Top Stories
Questions remain with U.S.-China trade deal
It’s been an interesting time in the soybean market, especially when it comes to trade with China. Initially, it was great to hear that the U.S. and China agreed to a trade framework that included China making U.S. soybean purchases. Jim McCormick, chief operating officer at AgMarket.Net, said he was pleased to hear about this, but he had some questions concerning the agreement. McCormick said the U.S. and China don’t technically have a signed agreement yet, so this framework could still fall...
USDA announces market development program investments for 2024
The USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service is awarding more than $200 million to nearly 70 agricultural organizations to help expand export markets for U.S. food and agricultural products. The expansion efforts will happen through the Market Access Program and the...
“Ag Gag” injunctions overturned. Now what?
“Ag Gag” is the name given to Iowa Legislation, by opponents of animal agriculture, that is meant to stop trespassing on livestock operations, and categorizes any deceptive means used to gain access as trespassing. It is the fourth such law to be challenged by animal...
Preparation is key for calving season
Now that there’s snow on the ground, that means calving season will start anytime now, right? Jokes aside, calving season will be upon us before we know it. Preparing for the calving season is a critical aspect of beef cattle management. Dr. Brett Terhaar, beef...
Grassley forecasts turbulent year for farm and spending bills
Senate Ag Committee member United States Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) thinks 2024 could be a turbulent year ahead for the farm and spending bills. In 2023 Senator Chuck Grassley accurately predicted the one-year extension of the 2018 farm bill, and now he says that...
Court upholds Iowa agriculture trespass laws
The 8th Circuit Court unanimously overruled a District Court and upheld Iowa’s 2019 and 2021 agriculture trespass laws as constitutional this week. After several organizations challenged the new law, the district court concluded that the intent requirement renders the...
Red Sea Pirates continue to impact global trade
It is bad enough when our shipping is affected by natural occurrences like drought in the Mississippi River and the Panama Canal. It puts a big obstacle in the shipping lanes and increases costs and shipping times. But when the problems are manmade, it becomes an even...
Video
More Ag News
Red meat industry holds optimistic outlook for 2024
The U.S. red meat industry gathered in Kansas City last week for the annual U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Spring Conference. USMEF Chair Randy Spronk sensed optimism among attendees for the remainder of 2024. Spronk stressed the need for an equal playing field...
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...
