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Women in Ag Study highlights contributions of women in rural America
The United Nations is recognizing 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer, with hopes of spotlighting the contributions of women in agriculture and agribusiness. Lisa Wherry, a Pennsylvania farmer and member of the American Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee, said this is an important time to acknowledge the contributions of women in rural America. Wherry said the American Farm Bureau Women’s Committee has a full slate of programming for the year ahead, including the upcoming...
Grassley and Ernst join challenge to EPA rodenticide restrictions
Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), along with 15 Senate colleagues, are challenging the EPA to abandon its proposed mitigation measures targeting 11 rodenticides. In a letter to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan, the...
USDA tabling important dairy policy until after Thanksgiving
In a move that is becoming more and more par for the course, THE United States Department of Agriculture has decided to put off making any decision on an important piece of dairy policy, the Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO). It has become a far lengthier process...
South American Weather and Crop Update (10-17-23)
Continued dry weather has been the story for most of South America recently, and farmers are still doing their best to try and avoid the worst of it. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the latest weather patterns in Brazil and Argentina. McBride...
Corn and soybean harvest ahead of schedule
Despite the wet weather, good progress was made harvest wise here in the State of Iowa last week. According to USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service Upper Midwest Regional office’s weekly Harvest Progress report, Statistician Rebecca Alter says 23% of the...
Grassley says House Speaker won’t greatly impact farm bill
As the United States House of Representatives attempts to vote on the next Speaker of the House, United States Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) says that the next Speaker will ultimately have little sway over the farm bill process this year. As the House plays politics...
Secretary Naig announces grant funding opportunity through Choose Iowa
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced today that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is once again offering Choose Iowa value-added grants to expand the availability of Iowa grown, Iowa raised and Iowa made foods, beverages, and other...
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Effects of the Tyson plant closure on the hog industry
It was announced this week that Tyson plans to shut down another food production facility—this time, a pork production plant in Perry, Iowa. That plant has nearly 1,300 employees and kills about 8,000 head a day. Karl Setzer with Consus Ag Consulting said that, while...
What would return of La Niña weather pattern mean for growers?
The National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center this week announced that it foresees a transition from El Niño to ENSO-neutral by April-June 2024 (83% chance), with the odds of La Niña developing by June-August 2024 (62% chance). Typically, the La Niña pattern...
Secretary Naig encourages Iowans to celebrate Iowa ag week
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today encouraged all Iowans to celebrate Iowa Ag Week from Sunday, March 17 through Saturday, March 23. The weeklong statewide celebration, which includes National Ag Day on March 19, will highlight the immense importance of...
Some lawmakers believe a Farm Bill is still possible
The Farm Bill question is a hot topic as we have discussed in the past few months. There is a lot of worry and concern that the clock is ticking and both sides of the political spectrum have dug their feet in so hard, that politics is going to affect the biggest piece...
Precision ag tech assisting growers with soil fertility and analysis
In 2024 precision agriculture tools are available for nearly every aspect of row crop farming. These precision ag technology tools have made farms more efficient and sustainable while allowing producers to refine their management practices each year. Soil nutrient...
