Top Stories
U.S. hog inventory up one percent
The U.S. hog inventory is growing. As of December 1, there were 75.5 million hogs and pigs on U.S. farms, which is up one percent from December 2024 and slightly higher than the numbers on September 1, 2025. That’s according to the Hogs and Pigs report published by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Other key findings in the report included that of the 75.5 million hogs and pigs, 69.6 million were market hogs, while 5.95 million were kept for breeding. Between September and...
School breakfast programs start to incorporate meat again
When it comes to creating a marketplace for our products, we tend to put a lot of focus on developing international markets. That is good because we produce far more food than we hope to consume. However, we cannot afford to overlook the demand we can create here at...
Grassley wary of Chinese response to increased tariffs
On Tuesday President Biden announced a surge of increased tariffs on imported Chinese products under Section 301 of 1974’s Trade Act. The tariff hikes will be applied to $18 billion worth of imports from China including electric vehicle batteries and computer chips....
Hog prices much more stable now than a year ago
After soaring to yearly highs recently, the hog prices, along with the rest of the livestock, have come back down to earth. While we would’ve liked to maintain those higher levels, it’s important to remember that hog prices were considerably worse just a year ago....
Deadline approaching for century and heritage farm applications
The June 1 deadline for eligible Iowa farm owners to apply for Century or Heritage Farm recognition is quickly approaching, and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is encouraging farm families to apply today. The program, which was created in...
Spring warmup can be dangerous for stored grain
Spring warmup can be hard on stored grain, as the sun can cause bins to heat up very quickly. GSI District Manager Dave Ellis said it’s important to properly manage grain bins. Eilis said temperature management is key to proper grain storage. Ellis added that remote...
Ag loan interest payments are starting to soar
The economy is in a tough spot across the board, no matter how government officials want to try and spin it. Interest rates are climbing higher and that is causing problems for borrowers, especially in the agriculture sector. Agricultural operating loans, land loans,...
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More Ag News
Make sure your combine is properly prepped for fall
We have seen the first combines entering fields in Iowa for some early planted soybeans. That means it won’t be long before we start harvesting in earnest. There is still time to prepare your combine for the harvest season. The last thing you want is to break down in...
Investing in the future of farming
Farmers are the backbone of America. Without them, we wouldn’t have the food to sustain our society. But even with how important that job is, farmers can have a hard time with the finances of running a successful operation. Ben Gordon, founder and CEO of Fractal, said...
On-Farm Pork Impact Reports showcase sustainability
Consumers want to know that the pork industry is sustainable, and the National Pork Board can help with its On-Farm Pork Impact Reports. Al Wulfekuhle, president of the National Pork Board, said the reports show off the positive environmental impact of farms with...
U.S. ethanol on pace for record year of exports
Geoff Cooper is the president and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association and he tells the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network that the United States ethanol industry is projected to have a record year for ethanol exports. He says that the countries importing U.S. produced...
Washington sees coordinated push for farm bill passage
In an unusual move, commodity groups are coordinating efforts in bringing producers and other ag stakeholders to Washington, DC in an effort to get a new Farm Bill passed before the end of 2024. Agri-Pulse reports that such a cross-commodity initiative has not been...
