Top Stories
Helena highlights ag innovation on screen and in classrooms with new documentary series
Helena Agri-Enterprises announced today the documentary series Innovation Never Stops at the 98th National FFA Convention and Expo in Indianapolis, Indiana. Thousands of teachers and students received an advance look at the nine-part video series debuting next week, which showcases different aspects of agriculture and the innovative technologies behind farming today. Each episode includes companion curriculum designed to take lessons from the field to the classroom and broaden student...
U.S. fruit producers losing to China because of “UnPear” trade practices
We don’t get to talk about fruits and vegetables all that much, because it is just not a major component of the agriculture industry in our state. However, all of us eat, and we like to enjoy the fruits and vegetables that are grown by our fellow ag producers in more...
Indigo Ag continues to aid farmers with sustainable ag programs
The Farm Progress Show is a great opportunity to showcase ag innovation, and that’s especially true for one of the newer opportunities in agriculture: carbon markets. Indigo Ag has a wide portfolio of carbon program options that are available to help provide farmers...
Drought intensifies in weekly drought monitor
The weekly Drought Monitor showed drought getting worse across areas in the Midwest, South, Southwest, and the Pacific Northwest. In the Midwest, extreme heat impacted areas like Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, and Illinois. Record high temps were set in cities...
USDA releases updated 2023 farm income forecast
The updated farm income forecast for 2023 is out from USDA and as you might imagine it’s predicting a drop. The new forecast includes information that wasn’t available during their last forecast in February according to Carrie Litowski, senior economist for the USDA,...
Grains & markets both challenged as harvest approaches
If you are holding onto grain to sell before harvest, you may have checked cash bids or listened to the Basis Matters program this morning and got a big surprise. The basis level has dropped like a stone overnight. I have seen drops as small as a nickel to a buck and...
Heat hits cattle, USDA updates LIP payments
The extreme heat is taking its toll not just on crops, but also cattle says United States Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack as USDA is updating its payment rates for cattle losses. So, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack says the department will update Livestock Indemnity...
Video
More Ag News
Extended-release cattle dewormer can maximize ROI
The well-known benefits of deworming cattle include improved reproduction, higher daily gains, and heavier calves at weaning. However, using an extended-release dewormer can be a game changer that gives the greatest return on investment. Dr. Jody Wade, a professional...
Grocery prices high, further increases possible
Grocery prices, for the most part, remain high and according to the American Farm Bureau the price increases could continue. Grocery store prices have not been kind to consumer’s pocketbooks recently and AFBF Economist Bernt Nelson says that input costs and general...
Record $3.4 million in biofuels grants will expand E15 availability
The Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program (RFIP) Board approved 74 project applications totaling more than $3.4 million in cost-share funding for Iowa fuel retailers during its quarterly board meeting last week. 73 ethanol cost-share projects were awarded, an...
USDA adds funding for specialty crop producers
As consumers, we rely on having a strong supply of vegetables, fruits, and other products to serve on our tables. However, for some producers, the challenges of getting their goods in front of consumers can be daunting. It takes financial backing to get the companies...
South American Weather and Crop Update (2-6-24)
Concerns about long-term dry weather still remain in South America, but, for the time being, there are some nice rains passing over right now. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the latest weather conditions. McBride said that harvest is still...
