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Putting safety first when managing manure systems
Manure from hog operations is a renewable, sustainable resource that adds significant value to agricultural systems. However, as with all aspects of agriculture, safety is the first priority when managing manure systems says Marguerite Tan, director of environmental programs at the National Pork Board. Tan emphasizes manure safety by advising producers to avoid entering hog buildings during pumping and agitation, ensuring maximum ventilation, and turning off potential ignition sources. Tan...
Cattle inventory swing could have prolonged impact on prices
The USDA released a bearish Cattle on Feed report in October, showing cattle on feed at 11.5 million head, which is the second-highest figure on record. Bernt Nelson, American Farm Bureau Federation Economist, explained what this means for cattle markets moving...
Current conditions of the pork industry
Partners for Production Agriculture’s Economist Dr. Steve Meyer says pig farmers have been dealing with losses worse than 1998. Of those three things listed by Dr. Meyer; pork producers are only responsible for supplying the pigs. Meyer says wholesale demand has...
Secretary Naig announces expansion of NE Iowa water quality project
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced today that an effective Water Quality Initiative (WQI) project in Grundy, Black Hawk, Tama and Marshall Counties is expanding its territory while also adding a new phase that focuses on edge-of-field conservation...
Now’s the time for soybean soil sampling
Farmers are beginning the analysis of the 2023 crop yield before harvest wraps up. Troy Bauer of BASF says making notes is important as it relates to solving crop issues. One of the eye-popping stats so far on some of the early data is that soybean fields that had...
Ernst disheartened over Farm Bill situation
We have heard different opinions from different lawmakers over the probability of a Farm Bill still being done this year. As I talked with Senator Joni Ernst yesterday, she was all but certain that there is no way it gets done. The Farm Bill has traditionally been one...
South American Weather and Crop Update (10-31-23)
After a good amount of dry heat, rain is now highlighting the upcoming forecast in South America. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the current weather patterns. In the longer-term forecasts, McBride said there’s even more rain coming through...
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SE Iowa producer focusing on building trust with consumers
Farmer Grade, a new business idea birthed out of the rise of social media, is focusing on building trust with consumers. Sawyer Whisler, a farmer from southeast Iowa, wanted to do something different while selling meat directly from the farm to the table. So, he built...
Grassley says Prop 12 creating negative effects for producers and consumers
United States Senator (R-IA) Chuck Grassley is home in Iowa this week as the Senate takes its Easter break and he has visited with Iowans in 11 counties as part of his yearly 99 county tour. He says that California’s Prop 12 law has been a big discussion topic with...
EPA accepts atrazine recommendations
The Environmental Protection Agency agreed with recommendations from its Scientific Advisory Panel on atrazine. The recommendations remove several poor-quality studies that played a role in the agency’s recommendation for an ultra-low aquatic level of concern for...
Dekalb excited for addition of VT4PRO™ to portfolio in 2024
Planters are getting ready to hit the fields all over the country, and farmers who aren’t in the field yet are chomping at the bit to get going. A few weeks remain in the Cornbelt before we get started in earnest. While farmers are excited to get going, the team at...
Ducks Unlimited and the mission to revive Iowa’s wetlands
We all know that Ducks Unlimited (DU) is focused on wildlife conservation, especially when it comes to ducks, but that mission to preserve wildlife and the environment stretches far beyond that. This is especially noticeable when it comes to the fact that Ducks...
