the rules of supply and demand economics. That was USDA Outlook Board Chairman Mark Jekanowski, who says that producers have been attempting to keep...
Ethanol depends on reliable rail service
Growth Energy highlighted many issues currently plaguing the nation’s rail service that has resulted in delayed shipments, longer wait times, and higher costs for American ethanol producers. The group’s Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, Chris Bliley,...
Iowa Nitrogen Initiative is looking for more farmer partners
When it comes to how we can do things better in our farming operations, we are always learning. That is a constant across every generation that has farmed your land. We are always learning how to do things better, more efficiently, and more cost-effectively. Research...
